Sir Alex Ferguson was taken to the hospital ahead of Manchester United's game with Liverpool, but Michael Owen has shared how the former United boss sounded "sharp as a tack" hours before his health scare
Nathan Ridley
18:36, 06 May 2026
Michael Owen spoke to Sir Alex Ferguson on Sunday
Michael Owen spoke to Sir Alex Ferguson on Sunday(Image: Getty Images)
Michael Owen has revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson sounded "sharp as a tack" just hours before the former Manchester United manager was admitted to the hospital.
Ferguson, 84, chatted with Owen "for 40 minutes" before heading to Old Trafford for United's Premier League game against Liverpool on Sunday. However, after falling ill prior to kick-off, an ambulance was summoned for the Scot, who was transported to the hospital as a precautionary measure. Liverpool.com understands that Ferguson quickly recovered and was in good spirits.
Owen has now disclosed how he conversed with Ferguson shortly before his former manager became unwell. The ex-United forward told talkSPORT on Wednesday: "I spoke to him, I was on the phone to him for 40 minutes that morning.
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"We're talking about football, we're talking about horses. As I say, he's got horses here [at his 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.
"We might have actually, we might have his horse running on Friday at Chester. So yeah, 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.
Ferguson was forced to leave Sunday's game
Ferguson was forced to leave Sunday's game(Image: Getty Images)
"So it was such a shock to hear, obviously, that the next day he was taken unwell, but hopefully it's not too serious."
Ferguson is a regular presence at United's home matches, having stepped down nearly 13 years ago and since serving predominantly as a club ambassador.
Fans sang his name throughout Old Trafford when the news emerged prior to the team's 3-2 victory.
Interim boss Michael Carrick, who featured under Ferguson from 2006 until his retirement in 2013, commented at his post-match press conference: "I don't know the latest as we stand now.
"I did hear about it before the game.
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"All I can say is I was very affected by it, and we just hope he's alright.
"I just don't know the latest, but we hope for him to be in good shape, and we wish him all the best, and we're certainly thinking of him.
"And hopefully the result, when he hears about it, gives him a good boost."