Eric Cantona

french actor and association football actor

Eric Daniel Pierre Cantona ( french pronunciation : [ eʁik danjɛl pjɛʁ kɑ̃tɔna ] ; born 24 May 1966 ) is a french actor, film director, manufacturer, and former professional football player. He played for Auxerre, Martigues, Marseille, Bordeaux, Montpellier, Nîmes, and Leeds United before ending his career at Manchester United, where he won four Premier League titles in five years and two League and FA Cup Doubles. He won the league backing in seven of his last eight full seasons as a professional. At international tied, he played for the french national team. A physically potent, hard-working forward who combined skill and creativity with baron and goalscoring ability, Cantona is much regarded as having played a key role in the revival of Manchester United as a footballing wedge in the 1990s and having an iconic status at the club. He is much regarded as one of the greatest footballers of his generation. He wore the iconic No. 7 shirt at Manchester United, and is known for turning up his collar. Cantona is dearly nicknamed by Manchester United fans as “ King Eric ” and was voted as the team ‘s greatest ever player by Inside United magazine. Set against his achievements in football was a inadequate disciplinary record for much of his career, including a 1995 conviction for an rape on an abusive spectator for which he received an eight-month suspension.

Reading: Eric Cantona

Following his retirement from football in 1997, he took up a career in film and had a function in the 1998 film Elizabeth, starring Cate Blanchett, the 2008 film French Film, and the 2009 film Looking for Eric. In 2010, he debuted as a phase actor in Face au Paradis, a act directed by his wife, Rachida Brakni. [ 5 ] Cantona took an interest in the frolic of beach soccer ; as player-manager of the France home team, he won the 2005 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. charismatic and outspoken, Cantona was an inaugural draftee into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002. The museum states that “ the enigmatic Frenchman was one of the Premier League ‘s most controversial players always ”. At the Premier League 10 Seasons Awards in 2003, he was voted the Overseas Player of the Decade. Cantona was inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2021. In 2004, he was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100 tilt of the world ‘s greatest life players .

early life [edit ]

Cantona was born in Marseille on 24 May 1966, [ 2 ] the son of dressmaker Éléonore Raurich, and nurse and painter Albert Cantona. [ 6 ] [ 7 ] [ 8 ] His mother was spanish and came from Barcelona, [ 9 ] [ 10 ] while his paternal grandfather was italian and had emigrated to Marseille from Sardinia. [ 11 ] While fighting the armies of General Franco in the spanish Civil War in 1938, Cantona ‘s parental grandfather, Pere Raurich, suffered a serious injury to his liver and had to retreat to France for medical treatment with his wife ; they stayed in Saint-Priest, Ardèche, before settling in Marseille. [ 12 ] The Cantona family home was a cave in one of the hills in the Les Caillols area of Marseille, between the city ‘s 11th and 12th arrondissements, and it was rumoured to have been used as a lookout post for the Wehrmacht towards the end of the Second World War. The site was chosen in the mid-1950s by Cantona ‘s paternal grandma, whose husband was a mason. By the time Cantona was born in 1966, the hillside cave had become little more than a room in the family ‘s sign of the zodiac, which was now up to a habitable standard. Cantona has two brothers : Jean-Marie, who is four years older, and Joël, who is 17 months younger .

Club career [edit ]

early career [edit ]

Cantona began his football career with SO Caillolais, his local team and matchless that had produced such endowment as Roger Jouve and had players such as Jean Tigana and Christophe Galtier within its ranks. originally, Cantona began to follow in his don ‘s footsteps and often played as a goalkeeper, but his creative instincts began to take over and he would play up front man more and more often. In his time with SO Caillolais, Cantona played in more than 200 matches .

Auxerre [edit ]

Cantona ‘s first professional golf club was Auxerre, where he spent two years in the youth team before making his debut on 5 November 1983, in a 4–0 league victory over Nancy. [ 13 ] In 1984 his footballing career was put on defy as he carried out his national serve. On 14 May 1985, Cantona scored his first goal for Auxerre, scoring an afford goal to put his team 2–0 up against Rouen in an significant match to put blackmail on AS Monaco. [ 14 ] On the final matchday of the season, Auxerre played Strasbourg, with Auxerre needing one bespeak to secure qualification for the following seasons ‘ UEFA Cup ; 1–0 down at half-time, Cantona scored the equalising goal from 25 yards out and showed his talent to a across-the-board consultation for the first gear time. [ 15 ] After his acquit he was loaned out to Martigues [ 13 ] in the french Second Division before rejoining Auxerre and signing a professional contract in 1986. His performances in the First Division earned him his first full external cap. The follow year, Cantona was again in trouble because of a dangerous kung-fu undertake on Nantes player Michel Der Zakarian, resulting in a three-month suspension, [ 13 ] this was late reduced to a two-month suspension as his club Auxerre threatened to make the musician unavailable for choice in the national team. He was part of the France under-21 side that won the 1988 U21 European Championship, scoring a hat-trick in a quarter-final against the England under-21 english, [ 16 ] and shortly after he transferred to Marseille for a french record tip ( FF22m ). Cantona had grown up as a Marseille fan .

Marseille [edit ]

In January 1989 during a friendly bet on against Torpedo Moscow he kicked the ball at the crowd, then ripped off and threw away his shirt after being substituted. His club responded by banning him for a month. Just a few months in the first place, he had been banned from external matches for one year after insulting the home coach Henri Michel on television receiver. [ 17 ]

Loans to Bordeaux and Montpellier [edit ]

Having struggled to settle at Marseille, Cantona moved to Bordeaux on a six-month loan and then to Montpellier on a year-long loan. At Montpellier, he was involved in a fight with teammate Jean-Claude Lemoult and threw his boots in Lemoult ‘s face. The incident led to six players demanding that Cantona be sacked, but with the confirm of teammates such as Laurent Blanc and Carlos Valderrama, the golf club retained his services, although they banned him from the grind for ten-spot days. Cantona was instrumental as the team went on to win the french Cup and his form persuaded Marseille to take him bet on .

render to Marseille, transfer to Nîmes [edit ]

back at Marseille, Cantona initially played well under passenger car Gerard Gili and his successor Franz Beckenbauer. however, the Marseille chair Bernard Tapie was not satisfied with the results, and replaced Beckenbauer with Raymond Goethals ; Cantona was continually at odds with Goethals and Tapie and, despite helping the team win the french Division 1 entitle, he was transferred to Nîmes the follow season, for a fee of 10 million francs, signing a three-year contract. [ 18 ] In December 1991, during a catch for Nîmes, he threw the ball at the reviewer, having been angered by one of his decisions. He was summoned to a disciplinary hearing by the french Football Federation and was banned for one calendar month. Cantona responded by walking up to members of the listening committee in turn and calling each of them an “ idiot ”. His ban was increased to two months, and Cantona subsequently announced his retirement from football on 16 December 1991. [ 19 ] The France national team coach, Michel Platini, was a fan of Cantona, and persuaded him to make a comeback. On the advice of Gérard Houllier adenine good as his analyst, he moved to England to restart his career : “ He [ my analyst ] advised me not to sign for Marseille and recommended that I should go to England. ” [ 20 ]

passing and go to England [edit ]

On 6 November 1991, after Liverpool ‘s 3–0 victory over Auxerre in a UEFA Cup irregular round, second base leg tie at Anfield, Liverpool director Graeme Souness was met by Frenchman Michel Platini at the end of the game, who told him that Cantona was available for sale to Liverpool. Souness thanked Platini, but declined the offer, citing dressing room harmony as his argue. After being turned down by Liverpool, Cantona was given a trial at Sheffield Wednesday when Wednesday director Trevor Francis was approached by Platini and Francis ‘ former agentive role, Dennis Roach. In a 2012 interview Francis explained that he had agreed to take Cantona on as a prefer to Roach and Platini, who he knew from his time play in Italy, and that it was intended as an opportunity for Cantona to put himself in the “ denounce window ” : Wednesday had entirely recently been promoted back to the top flight, with most of the police squad still being on Second Division-level wages, and the golf club could not afford to sign him. Cantona spent two days with Wednesday, aim and play in an indoor tournament at Sheffield Arena. [ 21 ]

Leeds United [edit ]

1991–92 season [edit ]

Cantona ‘s arrival at Leeds United was announced in January 1992. Leeds would pay £100,000 to Nîmes to take him on lend until 15 April, after which they would have to pay another £900,000 to sign him permanently. [ 22 ] Cantona made his introduction for Leeds in a 2–0 loss at Oldham Athletic on 8 February 1992. [ 23 ] At Leeds, he was part of the team that won the final Football League First Division title before it was replaced by the Premier League as the top part in English football. He made 15 appearances, and despite only scoring three goals, he was implemental in their claim success, primarily with assists for leading goalscorer Lee Chapman. Cantona scored his inaugural goal for Leeds in a 2–0 succeed at base to Luton Town on 29 February, and set up the other goal for Chapman. [ 24 ] Having played little football in the six weeks before signing for Leeds, Cantona struggled to find a place in an established line-up, with coach Howard Wilkinson preferring to put him on against tiring defences. Against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on 7 March, Cantona came off the terrace to set up a finish for Gary McAllister, securing a winnings that moved Leeds two points ahead of Manchester United, who had a game in handwriting, in the championship rush. [ 25 ] Cantona was deployed as a part of a front three, along with Chapman and Rod Wallace, in a 5–1 thrash of Wimbledon at Elland Road on 14 March, scoring Leeds ‘ one-fourth goal of the game. [ 26 ] Leeds ‘ claim ambitions survived the unmanageable tests of Arsenal at Highbury ( a 1–1 draw with Cantona denied a belated achiever by David Seaman ) and West Ham ( a 0–0 draw with Cantona being denied a first-half goal through a doubtful offside decisiveness ) ; however, they lost 4–0 to Manchester City on 4 April at Maine Road, allowing Manchester United to take perch side in the title race again. [ 27 ] Against Chelsea on 11 April, Cantona came on for Wallace with 20 minutes to go and Leeds leading 1–0 ; he then set up Chapman ‘s twentieth goal of the temper before rounding off the scoring with a lob over Chelsea defender Paul Elliott. Two days former, Wilkinson announced that Leeds intended to complete Cantona ‘s transfer from Nîmes for £900,000. Cantona was paid a generous £7,000 a week, a huge cost in an era without television or european football gross. [ 28 ] Starting with that Chelsea match, Leeds went unbeaten in their final five games, securing the league title on the penult weekend with a 3–2 gain over Sheffield United after Manchester United had lost to Liverpool .

1992–93 season [edit ]

In the 1992 FA Charity Shield that August, with Leeds missing several key players, Cantona scored a hat-trick in a 4–3 victory over Liverpool, [ 29 ] the first hat-trick in the Charity Shield since Tommy Taylor in 1957. [ 30 ] Cantona ‘s hat-trick places him among the small group of players to have scored three or more goals in games at Wembley Stadium. Leeds started their entitle defensive structure with a 2–1 win over Wimbledon on 15 August ; Cantona started aboard Chapman up front, but had a repose game, although he did pick up his first gear chicken card in English football, after 17 games. [ 31 ] After Cantona scored his beginning league finish of the season in a 4–1 kill at Middlesbrough, and followed it up with another hat-trick, the beginning in the newly created Premier League in a 5–0 acquire over Tottenham on 25 August. [ 32 ] Cantona then flew to Paris to join the french national team for a friendly against Brazil on the identical lapp day, due to newly installed coach Gérard Houllier ‘s desire to have the solid team present for his first match. [ 33 ] Leeds slipped towards mid-table with a match of 2–2 draws despite excellent performances by Cantona, drawing two excellent saves from a young David James against fellow championship challengers Liverpool on 29 August and scoring a brace against Oldham three days late. Leeds then fell 2–0 to Manchester United at Old Trafford on 2 September, with Cantona coming off the terrace and about scoring with a bicycle kick. [ 34 ] Leeds ‘ inaugural foray into the european Cup since 1974–75 started ailing with a 3–0 get the better of at Stuttgart on 16 September ; Cantona, struggling with a hamstring wound, had a pass intercepted that led to Stuttgart ‘s first step goal, exacerbating a growing rift with coach Wilkinson. [ 35 ] Cantona missed the adjacent two games, a 1–1 draw at Southampton and a 4–1 succeed over Scunthorpe United in the League Cup, through injury but returned immediately to help Leeds win their first league game in six, a 2–0 victory over Everton on 26 September. [ 36 ] Four days belated, Leeds faced Stuttgart in the return leg of the european Cup. Dubbed the ‘Mission Impossible ‘, Cantona and Gordon Strachan combined to set up Gary Speed, who scored with a left-footed volley. Andreas Buck equalised for Stuttgart in the 34th minute, the away goal meaning that Leeds needed another four to progress. McAllister scored a penalty just ahead half-time to make it 2–1 to Leeds before Cantona ‘s looping stroke in the 66th minute was deflected into his own net by Günther Schäfer. Chapman ‘s header at the near post made it 4–1 in the 78th minute but Stuttgart remained firm and denied Leeds the decisive fifth goal. however, Leeds received a stroke of luck when it emerged after the match that Stuttgart ‘s coach, Christoph Daum, had fielded four ‘foreign ‘ players, one more than allowed. Leeds were awarded a 3–0 victory by UEFA, and a play-off match was ordered at the achromatic Camp Nou in Barcelona on 9 October. [ 37 ] An exhaust Leeds then stumbled to a 4–2 frustration at Ipswich Town, with Cantona ‘s imprint dip through fatigue and wound. He had a poor game as Leeds won the play-off against Stuttgart 2–1. [ 38 ] A return to home duty then saw Cantona and Jean-Pierre Papin mark in a 2–0 victory over Austria. [ 39 ] He brought his revived mannequin binding to England, helping in a 3–1 victory against Sheffield United in October. This game would, however, be Cantona ‘s final win while with Leeds. Leeds were drawn against Rangers in the european Cup, a marry billed as ‘The Battle of Britain ‘ by the press. [ 40 ] Despite McAllister ‘s first-minute goal, Cantona and Leeds struggled against the forcible Rangers side and fell 2–1 amid a hostile Ibrox crowd. Cantona walked straightaway to the snip room after being substituted which was interpreted by Wilkinson as disrespectful to the other players. Leeds besides lost the reappearance leg 2–1, Rangers scoring through Mark Hateley and Ally McCoist, before Cantona scored a late consolation goal. In between the two games, Cantona was an fresh stand-in when Leeds travelled to Queens Park Rangers as Wilkinson, favouring a more calculate approach, found no room for him. Leeds lost 2–1, with Cantona leaving for France after being granted leave on the morning of the pit. [ 41 ] Wallace was preferred to start over Cantona in a fighting 2–2 draw at home to Coventry City. Managing barely one gain in four, Leeds ‘ deed defense had imploded in October, precisely as Arsenal ‘s had in the previous season. Cantona did however start in the 4–0 get the better of at Manchester City on 7 November, but put in a hapless performance along with the rest of the team. Cantona was then guilty of “ two awful misses ” as Watford knocked them out of the League Cup on 10 November. Despite suffering along with his team, Wilkinson, preferably than Cantona, was held responsible, after having to reinvigorate a side with a count of ageing stars. Despite Cantona scoring ( with his shoulder ) for France against Finland four days former, Wilkinson kept him out of the team, citing an improbable excuse of a “ breakwater tune ”, as Leeds pulled off an improbable but resounding 3–0 win over Arsenal, ending the Gunners ‘ six-game victorious run. [ 42 ] Furious at being dropped, Cantona refused to report for training and faxed a transfer request to the club on 24 November, stating a preference to join Manchester United, Liverpool or Arsenal. [ 43 ]

manchester United [edit ]

transfer from Leeds United [edit ]

The news of Cantona ‘s impending transfer from Leeds to fierce rivals Manchester United was met with hostility from Leeds fans. The transfer was, however, seen as a good piece of business by most football pundits, removing a churning player from the team. [ 44 ] Cantona left Leeds for Manchester United for £1.2 million on 26 November 1992. Leeds chair Bill Fotherby had telephoned Manchester United chair Martin Edwards to enquire about the handiness of Denis Irwin. Edwards was in a meet with coach Alex Ferguson at the fourth dimension, and both agreed that Irwin was not for sale. Ferguson had identified that his team was in need of a striker, having recently made unsuccessful bids for David Hirst, Matt Le Tissier and Brian Deane, and instructed his president to ask whether Cantona was for sale. Fotherby had to consult with Wilkinson, but within a few days the distribute was complete. [ 45 ]

1992–93 season [edit ]

“ He [ Cantona ] illuminated Old Trafford. The position was a craze every clock he touched the ball. ”

—Former Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson. [ 46 ]
Cantona had arrived excessively deep to register to play in United ‘s 1–0 win at Arsenal on 28 November, but was in the crowd at Highbury as his new team secured a critical gain. He made his beginning appearance for the golf club on 1 December 1992 in a friendly match against Benfica in Lisbon to mark Eusébio ‘s fiftieth birthday, wearing the number 10 shirt. He made his competitive debut as a second-half substitute against Manchester City at Old Trafford on 6 December. United won 2–1, though Cantona made fiddling shock that day .

“ The Frenchman waltzed into The Cliff, United ‘s old training reason, and had team-mates in his bondage with scantily a parole. In his first season, the first of the Premier League earned run average, he cultivated what would become the hallmarks of United for two decades : attacking football, inventiveness, aggression and an express imperativeness on winning. As Paul Ince recalled : “ He merely had that air and bearing. He took duty away from us. It was like he said : ‘I ‘m Eric, and I ‘m here to win the title for you ‘. ”

— FourFourTwo magazine, “ How Cantona transformed Manchester United, the Premier League, and a Christmas Carol ” [ 47 ]
United ‘s season had been disappointing up to Cantona ‘s bless. They were falling behind the likes of big-spending Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers in the race for the first Premier League title, deoxyadenosine monophosphate well as surprise challengers including Norwich City and Queens Park Rangers. Goalscoring had been a problem since the halfway period of the previous season – when it had cost them the league style as they suffered defeats or were held to draws at the hands of teams they had been expected to beat. [ 47 ] Ferguson had first tried to sign Alan Shearer from Southampton during the 1992 close temper, but lost out to Blackburn Rovers. He then spent £1 million on Dion Dublin, who suffered a break leg a few games into the season and was out of action for six months. A £3 million bid for Sheffield Wednesday striker David Hirst was turned down, and by 7 November, United were eighth in the Premier League. [ 47 ] Cantona cursorily settled into the team, slotting in aboard Mark Hughes, while Brian McClair was switched to midfield. Cantona contributed greatly to a immediate upturn in the team ‘s fortunes, not only scoring goals but besides creating chances for the other players. His first United goal came in a 1–1 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on 19 December 1992, and his second gear came on Boxing Day in a 3–3 draw against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough, where they claimed a bespeak after being 3–0 down by the hour scratch. however, controversy was never army for the liberation of rwanda aside, and on his return to Elland Road to play Leeds a few weeks former, he spat at a fan and was fined £1,000 by The Football Association. [ 17 ] [ 48 ] United alone lost doubly in the league after Cantona ‘s arrival, and finished the season 10 points absolved at the top of the table, finishing as champions for the first time in 26 years, and making Cantona the first player to win consecutive English top division titles with different clubs. He had won a domestic league title with different clubs for three consecutive seasons, having helped Marseille win the french league deed in 1991 .

1993–94 season [edit ]

“ collar turned up, back straight, chest stuck out, Eric glided into the stadium as if he owned the seat. ”

—Former Manchester United teammate Roy Keane [ 46 ]
United retained the Premier League, and Cantona ‘s two penalties helped them to a 4–0 succeed over Chelsea in the 1994 FA Cup Final. He besides collected a runner-up decoration in the Football League Cup, which the team lost 3–1 to Aston Villa. He was besides vote PFA Player of the year for that season, and finished as United ‘s top scorekeeper with 25 goals in all competitions. however, the season was not without its moments of controversy ; Cantona was sent off as the team exited the Champions League against Galatasaray, and he was besides dismissed in consecutive league games in March 1994, first against Swindon Town and then against Arsenal. The two consecutive crimson cards saw Cantona banned for five matches, including a FA Cup semi-final collide with Oldham Athletic, which United drew 1–1. Cantona was available for the replay and helped them win 4–1. [ 13 ] 1993–94 was the first gear season of squad numbers in the Premier League. Cantona was issued with the number 7 shirt, a police squad number he kept for the pillow of his United career, and which already had iconic condition, having previously been worn by club legends including George Best and Bryan Robson. [ 49 ] however, squad numbers were not set for the Champions League matches and Cantona wore the phone number 9 shirt in the four fixtures base and away against Kispest Honvéd and Galatasaray. On 19 December 1993, he scored two against Aston Villa ( the previous season ‘s runner-up ) in a 3–1 victory that put United 13 points clear at the circus tent of the league. They extended their tip to 16 points soon after, and finally finished eight points ahead of runner-up Blackburn. Cantona was United ‘s crown scorer with 26 goals in all competitions. [ 50 ]
In the 1994–95 season, United looked to win a one-third consecutive league title, and for the first half of the season things went smoothly adequate for player and club. The season began with a 2–0 Wembley gain over Blackburn in the Charity Shield, in which Cantona scored a penalty. [ 51 ] Cantona frequently scored for Manchester United, who put intense atmospheric pressure on a Blackburn side that led the table for much of the season, particularly with a 4–2 winnings at Ewood Park in late October, in which Cantona was on the scoresheet. He was besides on the scoresheet the following month in a memorable 5–0 bowler hat winnings over Manchester City, and on 22 January he scored the winning goal in a 1–0 home acquire over Blackburn that made the title race evening tighter and brought Cantona ‘s count of league goals for that season to 12. He had besides scored a further goal in an FA Cup third round win at Sheffield United, and a second double was potential. The arrival of striker Andy Cole from Newcastle United on 10 January further boosted these hopes, evening though Cole was cup-tied for FA Cup fixtures. [ 52 ] On 25 January 1995, he was involved in an incident that attracted headlines and controversy worldwide. [ 53 ] [ 54 ] [ 55 ] In an away match against Crystal Palace, Cantona was sent off by the reviewer for kicking Palace defender Richard Shaw after Shaw had frustrated Cantona throughout the game by close marking him. [ 53 ] As he was walking towards the tunnel, Cantona launched a ‘kung-fu ‘ style kick into the crowd, directed at Palace assistant Matthew Simmons, who had run down 11 rows of stairs to confront and shout abuse at Cantona. Simmons was alleged to have used the words “ Fuck off back to France, you French bastard ”. [ 53 ] Cantona followed the kick with a series of punches. A drawn-out ban from the game was regarded as inevitable, with some critics calling for Cantona to be deported and never allowed to play football in England again, while others called for him to be banned from football for liveliness. [ 55 ] [ 56 ] [ 57 ] arsenic well as disciplinary military action from his clubhouse and The FA, Cantona was besides faced with a criminal charge of assail, which he admitted to on 23 March, resulting in a two-week prison prison term, although he was freed on bail pending an entreaty. [ 58 ] This was overturned in the appeal court a week late and rather he was sentenced to 120 hours of community service, which was spent coaching children at United ‘s trail reason. [ 59 ] At a wardrobe league called late, Cantona said, in a decelerate and debate manner :

“ When the seagulls follow the trawler, it ‘s because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea. Thank you identical much. ”

—Cantona ’ sulfur brief, and much publicised, affirmation [ 60 ]
Cantona then got up from his seat and abruptly left, leaving behind him a carry media room surprised and baffled – some roared with laugh – with those in the room trying to decipher his cryptic words. [ 54 ] [ 60 ] In accord with The FA ‘s wishes, United ‘s initial military action was to fine Cantona £20,000 for the assault and to confirm that he would not play for the first team for the rest of the season, although United were distillery in the hunt for a moment double. [ 61 ] [ 62 ] He was besides stripped of the captainship of the french national football team by national bus Aimé Jacquet. The FA then increased the prohibition to eight months ( up to and including 30 September 1995 ) and fined him a farther £10,000. [ 63 ] The FA Chief Executive Graham Kelly described his attack as “ a tarnish on our game ” that brought shame on football. FIFA then confirmed the suspension as cosmopolitan, meaning that Cantona could not escape the bachelor of arts in nursing by being transferred or loaned to a extraneous cabaret. [ 64 ] Cantona never played for the french national team again. [ 65 ] His golf club finally lost the Premier League entitle to Blackburn. [ 53 ] There had been media speculation that Cantona would leave United to play for a foreign club when his abeyance finished, and many observers felt that he would not be able to cope with the inevitable needle from rival players and supporters, but Ferguson persuaded him to stay in Manchester, despite interest from italian club Inter Milan ( who had managed to lure his teammate Paul Ince to Italy that year ). [ 66 ] even after signing his new contract, Cantona was frustrated by the terms of his ban ( which did not even allow him to play in friendly matches behind closed doors ), and on 8 August, he handed in a request for his contract to be terminated, as he no longer wanted to play football in England. This came after United had been censured by the FA for fielding Cantona in a equal against another club at the clubhouse ‘s aim land, which was defined as a friendly equal despite the baseball club organising the match as being within the context of training – as his suspension allowed him to play in this type of match only. The request was turned down and two days late, following a suffer in Paris with Ferguson, he declared that he would remain at the cabaret. In 2011, Cantona said that the attack on Simmons was “ a great feel ” and a memory he is happy for fans to treasure, but “ … it was a err ”. [ 67 ] In 2002, the notoriety of the Kung fu kick saw it ranked count 12 on Channel 4 ‘s poll of the 100 Greatest Sporting Moments. [ 68 ]

1995–96 season [edit ]

Spitting Image during the 1990s puppet of Cantona which appeared on the british satirical puppet showduring the 1990s

1996–97 season [edit ]

“ The terrace chant of “ Ooh Aah Cantona ”, sung with such fervour by the Manchester United faithful whenever their french hero scored, looks set to become a trademark. ”

—Following retirement, in May 1997 Cantona has his chant ( and “ Cantona 7 ” ) patented as commercial trademarks. [ 75 ]
Cantona was named as United ‘s captain for the 1996–97 season following the departure of Bruce to Birmingham City. United retained the league in the 1996–97 season ; Cantona had won four league titles in five years with the team, and six in seven years including those won with Marseille and Leeds, the exception being the 1994–95 temper which he had missed the second gear half of through pause. Cantona ‘s stand-out moment in his concluding season was a goal and memorable celebration against Sunderland in December 1996 ; after chipping Sunderland goalkeeper Lionel Pérez from just inside the punishment area, Cantona celebrated by standing still, emotionless, lento turning about and raising his arms before embracing McClair, who had provided the help. [ 76 ] [ 77 ] At the end of the season he announced that he was retiring from football at the senesce of 30. [ 78 ] His final competitive game came against West Ham on 11 May 1997, and his final appearance before retiring was five days late on 16 May in a testimonial for David Busst ( whose career had been ended by an wound suffered against United the previous year ) against Coventry City at Highfield Road. Cantona scored a total of 64 league goals for United, 13 in domestic cup competitions, and 5 in the Champions League, bringing his reckoning to 82 goals in less than five years. [ 47 ]

After leaving [edit ]

In 1998, the Football League, as separate of its centennial season celebrations, included Cantona on its list of 100 League Legends. Cantona ‘s achievements in the English League were further marked in 2002 when he was made an inaugural address draftee of the English Football Hall of Fame. late in 1998, Cantona organised a match of Manchester United players against other players from around the worldly concern in what was in the first place designed to be a memorial for the victims of the Munich Air Disaster in 1958 and their families, but which was merged with a testimony for Cantona himself. [ 79 ]
An Evening with Eric Cantona was held at was held at the Lowry in Salford, Greater Manchester in February 2017 Cantona being interviewed on stage In his 1999 autobiography Managing My Life, Alex Ferguson claimed that Cantona had informed him of his decisiveness to retire from playing within 24 hours of Manchester United ‘s Champions League semi-final get the better of to Borussia Dortmund, though the decision was not made public for about a month afterwards. During that prison term, there had been speculation about his future at Manchester United, including talk of a motion to Real Zaragoza of Spain. Returning to Britain in 2003 to pick up the Overseas Player of the Decade Award at the Premier League 10 Seasons Awards, Cantona said of his premature retirement, “ When you quit football it is not slowly, your liveliness becomes unmanageable. I should know because sometimes I feel I quit besides new. I loved the game but I no longer had the passion to go to bed early, not to go out with my friends, not to drink, and not to do a batch of early things, the things I like in life. ” [ 80 ] In 2004, Cantona was quoted as saying, “ I ‘m thus proud the fans hush sing my appoint, but I fear tomorrow they will stop. I fear it because I love it. And everything you love, you fear you will lose. ” [ 81 ] He was interviewed in the “ Number 7s ” issue of Manchester United ‘s official magazine, United, in August 2006, stating he would only return to United as ‘Number 1 ‘ ( meaning not return as adjunct coach or coach ) and would create a team like no other and play the direction he thinks football should be played ; however, Cantona opposes the possession of Manchester United by the Glazer class, and has stated that he will not return to the cabaret, even as a coach, while they are in charge. [ 82 ] In March 2014, Cantona was arrested and cautioned for an act of coarse assault on Regent ‘s Park Road in Camden, North London. The victim did not require checkup attention. [ 83 ] Cantona received the UEFA President ‘s Award in August 2019. Dressed in a flat cap, he began by quoting William Shakespeare ‘s King Lear – “ As flies to wanton boys we are for the gods ” – before referencing skill, war and crime. [ 84 ] Similar to the reception to his “ seagulls ” press league in 1995, the perplex hearing watched in silence. [ 84 ]

International career [edit ]

Cantona was given his fully international debut against West Germany in August 1987 by national team coach Henri Michel. [ 85 ] In September 1988, angered after being dropped from the national team, Cantona referred to Michel as a “ bag of crap ” in a post-match television interview and was indefinitely banned from all external matches. [ 86 ] however, Michel was sacked shortly after that having failed to qualify for the 1990 FIFA World Cup. The new coach was Michel Platini and one of his first gear acts was to recall Cantona. Platini stated that whilst he was bus, Cantona would be selected for France deoxyadenosine monophosphate long as he was playing competitive top-class football ; it was Platini who had initiated Cantona ‘s move to England to restart his career. France qualified for Euro 1992 held in Sweden, but failed to win a single plot despite the hit partnership of Cantona and Jean-Pierre Papin. Platini resigned after the finals to be replaced by Gérard Houllier. Under Houllier, France failed to qualify for the 1994 World Cup in the United States after losing the final game 2–1 at base to Bulgaria, when a draw would have sufficed. Houllier resigned and Aimé Jacquet took over. Jacquet began to rebuild the national team in preparation for Euro 96 and appointed Cantona as captain. Cantona remained master until the Selhurst Park incident in January 1995. The suspension which resulted from this incident besides prevented him from playing in international matches. By the time Cantona ‘s suspension had been completed, he had lost his function as the team ‘s playmaker to Zinedine Zidane, as Jacquet had revamped the police squad with some modern players. Cantona, Papin and David Ginola lost their places in the squad and were never selected for the french team again, frankincense missing Euro 96. Though there was media criticism about Cantona ‘s omission, as he was playing his best football in the Premier League, Jacquet stated that the team had done well without Cantona, and that he wanted to keep faith with the players who had taken them so far. [ 87 ] In a 2015 interview with french radio net France Info, Cantona stated that had he hush been involved with the national side, he would have extended his career to feature in the 1998 World Cup, held in Cantona ‘s home nation. [ 88 ] Cantona hush harbours resentment for the people at the head of his national team but besides admiration for his adopted football area ; at Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup, he supported England and not France. [ 89 ]

Post-playing career [edit ]

Acting career [edit ]

He focused his late career largely as an actor in french cinema, having had his first function as a rugby actor in Le bonheur est dans le pré, shoot during his 1995 suspension from football. In the late 1990s, he accepted a character as a french ambassador in the English film Elizabeth ( 1998 ). In 2002, he directed a short film, Apporte-moi ton amour. He guest-starred as a mysterious barroom philosopher in mugwump british movie Jack Says, released to DVD in September 2008. He co-starred as director Thierry Grimandi in French Film ( 2009 ), and is co-producer and a lead actor in Ken Loach ‘s Palme D’or nominated movie Looking for Eric ( 2009 ). He stars as The Corsican in the danish western The Salvation, which premiered at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival on 17 May 2014. [ 90 ] In January 2020, Cantona played The King in the music video for Liam Gallagher ‘s single “ once ”. [ 91 ]

work with Nike and other companies [edit ]

1966 was a great year for English football. Eric was born .

— Nike slogan which appeared on billboards throughout England in 1994, referencing Cantona ’ s give birth ( the same year England won the World Cup ) [ 92 ]
Cantona has frequently appeared in commercials for the sportswear company Nike. [ 93 ] [ 94 ] In 1994, he was involved in a Nike advertise campaign which featured a black and white image of himself in front of the english flag, with the caption : “ ’66 was a capital class for English football. Eric was born. ” [ 95 ] In 1996, he was the central visualize in a Nike commercial titled “ good vanadium Evil ” in a gladiatorial game set in a Roman amphitheater. Appearing aboard football players from around the universe, including Ronaldo, Paolo Maldini, Luís Figo, Patrick Kluivert and Jorge Campos, they defend “ the beautiful game “ against a team of demonic warriors, which ends with Cantona receiving the ball from Ronaldo, pulling up his shirt collar as was his trademark, and delivering the final examination line, “ Au Revoir ”, before striking the ball which punches right through the demon goalkeeper. [ 93 ] Since his retirement from professional football in 1997, Cantona has continued to appear in Nike commercials, frequently in a not bring role. In 1997 he starred in Nike ‘s “ Park Life ” commercial ( set to the song “ Parklife “ by Blur ) where a group of public house league players playing amateur football at Hackney Marshes in east London are suddenly joined by peak Premier League footballers, including Cantona, Ian Wright, David Seaman and Robbie Fowler. [ 96 ] In 2000, “ Park Life ” was ranked number 15 in Channel 4 ‘s poll of the 100 Greatest television receiver Ads. [ 97 ] In a global Nike advertise political campaign in the runup to the 2002 World Cup, Cantona starred as the organizer of “ metro ” games ( branded by Nike as “ Scorpion KO “ ) in a commercial directed by Terry Gilliam, which takes plaza between football players such as Thierry Henry, Ronaldinho, Francesco Totti, Roberto Carlos and Hidetoshi Nakata. [ 98 ] [ 99 ] In a Nike campaign ahead of the 2006 World Cup, Cantona appeared as the head spokesman for the Joga Bonito organization, an association attempting to eliminate act and fake meet from football. [ 100 ] He besides starred in a Eurostar commercial in 1996, [ 101 ] and an irish EuroMillions ad in 2004. [ 102 ] In 2009, he featured in a british television ad for a new mannequin of the Renault Laguna. [ 103 ]

Beach soccer [edit ]

soon after his passing from Manchester United in 1997, Cantona became captain of the french national beach soccer team, gaining an interest in the sport through his brother Joel who was already a contribution of the french home side travelling the worldly concern to play matches. [ 104 ] Cantona continued his sake in beach soccer games in southern Asia and at the Inaugural Kronenbourg Beach Soccer Cup in 2002, in the city of Brighton, England. As a recognizable design, Cantona was samara to beach soccer ‘s increase during the sports early years, being a attraction for drawing in fans to beach soccer events, [ 105 ] and besides helping to promote the sport, saying in 2002, “ Physically it is unmanageable, technically it is unmanageable, and tactically it ‘s unmanageable besides. We must work very hard, and train regularly together. Beach Soccer has got everything needed to be a big frolic. ” [ 106 ] He found considerable success as he managed and played in the French team which won their first gear european entitle at the 2004 Euro Beach Soccer League and the inaugural FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in 2005 in Rio de Janeiro, France ‘s first and only World championship to date. This was Cantona ‘s final examination year as a player. however he continued to coach the french national team at the 2006 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, which finished in third station. In 2007 Cantona enjoyed another successful year as director, taking France to fourth place in the World Cup and narrowly missing out on a second european title, finishing runner-up to Portugal after a 7–6 personnel casualty in the final of the 2007 Euro Beach Soccer League. The World Cup was held in France for the foremost time in 2008 ; however, Cantona was unable to make the top four after losing to Italy in the quarter finals. After failing, as director, to qualify France to the World Cup for the beginning time in 2009, Cantona ‘s demise as head coach was sealed in 2010 as not only did France fail in qualification for the approaching World Cup again, but Cantona besides lead the national team to relegation from the circus tent division of the Euro Beach Soccer League down to Division B. These series of disappointments lead to Cantona resigning as director of France in 2011, [ 107 ] after about 15 years involved in the team. In 2019, the magazine France Football placed Cantona fourthly in an article named “ 10 Legends of Beach Soccer ”. [ 108 ]

brief stint with New York Cosmos [edit ]

Cantona at Old Trafford with the Cosmos, 5 August 2011 New York Cosmos announced the Frenchman ‘s restitution to football as their director of Soccer on 18 January 2011. On arrival, Cantona described his role to the press as to help Cosmos “ regain the number one situation in the United States and then … to become one of the best clubs in the universe over the coming years. ” [ 109 ] Cantona was later fired by the golf club after a confrontation with a photographer, and in May 2015 he sued the Cosmos for closely $ 1 million in back pay and a promise 4 % equity parcel. [ 110 ] [ 111 ] Cosmos rejected his claims, insisting that his role as Director of Soccer was largely ceremony, and that Cantona ‘s on-key job was as “ a showman and brand ambassador ”. [ 112 ] [ 113 ] The two parties late agreed to dismiss the lawsuit, though terms of a settlement were not disclosed. [ 112 ]

stylus of dally [edit ]

Regarded as one of the best players of his coevals ,. [ 114 ] [ 115 ] one of the greatest Premier League players of all clock time, [ 116 ] and as one of France ‘s and Manchester United ‘s greatest players always, Cantona is dearly nicknamed by Manchester United fans as “ King Eric ”. [ 117 ] [ 118 ] [ 119 ] A big, physically potent, hard-working, and retentive actor, Cantona was a world–class ahead, who combined technical skill and creativity with world power and goalscoring ability. [ 120 ] [ 116 ] [ 121 ] Despite his acme and enforce physique, he was an elegant player on the ball, due to his long torso, which gave him a lower centre of graveness than most players of his stature, and who possessed strong technical skills and ball restraint, deoxyadenosine monophosphate well as an excellent first equal. furthermore, he was renowned for his imagination, passing, news, quick–thinking, and playmaking skills, in accession to his eye for goal and powerful and accurate strickle ability, which often saw him sexual conquest from dramatic strikes and volleys ; as such, he much played in a rid, creative role between the midfield and advancing lines throughout his career, acting as a deep–lying ahead behind the main hitter, due to his leaning to drop deep into midfield to retrieve the ball and orchestrate attack plays, a well as his ability both to sexual conquest goals and provide assists for teammates. however, Cantona was besides adequate to of playing as a centre-forward, ascribable to his ability to hold-up the ball with his back to goal ( although this was not his favor placement ), as an out–and–out striker, as an attacking midfielder, or even as a central midfielder on occasion. [ 122 ] [ 123 ] [ 124 ] [ 125 ] [ 126 ] He was besides an accurate penalty and unblock kick taker. [ 127 ] [ 128 ] due to his acme, human body, positional sense, and heading accuracy, he was strong in the publicize ; [ 123 ] furthermore, he was besides known for being both mentally and physically baffling, and was highly regarded for his solid, command, and charismatic personality, ampere well as his leadership and fearlessness, which helped to alleviate imperativeness from his teammates. [ 116 ] [ 122 ] [ 123 ] [ 129 ] indeed, Cantona was besides known for iconically turning up his collar during matches ; Wayne Barton notes that he first wore his collar up in a Manchester bowler hat match on 7 November 1993, following United ‘s elimination from Europe at the hands of Galatasary, comment : “ one wonders if, in his own superstitious way, this was Cantona ’ sulfur means of calming that fire inside him after the stumble to Turkey, a direction to focus his thoughts on moving advancing. ” [ 46 ] [ 129 ] When asked about the reason behind his celebrated on-field appearance, he commented : “ I didn ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate plan it. During one game it was cold and my collar equitable stayed up. We won, so it became a substance abuse to play with my collar up. ” [ 130 ] Cantona was a hard-working player, who besides stood out for his defensive contribution off the ball, a well as his ability to start attacking plays after winning back self-control ; [ 123 ] he besides drew praise in the media for his discipline and dedication in trail. [ 131 ] Despite his endowment and natural ability, however, he was besides ill-famed for his aggression, confrontational behavior, volatile temper, and lack of discipline on the cant, angstrom well as his leaning to commit hard challenges, which made him a highly controversial number in worldly concern football. [ 132 ] [ 133 ] [ 134 ] [ 135 ] furthermore, he was known for being outspoken on a number of issues, [ 136 ] and was even accused in media of what was perceived as being arrogant. [ 95 ] [ 137 ] When he was asked whether Zidane or Platini was the greatest french player of all time, for example, he said : “ No, it is me. ” [ 130 ] He besides drew criticism from certain pundits for being discrepant at times, [ 138 ] and for his disappointing performances in european baseball club competitions, deoxyadenosine monophosphate well as his miss of significant accelerate, which was particularly apparent in his later career, as he lost some of his pace with old age. [ 139 ] [ 140 ]

political views [edit ]

Cantona called for a social rotation against the banks and encouraged customers of the major retail banks to withdraw their money on 7 December 2010 in protest at the ball-shaped fiscal crisis. This proposal then became the base for an on-line crusade calling for a depository financial institution campaign. [ 141 ] In January 2012, Cantona began trying to gather the 500 signatures from elected officials necessity for a command for the french presidential election, in order to draw corroborate for the homeless charity and campaign group Emmaus. [ 142 ] In June 2012, he signed a request for the dismissal of palestinian football player Mahmoud Sarsak : imprisoned without conviction by Israel in July 2009 and last released on 10 July 2012. [ 143 ]

personal life [edit ]

Cantona married Isabelle Ferrer in 1987, and they had two children together before divorcing in 2003. He married actress Rachida Brakni in 2007 ; they besides have two children in concert. [ 144 ] Cantona ‘s brother, Joël, is besides a former football player who retired at a young historic period and went into acting. His cousin, Sacha Opinel, is besides a football player. [ 145 ]

career statistics [edit ]

baseball club [edit ]

International [edit ]

Appearances and goals by national team and year[150]

National team
Year
Apps
Goals

France

1987
3
1

1988
2
0

1989
4
3

1990
7
6

1991
4
2

1992
9
2

1993
7
5

1994
8
1

1995
1
0

Total
45
20

Scores and results list France’s goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Cantona goal.

Honours [edit ]

Auxerre [ 152 ]
Marseille [ 153 ]
Montpellier [ 153 ]
Leeds United [ 153 ]
Manchester United [ 154 ] [ 153 ]
France U21 [ 153 ]
France Beach [ 153 ]
Individual

Filmography [edit ]

film [edit ]

Documentaries [edit ]

stagecoach [edit ]

Face au paradis (English title: Faced with Paradise) – 2010 (stage production directed by Rachida Brakni)

bibliography [edit ]

Auclair, Philippe (2009). Cantona: The Rebel Who Would Be King. Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-230-74430-1.
Blacker, Terence; Donaldson, William (1997). The Meaning of Cantona: Meditations on Life, Art and Perfectly Weighted Balls. Mainstream Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85158-950-0.
Cantona, Eric (1996). Cantona on Cantona: Reflections of a sporting legend. Andre Deutsch. ISBN 978-0-233-99045-3.
Robinson, Michael (1995). La Philosophie De Cantona. Prentice Hall. ISBN 978-1-898051-39-8.
Wightman, Rob (2002). FourFourTwo Great Footballers: Eric Cantona. Virgin Books. ISBN 978-0-7535-0662-2.
Worrall, Frank (2008). “Chapter 7: From Caveman to Cavemen”. The Magnificent Sevens. London: John Blake Publishing. p. 103. ISBN 978-1-84454-609-1.

References [edit ]

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