SIR ALEX FERGUSON’S wife Cathy thought he looked like a “thug” at first but went on to become his “rock”.

Cathy sadly passed away on Thursday morning at the age of 84.

Cathy Ferguson thought Sir Alex Ferguson looked like a ‘thug’ at firstCredit: Rex

Cathy has sadly passed away aged 84Credit: Getty

Her family confirmed the tragic news in an emotional statement.

Ferguson had been been married to Cathy for nearly 60 years and the couple also had three sons together – Mark, Darren and Jason.

She was described by Ferguson as his “bedrock” during their marriage.

However, Cathy did once reveal she originally thought he looked like a “thug” when they first met.

Appearing in the 2021 documentary Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In, she explained: “I just saw him walking through and I thought he was a thug.

“Then I found out he was a footballer and that didn’t make him any different to me.

“He bought me a box of Liquorice Allsorts at the movies, of which he ate all of them, and a local paper when we came out. That was my romantic day.

“We got married in Glasgow registry office in 1966 and that was the start. I went to my work and he went to his football.”

Ferguson described Cathy as his ‘bedrock’ during their marriageCredit: Rex

The couple had a very strong bond during their marriage, which Ferguson also showed during the documentary.

He recalled how he wished he had told Rangers to “f*** off” when they quizzed him about Cathy’s religion when signing for them in 1967.

“Glasgow is a city where there is a divide,” he stated. “It’s Protestant and Catholic, Rangers and Celtic.

“I heard Rangers wanted to sign me and of course having supported Rangers as a boy and having lived 200 yards from the ground I was pretty excited about it.

“He says, ‘I have to ask you a question about your wife. I believe she is Catholic, were you married in a chapel?’. I said, ‘No we got married in the registry office,’ and he says, ‘Oh, that’s OK’. I should have told him to f*** off.

“I really should have but having supported Rangers as a boy and having the opportunity to go out and play for Rangers, you are prepared to take nonsense.

Cathy talked Ferguson out of retirement in 2002Credit: Rex

“I let myself down there and I let my wife down – that was the most important thing – because she was a devout Catholic.”

Cathy also played a key role in Manchester United’s success during her husband’s legendary tenure as manager.

The Red Devils may have won less silverware this century had it not been for her intervention.

She convinced him to stay in management back in 2002, talking him out of retirement.

United went on to win five more league titles under the Scot before he finally ended his managerial career in 2013.

Soucre: thesun