Redknapp had already masterminded a famous FA Cup win over United five years before and they were level at Dean Court when Luther Blissett had the chance for a winner to heap pressure on Ferguson, who was under scrutiny at the time.

Had Bruce not intervened, the last 19 years of Ferguson's half-century in football - which he celebrates this weekend - may have been different.

Tottenham boss Redknapp said: "When Alex first went to Manchester United he came very close to not being the manager of Manchester United. They were going through a very bad spell.

"I can remember playing them in the FA Cup when I was manager of Bournemouth and drawing 1-1 with them at Dean Court.

"In the last minute Luther Blissett came in to put a cross into an empty net. Steve Bruce jumped at the back of Luther's ankles and fouled him to stop him scoring and give a penalty away.

"Luther scooped the ball wide. The referee was 40 yards behind the incident and like me, from where I was sitting, thought Luther had just missed an open goal.

"If Luther had scored that day who knows what might have happened. But Manchester United saw sense and realised they had a great manager."

United won the replay at Old Trafford and Ferguson was then given time to prove himself as one of the finest managers in the British game.

"He is, if not the best, then certainly one of the best managers of all time," Redknapp said. "He is up there with Bill Shankly and Bill Nicholson; there is a group of them who have just been amazing. His record is just incredible."