Legendary ex-Man United manager Sir Alex Ferguson opens up on the loss of his wife Cathy following her death aged 84 last year

Sir Alex Ferguson has opened up on coping with the loss of his wife Cathy in a rare extended interview.

The legendary former Manchester United manager’s wife passed away at the age of 84 last October. She was an immensely popular figure at Old Trafford, and her funeral was attended by several former players including David Beckham and Gary Neville.

Sir Alex and Lady Cathy, as she was affectionately known, met in 1964 before tying the knot two years later, and were happily married for almost 58 years.

In a sit-down interview with the BBC, Ferguson spoke glowingly about Lady Cathy, as he revealed she was always at the heart of the family prior to her death.

‘Well, 58 years is a long long time, she was a great great wife, a fantastic mother and a great grandmother,’ he said.

Sir Alex and Lady Cathy were married for almost 58 years after tying the knot in 1966

Lady Cathy was immensely popular at United and talked Sir Alex out of quitting the club in 2001

Ferguson opened up on his loss in a rare sit-down interview with the BBC

‘She was the leader of the band, no doubt about that.’

Lady Cathy is widely acknowledged to have played a key role in helping Ferguson become the most successful manager in English football history.

The Scot won 13 league titles at United as he turned the club into a powerhouse during the first two decades of the Premier League.

But it could have all been so different as he was set to retire at the end of the 2001-2002 season.

However, United were pipped to the title that year by Arsenal and Ferguson was talked out of quitting by Lady Cathy.

He went on to add another six Premier League titles to his collection, as well as his second Champions League trophy in 2008.

United have not won the league since Ferguson walked away in 2013, with the 82-year-old often watching on in the stands while Manchester City have dominated English football for much of the past decade.

Ferguson retired in 2013 after winning his 13th Premier League title with United

He has watched Pep Guardiola’s Man City dominate in recent years, and admitted he does miss management, especially the big European games

Ferguson admitted he does miss managing, but has found a way to adjust to his new life over the years.

When asked how life is now, he responded: ‘Good yeah, I have been retired 11 years now so you find a way of adjusting. 

‘I miss it (management) sometimes. I think the first year after retirement, I went to the European final and I said to Cathy “this is what I miss” – big games, the European games.

‘So then I went to most of the European finals because I find something I can relate to, something I would liked to have done every day. 

‘Because these are the big events that United should always be involved in.’