Sir Alex Ferguson's wife changed Man Utd history with last-minute Tottenham snub
Thirteen Premier League titles, five FA Cups, four League Cups, two Champions League wins, a European Cup Winners' Cup, a European Super Cup, and a FIFA Club World Cup - and they could all have been in the trophy cabinet at Tottenham.
Instead, the silverware derived from Sir Alex Ferguson's legendary managerial stint in England football is housed at Old Trafford. And few Manchester United fans will be aware that it was Ferguson's late wife, Cathy, who was indirectly responsible for the club's unprecedented era of success.
On Friday, it was confirmed that Cathy had died at the age of 84. The family said in a statement: “We are deeply saddened to confirm the passing yesterday of Lady Cathy Ferguson, survived by her husband, three sons, two sisters, 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. The family asks for privacy at this time.”
The pair had been married since 1966, with Ferguson constantly praising his wife's unstinting support throughout his career as a player and a manager.
Back in 2002, it was Lady Cathy who was credited with changing the iconic Scot's mind after he pledged to retire at the end of the campaign. And yet, it was her apparent intervention some 18 years previously that truly changed the course of history.
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Ferguson took over at United in 1986, succeeding the sacked Ron Atkinson. Had things turned out differently however, he could already have been working in north London by then, having met Spurs chairman Irving Scholar and co-owner Paul Bobroff in Paris two years beforehand.
He verbally agreed to leave Aberdeen for White Hart Lane, but had a change of heart before any contract was signed and sealed. And a book about Tottenham's history, entitled Still Dreaming, is enough to have Spurs fans thinking 'if only'.
Sir Alex Ferguson with wife Cathy (Getty Images)HAVE YOUR SAY! Is Ale Ferguson the greatest club manager of all time? Comment below.
"The directors, to a man, were enthusiastic endorsers of the choice [Ferguson]," the book, released this year, states. "All aspects of the contract agreed.
"Unfortunately, Mrs Ferguson was not keen on a move to London and that was that."
Ferguson duly joined United after being pursued by chairman Martin Edwards, who was well aware his No.1 target had been on the brink of joining top-flight arrivals. And Lady Cathy's reluctance to live in London paved the way for arguably the greatest era any club has seen under a single manager.
On the contrary, Spurs have landed only one FA Cup and two League Cups since 1984. They also appointed 16 different full-time managers in the period during which Ferguson governed the dugout at United.
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