How Sir Alex Ferguson’s wife Cathy gave Man Utd fans 11 more years of success after waking him up from a nap

MANCHESTER UNITED’s trophy haul this millennium may have been drastically smaller had it not been for Sir Alex Ferguson’s late wife Cathy.

The Ferguson family are currently mourning the death of the much-beloved Cathy, who passed away in Cheshire yesterday aged 84.

ALAMYSir Alex Ferguson is mourning the death of his wife Cathy[/caption]

Cathy passed away in Cheshire on Thursday aged 84REX

Sir Alex and Cathy were married for an incredible 60 yearsREX

Cathy and Sir Alex were married for an incredible 60 years and had three sons together, Darren, Jason and Mark.

She stood by Fergie‘s side for every step of his trophy-laden managerial career and was the Scot’s trusted confidant.

And such was her love for her husband that she convinced him to snub retirement when he first contemplated it 21 years ago.

Cathy told Fergie – who had already guided United to seven Premier League titles and five FA Cup triumphs – to continue managing after he woke up from a nap.

It was more of a telling that he wasn’t going to retire than a convincing.

And that stern conversation would have huge implications for Manchester United in the coming years.

Sir Alex went on to guide the Red Devils to FIVE more Premier League titles in the 11 years he spent at Old Trafford after that conversation.

He also hoisted the League Cup aloft a further three times and added an additional FA Cup to his trophy haul.

GettySir Alex Ferguson won a further five Premier League titles after that conversation with Cathy[/caption]

PAHe also lifted the Champions League trophy for a second time thanks to the love of his life[/caption]

But the biggest haul of that time proved to be the most-coveted trophy in European club football: the Champions League.

Fergie won his second Champions League as United boss in May 2008 as his troops beat Chelsea on penalties in an all-English final on a cold and rainy night in Moscow.

So to say that the history of the club would be very different were it not for the late Cathy would be an understatement.

Understating is something Fergie never did when it came to his late wife, whom he held in the highest of regards for raising their sons while he worked his incredibly demanding job.

He said of her in his autobiography: “Cathy is the mainstay of our family.

“It is she who has carried the main burden of bringing up our three sons.

“They have turned out to be fantastic sons and fantastic people.

“We have all got to thank her for being such a great wife and mother.

“Without her unstinting support, none of it would have been possible.”