Sir Alex Ferguson fell ill at Old Trafford moments before Manchester United's match with Liverpool on Sunday afternoon and was taken to an ambulance before kick-off. The 84-year-old was at the stadium when medics were called to him in the Stretford End tunnel.
He was checked over inside the ambulance, sat up and was described as doing okay. Ferguson won 13 league titles during his reign at Manchester United, remained a regular at home games and had a row of seats in the Old Trafford directors' box.
The scare came years after he retired from management in 2013 and then spent 12 years as a club ambassador. It also follows the serious medical emergency he suffered in 2018, when he underwent life-saving surgery after a sudden brain haemorrhage that doctors said left him with a 20 per cent chance of survival.
Ferguson spoke about that ordeal in his 2021 film, saying there had been five brain haemorrhages that day, and that three died while two survived. Sunday's episode was over quickly, but for a figure who has remained part of the club's matchday life for decades, it was a stark reminder of how fragile even the most familiar presence can be.
