Lady Cathy Ferguson, former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson’s wife, has died.
Lady Cathy and Sir Alex met in 1964, when he was only 23 years old, and married in 1966. Mark, born in 1968, and twin boys, Peterborough manager Darren and Jason, born in 1972, are their three sons.
In a statement published to the PA news agency on Friday afternoon, the Ferguson family confirmed the news.
“We are deeply saddened to confirm the passing yesterday [Thursday] 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 retired in 2013 after the death of Lady Cathy’s sister, Bridget. He said at the time:
“My wife Cathy has been the key figure throughout my career, providing a bedrock of both stability and encouragement. Words are not enough to express what this has meant to me.”
Lady Cathy had previously talked him out of retirement in 2002.
