Ferguson, United’s manager since November 1986, oversaw Semi-Final victories in 1990, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999 and 2004. Ferguson has won The Cup a record five times.

United haven’t lost a Semi-Final since 1970 when Leeds United defeated them in a second replay.

Arsene Wenger has also reached seven FA Cup Semi-Finals in his nine years at Highbury. They were Semi-Final winners in 1998, 2001, 2002 and 2003 - and losers in 1999 and 2004, both times to Manchester United.

Blackburn manager Mark Hughes won The Cup four times as a player, three times for Manchester United and once for Chelsea.

He scored United’s Semi-Final replay winner against Liverpool in 1985, a last-gasp equaliser in the Semi-Final against Oldham Athletic at Wembley in 1994 (they won the replay at Maine Road) and Chelsea’s third goal in their 3-0 Semi-Final win against Wimbledon in 1997.

If Hughes can go on to win the Cup with Blackburn, he will emulate the feats of the 14 men who have won The Cup as a player and a manager - Peter McWilliam, Billy Walker, Jimmy Seed, Joe Smith, Stan Seymour, Matt Busby, Bill Shankly, Joe Mercer, Bob Stokoe, Don Revie, Terry Venables, George Graham, Kenny Dalglish and Gianluca Vialli.

Newcastle’s Graeme Souness managed Liverpool to FA Cup success in 1992. Ronnie Moran led the team out at Wembley, with Souness recovering from heart surgery.