MANCHESTER UNITED’s trophy haul this millennium may have been drastically smaller had it not been for Sir Alex Ferguson’s late wife Cathy.
The Ferguson family are currently mourning the death of the much-beloved Cathy, who passed away in Cheshire yesterday aged 84.
Cathy was with Sir Alex were married for an incredible 60 years and had three sons together, Darren, Jason and Mark.
She stood by Fergie‘s side for every step of his trophy-laden managerial career and was a trusted confidant of the Scots.
And such was her love for her husband that she convinced him to keep doing what he loves best when he flirted with retirement 21 years ago.
Cathy convinced Fergie – who had guided United to seven Premier League titles and five FA Cup triumphs – to continue managing after he woke up from a nap.
It was more of a telling that he wasn’t going to retire than a convincing – a conversation which would have huge implications for Manchester United in the coming years.
Sir Alex went on to guide the Red Devils to FIVE more Premier League titles in the 11 additional years he spent at Old Trafford after that conversation.
He also hoisted the League Cup aloft a further three times and added an additional FA Cup to his trophy haul.
But the biggest haul of that time proved to be the most-coveted trophy in European club football: the Champions League.
Fergie won his second Champions League as United boss in May 2008 as his troops triumphed over Chelsea in an all-English final on a cold and rainy night in Moscow.
So to say that the history of Manchester United would be very different were it not for the late Cathy would be an understatement.
Understating is something Fergie never did when it came to his wife, whom he held in the highest of regards for raising their sons while he
He said of her in his autobiography: “Cathy is the mainstay of our family. It is she who has carried the main burden of bringing up our three sons.
“They have turned out to be fantastic sons and fantastic people.
“We have all got to thank her for being such a great wife and mother.
“Without her unstinting support, none of it would have been possible.”
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