My dad cried when he saw me ill with kidney failure.. my old boss Sir Alex Ferguson always told me pride would kill me
MANCHESTER UNITED legend Andy Cole has revealed his father burst into tears after seeing the devastating effects of his kidney failure.
The Cole family were rocked by the Red Devils legend’s diagnosis with the disease, which has had a crippling effect on his life, in 2015.
The entire family took the news very hard, but none more so than dad Lincoln after seeing his son severely ill.
Andy told The Times: “The first time my dad saw me ill, I could see the tears in his eyes.”
The pain in Lincoln’s eyes, understandably, had a devastating impact on Andy.
He said: “I remember saying to my dad, ‘Don’t cry for me, whatever’s going to be is going to be.’ My dad was really good with me.
“In sickness, you found out who’s really there for you. My dad was.”
Times were particularly hard for Cole when Covid first hit.
He said: “The first lockdown was tough, Yorkie [Dwight Yorke] called me and said, ‘Come on, get your head right, work out and stay positive.’ I did that.”
Cole’s friends and family were quick to rally around him, with nephew Alexander donating a kidney to him.
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He said: “My mates have been phenomenal.
“My nephews, and a couple of my sisters, have been so good.
“He’s done such a noble thing as such a young man.”
Cole has showcased remarkable tenacity and determination in his eight-year battle with kidney failure, which he also showed on the pitch throughout his career.
But his mentality, in particular his pride, didn’t always sit well with former manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
He said: “Sir Alex [Ferguson] always used to say to me, ‘Your pride will kill you in the end. I didn’t take any nonsense.
“I never took people questioning me because that’s what they did to my dad when he first came to this country.”
Manchester United will be back in action on Thursday night, travelling to Spain to take on Real Betis.