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Full Name
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Eric Cantona
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Date of Birth
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24th May 1966
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Place of Birth
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Paris, France
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Position
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Forward
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Height
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6ft 2
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United debut
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6/12/1992
vs Man City (H)
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....
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Cantona's United Record 1992-1997
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Appearances
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Goals
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League
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142 (1)
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64
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FA Cup
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17
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10
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League Cup
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6
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1
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Europe
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16
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5
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Total
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181 (1)
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80
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Cantona's International Record
1987-1994
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45 Caps for France - 19 Goals
1997 F.A.
Premier League
1996 F.A. Cup
1996 F.A. Premier
League
1994 F.A. Cup
1994 F.A. Premier
League
1993 F.A. Premier
League
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Eric
Cantona was perhaps the most influential footballer in
English footballer of the 1990s. A player of true vision and
creativity, worthy of that now, much over-used word,
"genius". His passing, innovation and influence was
unrivalled, he could split a defence with the sort of pass
that only he could create. Eric had an exhilarating array of
skills, back-heels, stylish flicks, turns and lobs combined
with immaculate ball control and touch.
His shooting from long-range was superb while one-on-one
with the goalkeeper, he was ice cool and clinical. If
opposing defenders lost concentration for a millisecond, it
would be enough for Cantona to punish them and set the Reds
on the way to another vital victory. Together with a
sometimes unpredictable Gallic temperament, Cantona was a
one-man footballing phenomenon.
Cantona was a unique character, a one-off, but Manchester
United and Eric was a match made in heaven. When Alex
Ferguson stunned everyone in English football with the deal
of the decade that aquired him from Leeds, few knew the
impact Eric would make. Most United fans thought he was no
more than a strengthening of the squad, but a few months
later it became clear that Cantona was by far the most
important player at Old Trafford. From the moment he walked
through the door he realised there was at last the platform
he was looking for, huge potential, huge support and a
working assumption that only the best is good enough. And
Eric Cantona knew he was the best.
He
was the final piece of Alex Ferguson's jigsaw in creating a
team to end United's 26 year wait for a league title. Within
a short while of his arrival, such was his powerful
influence that the whole United team revolved around the
mercurial Frenchman. With Cantona and United playing the
most attractive football of the 90's they not only ended
that 26 year wait and went on to do the League and Cup
Double in 1994 and 1996 with another Premier League title in
1997.
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The
French rebel |
Cantona had numerous problems with
discipline during his career in France, sendings off and
tantrums prevented him making a real impact. Born in Paris,
he was brought up in Marseille and made his first-team debut
for Auxerre, a local club, in 1983. He signed professional
forms for Auxerre in June 1986 and made his full
International debut in 1987 against West Germany. After 81
league games and 23 goals for Auxerre he signed in 1988 for
French champions Marseille for £2.3 million where he won the
League and Cup double in 1989. However, after a row when he
angrily threw his shirt to the ground he was loaned to out
Bordeaux, before signing for Montpellier, with whom he won
the French Cup in 1990. He returned to Marseille again, then
was sold for £1 million to Nīmes where he became Captain.
His rebellious behaviour forced him to leave after arguments
with managers, referees, and team-mates. In August 1988, he
insulted the French national team manager on television and
was banned from the national side for a year. After he threw
the ball at a referee in while playing for Nīmes he was
banned for three matches. In the disciplinary hearing that
followed an annoyed Cantona went up to three members of the
French FA and shouted "Idiot!" in each of their faces. This
led to a two month ban and Eric announced his retirement
from football in December 1991, it would be only temporary
however. Cantona returned in England and made a low-key
return briefly at Sheffield Wednesday before joining Leeds
United in February 1992 - in time to make 15 league
appearances and help Leeds win the Championship at
Manchester United's expense.
He became an idol of the Leeds fans as they sang the terrace
chant "Ohh-Ahh-Cantona". Then suddenly in November 1992
after 13 appearances into the new season, he was
sensationally transferred to Manchester United for the
comparatively small sum of £1.2 million. It was to be one of
the biggest bargains in British football history. Cantona
inspired United to their first League title for 26 years in
1993 and the following year another title with the FA Cup -
to complete the club's first Double. He also won the
recognition of his fellow professional's, winning the PFA
Player of the Year award in 1994 and had also risen to
become Captain of the French National team.
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Manchester United's greatest idol |
At Leeds, Cantona was an idol, at Manchester
United he was a God. Fans worshipped him the like of which
Old Trafford had not seen or may ever see. He was hailed as
"Eric the King" with the French red, white and blue colours
as prevalent at Old Trafford than the normal red, white and
black. Even to this day 3 years after his departure fans
still sing his name. No United player has ever had such a
relationship with his fans. Eric was a player to be proud of
and symbol of a resurgent Manchester United in the 1990s. He
encapsulated what United fans think of our club: different,
better. Memorable Cantona moments? Well, there are many: A
stunning volley against Wimbledon in the FA Cup 5th Round
1994, his pair of penalty kicks that sunk Chelsea in the Cup
Final of the same year, a brilliant chip against Sheffield
United in the 3rd Round the following year. Then there was
his individual effort against QPR in October 1993, scoring
two goals against Man City in both derbies of the 93-94
season, his crucial winner at Newcastle in March 1996, his
superb strike versus Arsenal that same month, his winning
goal in the 1996 FA Cup Final, a delicate lob against
Sunderland in December 1996.......the list could go on and
on.
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Super confident |
When Eric was playing you always knew that
when it mattered, United would win. Cantona would install in
the rest of the team an unbeatable confidence. His presence
alone was enough. Footballers need self-belief but Eric
Cantona had unfathomable reserves of the stuff. His
arrogance had upset colleagues in the past, but at United it
only inspired them. Eric really did intimidate opponents and
wind-up opposing fans. There was his confident Gallic strut
with his chest puffed out, or sometimes he'd stand with
hands on hips gesturing like a movie Director. Not
forgetting the way his shirt collar was always famously
turned up. He was truly fascinating to watch but Cantona was
no ordinary footballer. He liked philosophy, poetry, art,
drama - this all added to his enigmatic character and
reputation.
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From hell to heaven |
In the infamous "Kung-foo kick" Cantona's
volatile state of mind led to him attacking an abusive
spectator. A court sentence of 120 hours' community service
was accompanied by a world-wide ban on Cantona playing
football until October 1995. The French FA stripped him of
captaincy of the national team and Cantona would never play
for his country again. In his absence United lost the League
by a point to Blackburn, a title they surely would have won
had he not been banned. Cantona's grace in accepting his
punishment largely restored his popularity and he was voted
the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year for
1996. 1996 was Cantona's greatest year in which as Captain
he led United to the Double, almost single-handedly. Scoring
a string of vital match winning goals, including the FA
Cup-final winner against Liverpool. Cantona also played a
vital role in the shaping and teaching of United's young
players such as Beckham, Scholes and Giggs.
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The shock retirement |
In 1996-97 Cantona had a good season but
failure to get to the European Cup Final and the emergence
of United's young stars led him to suspect his powers were
on the wane. In June 1997 after winning the League title he
stunned the footballing world and left United fans gutted by
announcing his retirement. Eric did not want to be
remembered as an ageing player past his best, he wanted to
always be remembered at his magnificent prime, a winner.
Cantona instead planned to take up a different stage,
amazingly, as a film actor. He did however return for one
final game in the famous red shirt, playing in the Munich
Memorial game in November 1998. A year later Eric returned
for Alex Ferguson's Testimonial in which he played with a
United legends team alongside Bruce, Pallister, Hughes,
Robson and Schmeichel. Even after the Treble winning
heroics, Cantona's popularity with the United fans was still
as strong as it ever was. The acting career path has so far
not been a huge success and Cantona has returned to the game
representing France in the shape of professional Beach
football - and his superb skills are still very evident. In
May 2001 Manchester United announced Cantona would return to
Old Trafford in an informal role to coach the youth team and
younger players. If it is successful, perhaps he may yet
have another role to play in the club's history.
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Conclusion |
As
unexpectedly as he had arrived he was gone. The King had
abdicated and his throne was empty. Consequently, Alex
Ferguson reshaped his team to play more as a unit and not
revolve around Cantona. United never really did replace him,
there was no-one like him and no-one would ever be like him.
A true great and legend, Eric "The King" Cantona, we will
probably never see his like again.
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All pictures in the
profiles can be enlarged by clicking on the smaller version.
Stats do not include friendlies, Charity Shield or World Club tournaments.
Number in brackets ( ) represents appearances as substitute in addition to
starting appearances.
This information is kindly taken from
McCleery's
Manchester United Zone
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