SIR ALEX Ferguson finally decided to retire from his glittering football career so he could spend more time with his beloved wife Cathy.
The legendary Man Utd and Aberdeen boss paid a glowing tribute to his live-long love – who has died at the age of 84 – when he stepped away from the Old Trafford hotseat in May 2013.
The then 71-year-old wanted to be by his wife’s side as she struggled to come to terms with the death of her sister Bridget earlier that year.
Explaining his decision at the time he said: "Things changed when Cathy's sister died. She's isolated a lot now and I think I owe her a lot of my own time.
"For 47 years she's been the leader of the family, looked after three sons and sacrificed for me.
"I think she's lost her best friend, her sister Bridget, so I think I owe her time, that was important."
But years later Sir Alex feared he would be the one to pass away next when he was struck down by a near-fatal brain haemorrhage.
He later told of writing heartbreaking "goodbye letters" for Cathy, their 11 grandchildren and grown-up kids Jason, Darren and Mark.
He wrote the messages in the early stages of his health battle following a life-threatening brain bleed in 2018.
He said: "The speech therapist came in every day and was phenomenal. She had me writing down all the names of my family and my players.
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"Then she started on animals, fish and birds to see if I could remember the names. And gradually my voice came back.
"But the more important thing was that my memory was okay. She got me writing letters. I wrote a letter to Cathy which, at that point, was a scribble."
In the film 'Never Give In' about his health battle that left with a 20 percent chance of survival he told how at the age of 76 he came round from an operation and felt the fear and despair that life may be nearing its end.
He said: "I wondered how many sunny days I would see again. I found that difficult.
"I was crying, felt helpless.
"I would have hated to lose my memory. I would have been a terrible burden on my family."
He reads one of many letters he wrote including one to Cathy which summed up the deep admiration he had for his one true love.
He wrote: "I am proud of you Cathy and your determination, all your years you have shown great strength but my heart should pray for life, you do not give up.
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