The Dubliner used to travel across the Irish Sea to watch United in action and remembers some tough times before Sir Alex Ferguson took charge of the club.
Having witnessed some of the greatest moments in our history, he admits it is a dream come true to come up against Erik ten Hag's men, with the fourth-round clash at Rodney Parade gaining plenty of media attention ahead of Sunday's 16:30 GMT kick-off.
"I followed United years ago, when they couldn't win an argument, never mind a game," Coughlan told the Daily Mail.
"It was tough being a follower at that time because Liverpool were dominating, and you had to go to school every day and just get hammered.