Sir Alex Ferguson’s wife Cathy dies aged 84: Heartbroken Man Utd legend’s family confirm loss of wife of more than five decades who he had three sons and 12 grandchildren with

Lady Cathy Ferguson, wife of Sir Alex Ferguson, has died aged 84, the family has announced today. 

The Glaswegian mother-of-three and grandmother to 12, was described by her husband as his ‘bedrock’, who had had helped nurse him back to health after his stroke after he retired after 26 years at the club in 2013. 

The Ferguson family confirmed the news in a statement released on Friday afternoon.

‘We are deeply saddened to confirm the passing yesterday of Lady Cathy Ferguson, survived by her husband, three sons, two sisters, 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild,’ the statement read.

‘The family asks for privacy at this time.’

Sir Alex admitted that Lady Cathy was the one person in the world who he does not answer back to. 

They married in Glasgow in 1966 at a time when it was divided by sectarianism.    Cathy was a Catholic, while Alex was Protestant, but the then footballer was following the example of his father, who himself had ‘broken a taboo’ by marrying a Catholic woman. 

The Scottish manager said she had always provided ‘stability and encouragement’ in his glittering career, as a player with Rangers and as a manager with Aberdeen, Scotland and Manchester United. She died yesterday, aged 81.