Sir Alex Ferguson was among hundreds of mourners who gathered in Prestbury to pay their respects at the funeral of Alex Hughes, the son of former Manchester United, Wales and Manchester City manager Mark Hughes.
Mark Hughes carried the coffin of his son Alex into St Peter’s Church in Prestbury
The order of service from the funeral of Alex Hughes, who died suddenly aged 38 last month
Former Man United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was among the mourners in attendance at the funeral
Alex, who died suddenly last month at the age of 38, was remembered during an emotional service at St Peter’s Church. The funeral brought together family, friends and figures from across football, reflecting the affection felt for him both within the Hughes family and throughout the game.
Mark Hughes helped carry his son’s coffin into the church alongside members of the family, including Alex’s brother Curtis and father-in-law David Pollock. Behind them, Alex’s widow Jess entered the church with their two young sons, Sebastian and Leonardo, in a deeply moving moment for those in attendance.
Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was present to support the family, along with several familiar faces from the club’s history. Mike Phelan, Martin Edwards, Bryan Robson and Ryan Giggs were also among those who attended the service.
The Manchester Evening News reported that David Pollock delivered an emotional eulogy in which he revealed that Alex’s children had begun pointing to the sky after scoring goals in honour of their father. It was a simple but heartbreaking tribute that captured the lasting bond between Alex and his family.
Alex worked with his father, Mark, at Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City and Fulham
Mark Hughes gave a private tribute at the committal. A joint message from Mark and his wife Jill was also read aloud by Pollock at the end of the eulogy. In it, they thanked Alex for the privilege of being his parents and remembered every smile, laugh, hug and precious memory they had shared with him.
Their words described Alex as their perfect son, adding that their love for him was beyond words and would remain forever. The tribute underlined the depth of grief felt by the family after such a sudden and devastating loss.
Representatives from Grimsby Town were also in attendance, with manager David Artell leading a delegation from the League Two club. Alex had been working as the club’s player recruitment lead at the time of his death on June 19.
The League Managers Association announced Alex’s death last month on behalf of Mark Hughes and his family. In that statement, Mark and Jill said they were totally heartbroken by the sudden and unexpected loss of their beloved son. They described Alex as a wonderful son, brother, devoted husband and father who would be deeply missed by everyone who knew him.
Alex had built a career in football away from the spotlight after a brief playing spell in Wales. He became a licensed agent and later worked with his father as an analyst at Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City and Fulham.
He also went on to serve as director of football at AFC Fylde in 2024 before taking up his role with Grimsby Town. Those positions reflected a life closely connected to the sport and a growing reputation behind the scenes.
For Mark Hughes, the day brought together not only his family but also many of the people connected to his long football journey. As a player, he made 345 appearances for Manchester United and also represented Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Chelsea. He later managed Wales, Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City, Stoke City and several other clubs.
But on this occasion, football’s rivalries and achievements faded into the background. The gathering in Prestbury was about love, remembrance and support for a family grieving the loss of a son, husband, father and brother.
Alex Hughes leaves behind his wife Jess, their children Sebastian and Leonardo, his parents Mark and Jill, and his siblings Curtis and Xenna. The tributes paid at his funeral showed how deeply he was loved and how strongly his memory will continue to live on through those closest to him.
