As Sir Alex Ferguson recovers after hospital visit - is he married and who are his sons?

Sir Alex Ferguson is understood to be recovering after being taken to hospital at the weekend after falling ill. The legendary Manchester United boss was rushed to hospital after falling ill at Old Trafford ahead of his side's win over rivals Liverpool. However, he is now believed to be recovering at home, though no details of his illness have been released.

On Wednesday (May 6), Michael Owen said Sir Alex Ferguson was as "sharp as a tack" the day before he was taken to hospital. Owen, who played under 84-year-old Ferguson during a stint at Old Trafford between 2009 and 2012, said he speaks to his former gaffer regularly - as both are involved with horse racing.

Speaking on talkSPORT Breakfast, the former England striker said: “I spoke to him, I was on the phone to him for 40 minutes that morning. We're talking about football, we're talking about horses. As I say, he's got horses here (at Owen's Manor House Stables). Most Saturday mornings, he gives me a call, and we go through all the horses for the day, and we share what we know and things like that."

He added: "I speak to him regularly, and he sounded absolutely brilliant, sharp as a tack as normal. We were talking a lot about Scottish football and what was happening up there, so it was such a shock to hear, obviously, that the next day he was taken unwell, but hopefully it's not too serious."

The world's most successful manager, who is 84, will have support from not only his former club, but his family and friends too.

Is Sir Alex Ferguson married and does he have children?

Sir Alex married Cathy Holding in 1966 and the couple shared three sons - Mark, born in 1968, and twins Darren and Jason, born in 1972. Cathy passed away in October 2023 after reportedly living with dementia.

The couple met at a typewriter factory in Glasgow, with Cathy later saying she thought her future husband was a "thug" due to having a plaster on his face following a football injury. Sir Alex often highlighted his wife's role in his life, including how she was the only person he didn't "answer back" to. She is also credited with persuading the manager to reverse his decision to retire in 2002.

Her funeral took place in Glasgow and was attended by the likes of David Beckham, Gary Neville, and Sir Kenny Dalglish. Her passing has seen Sir Alex commit himself to working with dementia charities.

What do Alex Feguson’s sons do?

Their sons have all established careers in their own right, with Darren notably following in his father's footsteps in football, having played for Manchester United, and managed the likes of Doncaster Rovers and Peterborough United.

Jason, meanwhile, runs an events management company and also directed a 2021 documentary about his father.

Sir Alex can also expect support from some 12 grandchildren and a great-grandchild.