Fergie s life or death op Man Utd legend critical after brain haemorrhage
SIR Alex Ferguson was in intensive care last night after emergency brain surgery.
The legendary former Manchester United manager had an operation after suffering a haemorrhage.
Sir Alex, 76, is being treated at Salford Royal’s neurological ward in the hospital’s Hope Building.
He was rushed there with a police escort from his local hospital in Macclesfield, where he was first taken on Saturday morning after falling ill at his mansion in Wilmslow, Cheshire.
He had an emergency operation yesterday afternoon and was sent straight back into intensive care.
Complaining
A statement from Manchester United said last night: “Sir Alex Ferguson has undergone emergency surgery today for a brain haemorrhage.
“The procedure has gone very well but he needs a period of intensive care to optimise his recovery. His family request privacy in this matter.”
Last night First Minister of Scotland night Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: “My thoughts are with Alex Ferguson and his family – wishing him a full and speedy recovery.”
And Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker tweeted: “Very sorry to hear the news that Sir Alex Ferguson is seriously ill in hospital. Wish him all the very best.”
Manchester United captain Michael Carrick tweeted: “Absolutely devastated to hear about Sir Alex being unwell in hospital. All my thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. Be strong Boss”. Fellow team-mate Jesse Lingard added: “Thought and prayers Sir Alex.”
Thousands of fans took to Twitter sending best wishes.
Sir Alex was last seen at Old Trafford last Sunday to see United’s 2-1 win over Arsenal.
He is understood to have been complaining about feeling unwell on Thursday.
Fergie’s eldest son Darren – manager of Doncaster Rovers – missed the club’s final game of the season yesterday to be with his dad.
The 46-year-old contacted Rovers early on Saturday morning to say he would not make the clash with Wigan Athletic due to a “severe family issue”. Sir Alex – regarded the greatest British manager in history – was last seen in public a week ago when he presented Arsene Wenger with a gift on his final trip to Old Trafford with Arsenal.
Scare
Fergie was in high spirits when he handed the Frenchman a metal vase in a box on the touchline ahead of the game. Sir Alex has previously received treatment for what Manchester United described as a “minor heart irregularity”. He underwent the routine procedure in 2003, with the club saying at the time that it had revealed “no underlying heart problem”.
In March 2004 Sir Alex had a heart pacemaker fitted. In a statement released through Man United, he said it was fitted in a “routine, straightforward procedure” and he was allowed to return to training the following day.
Ferguson said: “I want to reassure the fans that everything is OK, I feel fine. It was an option for me to get this done.”
Then in 2012 he missed giving a talk at a dinner to mark the 40th anniversary of Rangers’ Cup Winners’ Cup Final win after he was rushed to hospital with a heavy nose bleed.
Health and family issues were said to have been the main reasons behind Sir Alex’s decision to end his remarkable Old Trafford reign.
He is seen as the most successful manager in the history of British football, winning 49 major trophies.