Sir Alex Ferguson says he was often lonely at Old Trafford as manager of Manchester United – and has started to wonder “how long” he has left in life.
Speaking to promote his new documentary Never Give In, the former Manchester United manager discussed how he was often lonely when he was in charge for over 26 years at Old Trafford.
He says he would often wander around the corridors in the afternoons in search of some company.
Sir Alex told Radio Times: “In the afternoon you’re sitting in your office, and nobody knocks on your door. That’s where the loneliness comes in. So sometimes I would think, ‘I’ll watch some TV.’ Or, ‘I’ll read a paper.’ And then I used to go and search out some of the staff in their rooms and annoy them. I would knock on the door and hear, ‘Oh, Christ. Here’s the boss.’ You don’t want to be lonely, and it’s that period – up to about five o’clock in the afternoon – that you feel the loneliness of it.”
Sir Alex also admits he thinks about his own mortality these days after his brain haemorrhage.
Asked if it has changed his perspective on life, he said: “I wonder how long I’ve got now. I’m 79 years of age… Prince Philip was 99. People live longer. But when you get to my age, you wonder how long you’ve got.
“Obviously, the last year I haven’t gone out of the house much at all. In fact, from March 15 of last year until June 20, I never went out the door once. I like reading and watching Amazon and Netflix, and United on TV. I’ve never been bored in my life. I always find something to do. A player at Aberdeen came to my office one day and said, ‘I think I should get a move. I’m bored.’ ‘Bored?! Bored?!! How old are you?’ Couldn’t believe it.
“I threw him out of my office. I said, ‘Get out of it. You’re bored?’ I can never be bored!”
The new documentary spans Sir Alex's playing and managerial career, led by his glittering 38-trophy haul at Old Trafford, which included 13 Premier League titles, two Champions League crowns, five FA Cups and four League Cups.
It has been directed by his son Jason who took the brave decision to begin the film with a recording of himself calling emergency services on Saturday 5 May, 2018 when his dad collapsed after suffering a brain haemorrhage
The film reveals that Ferguson feared losing his memory as a consequence of the haemorrhage, which inspired the documentary's making.
