Eric Cantona
{{Short description|French actor and footballer (born 1966)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{distinguish|Eric Cantor}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Eric Cantona
| image = Eric Cantona Cannes 2009.jpg
| caption = Cantona in 2009
| birth_name = Eric Daniel Pierre Cantona
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1966|5|24|df=y}}
| birth_place = Marseille, France
| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|footballer}}
| spouse = {{plainlist|
- {{marriage|Isabelle Ferrer|1987|2003|reason=divorced}}
- {{marriage|Rachida Brakni|2007}}
}}
| children = 4
| module = {{Infobox football biography
| embed = yes
| position = Forward{{Hugman|3058|access-date=7 June 2019}}
| youthyears1 = 1980–1981 |youthclubs1 = SO Les Caillols
| youthyears2 = 1981–1983 |youthclubs2 = Auxerre
| years1 = 1983–1988 |clubs1 = Auxerre |caps1 = 82 |goals1 = 23
| years2 = 1985–1986 |clubs2 = → Martigues (loan) |caps2 = 15 |goals2 = 4
| years3 = 1988–1991 |clubs3 = Marseille |caps3 = 40 |goals3 = 13
| years4 = 1989 |clubs4 = → Bordeaux (loan) |caps4 = 11 |goals4 = 6
| years5 = 1989–1990 |clubs5 = → Montpellier (loan) |caps5 = 33 |goals5 = 10
| years6 = 1991–1992 |clubs6 = Nîmes |caps6 = 16 |goals6 = 2
| years7 = 1992 |clubs7 = → Leeds United (loan) |caps7 = 11 |goals7 = 3
| years8 = 1992 |clubs8 = Leeds United |caps8 = 17 |goals8 = 6
| years9 = 1992–1997 |clubs9 = Manchester United |caps9 = 143 |goals9 = 64
| totalcaps = 368 |totalgoals = 131
| nationalyears1 = |nationalteam1 = France U17 |nationalcaps1 = |nationalgoals1 =
| nationalyears2 = |nationalteam2 = France U21 |nationalcaps2 = |nationalgoals2 =
| nationalyears3 = 1987–1995 |nationalteam3 = France |nationalcaps3 = 45 |nationalgoals3 = 20
| nationalyears4 = 1997–2006 |nationalteam4 = France (beach) |nationalcaps4 = |nationalgoals4 =
| manageryears1 = 1997–2011 |managerclubs1 = France (beach)
| manageryears2 = 2011–2012 |managerclubs2 = New York Cosmos (director of soccer)
}}
}}
Eric Daniel Pierre Cantona ({{Langx|fr|Éric}};{{Cite web |title=Éric Cantona |url=https://www.fff.fr/equipe-nationale/joueur/8518-cantona-eric/fiche.html |access-date=3 December 2022 |website=fff.fr |publisher=French Football Federation }} {{IPA|fr|e.ʁik dan.jɛl pjɛʁ kɑ̃.tɔ.na|pron}}; born 24 May 1966) is a French former professional footballer who is currently an actor. In his football career Eric Cantona was a physically strong, hard-working and tenacious player. He combined technical skill and creativity with power and goalscoring ability. Mostly utilised as a deep-lying forward, he was also capable of playing as a centre-forward, as a dedicated striker, as an attacking midfielder, or as a central midfielder. He was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players in 2004.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3533891.stm|title=Pele's list of the greatest|date=4 March 2004|work=BBC Sport|access-date=22 November 2013}}{{cite news |last= |first= |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/101-greatest-football-players-last-25-years-full-list|title=Ranked! The 101 greatest football players of the last 25 years: full list|edition=253|work=FourFourTwo|date=13 February 2018|accessdate=22 December 2023}}{{cite news |last=White |first=Mark |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/ranked-the-100-best-premier-league-players-ever/4|title=Ranked! The 100 best Premier League players ever|publisher=FourFourTwo|date=25 March 2025|accessdate=25 March 2025}}
Cantona played for Auxerre, Martigues, Marseille, Bordeaux, Montpellier, Nîmes and Leeds United, before ending his career at Manchester United, with whom he won four Premier League titles in five years, including two League and FA Cup Doubles. He wore the iconic number 7 shirt at Manchester United and was known for turning up his collar. He is affectionately nicknamed "King Eric" by Manchester United fans. Cantona won league championships in England and France in seven of his last eight full seasons as a professional, and at least one trophy in eight of his last nine. At international level, he played for the France national team and scored 20 goals in 45 matches. He appeared at UEFA Euro 1992 and, in preparation for Euro 96, was appointed captain.
In 2003, Cantona was voted as Manchester United's greatest-ever player by Inside United magazine. He was an inaugural inductee into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002. 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. Charismatic and outspoken, Cantona's achievements in football were set against fallings out with coaches and team-mates, and a poor disciplinary record throughout his career, including a 1995 conviction for an assault on an abusive spectator, for which he received a two-week prison sentence, reduced to community service on appeal, and an eight-month suspension from football{{snd}}preventing him from participating at Euro 96.
In 1997, Cantona unexpectedly announced his retirement from football at the age of 30. He has moved into a career in cinema, including roles in the films Elizabeth (1998), French Film (2008) and The Killer (2024). In 2010, he debuted as a stage actor in Face au Paradis, a play directed by his wife, Rachida Brakni.{{cite news |last=Davies |first=Lizzy |date=10 January 2010 |title=Eric Cantona and Rachida Brakni are toast of Paris as ex-footballer makes stage debut |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jan/10/eric-cantona-theatre-rachida-brakni |access-date=25 January 2018}} Cantona took an interest in the sport of beach soccer; as player-manager of the France national beach soccer team, he won the 2005 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.
Early life
Eric Daniel Pierre Cantona{{cite book |first=Rob |last=Wightman |title=Eric Cantona |series=FourFourTwo Great Footballers |year=2004 |orig-year=2002 |publisher=Virgin Books |location=London |isbn=9-780753-508923 |page=5}} was born in Marseille on 24 May 1966,{{cite web |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/eric-cantona/221788/ |title=E. Cantona: Summary |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=5 June 2019}} the son of dressmaker Éléonore Raurich, and nurse and painter Albert Cantona.{{cite news |first=Julian |last=Coman |title=The king and I: meeting Eric Cantona |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/mar/25/king-and-i-eric-cantona |work=The Guardian |date=25 March 2012 |access-date=21 July 2012}}{{cite news |first=Richard |last=Williams |title=The other side of Cantona: Eric Cantona has become the most exciting footballer in England. The fact that he is French, loves poetry and philosophy, and has a volatile temperament makes him the most intriguing. Last week he was voted players' player of the year – while under suspension |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/the-other-side-of-cantona-eric-cantona-has-become-the-most-exciting-footballer-in-england-the-fact-that-he-is-french-loves-poetry-and-philosophy-and-has-a-volatile-temperament-makes-him-the-most-intriguing-last-week-he-was-voted-players-player-of-the-year--while-under-suspension-1370669.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090522191231/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/the-other-side-of-cantona-eric-cantona-has-become-the-most-exciting-footballer-in-england-the-fact-that-he-is-french-loves-poetry-and-philosophy-and-has-a-volatile-temperament-makes-him-the-most-intriguing-last-week-he-was-voted-players-player-of-the-year--while-under-suspension-1370669.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 May 2009 |work=The Independent |date=17 April 1994 |access-date=21 July 2012}}{{cite news |first=Paul |last=Henderson |title=When GQ met Eric Cantona |url=http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/entertainment/articles/2011-07/05/gq-sport-eric-cantona-interview-manchester-united-football |work=GQ |date=5 July 2011 |access-date=21 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121029140156/http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/entertainment/articles/2011-07/05/gq-sport-eric-cantona-interview-manchester-united-football |archive-date=29 October 2012}} His mother was Spanish and came from Barcelona,{{cite news |title=Eric Cantona: I didn't punch him strong enough. I should have punched him harder |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/eric-cantona-i-didnt-punch-him-strong-enough-i-should-have-punched-him-harder |work=FourFourTwo |date=22 January 2015 |access-date=13 April 2015}}{{cite news |first=Sid |last=Lowe |title=Eric Cantona: 'Big democracies are, in a way, dictatorships' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/nov/19/eric-cantona-democracies-dictatorships-manchester-united-interview |work=The Guardian |date=19 November 2019 |access-date=17 February 2020}} while his paternal grandfather was Italian and had emigrated to Marseille from Ozieri in Sardinia.{{cite news|url=http://www.unionesarda.it/Articoli/Articolo/286716|work=L'Unione Sarda|date=1 September 2012|title=Ozieri, strani incontri in cimitero, Cantona visita la tomba del nonno|language=it|access-date=15 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120903223310/http://www.unionesarda.it/Articoli/Articolo/286716|archive-date=3 September 2012|url-status=dead}} While fighting the armies of General Franco in the Spanish Civil War in 1938, Cantona's maternal 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.Auclair (2009), p. 13.
Club career
=Early career=
Cantona began his football career with SO Caillolais, his local team and one that had produced such talent as Roger Jouve and had players such as Jean Tigana and Christophe Galtier within its ranks. Originally, Cantona began to follow in his father's footsteps and often played as a goalkeeper, but his creative instincts began to take over and he would play up front more and more often. In his time with SO Caillolais, Cantona played in more than 200 matches.{{Cite web |date=12 October 2023 |title=Eric Cantona thinks music career is 'closest thing' to time on football pitch |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/eric-cantona-thinks-music-career-070000232.html |access-date=14 May 2024 |website=Yahoo News }}{{Cite web |last=Gault |first=Matt |date=21 November 2019 |title=The volatile world of a young but brilliant Eric Cantona |url=https://thesefootballtimes.co/2019/11/21/eric-cantona-the-early-french-years/ |access-date=14 May 2024 |website=These Football Times }}
=Auxerre=
Cantona's first professional 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.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/the-life-and-times-of-eric-cantona-1570034.html |title=The life and times of Eric Cantona |work=The Independent |date=27 January 1995 |access-date=25 January 2018}} In 1984 his footballing career was put on hold as he carried out his national service. On 14 May 1985, Cantona scored his first goal for Auxerre, scoring an open goal to put his team 2–0 up against Rouen in an important match to put pressure on AS Monaco.{{Cite web |last=Crépin |first=Timothé |url=https://www.francefootball.fr/news/Auxerre-marseille-equipe-de-france-manchester-united-les-vingt-dates-de-la-carriere-d-eric-cantona/680699 |title=Auxerre, Marseille, équipe de France, Manchester United : les vingt dates de la carrière d'Éric Cantona |trans-title=Auxerre, Marseille, French team, Manchester United: the twenty dates of Éric Cantona's career |work=France Football |date=23 May 2016 |access-date=3 September 2021 |language=fr}} On the final matchday of the season, Auxerre played Strasbourg, with Auxerre needing one point 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 wider audience for the first time.{{Cite web |last=Gault |first=Matt |url=https://thesefootballtimes.co/2019/11/21/eric-cantona-the-early-french-years/ |title=The volatile world of a young but brilliant Eric Cantona |work=These Football Times |date=21 November 2019 |access-date=3 September 2021}} After his discharge he was loaned out to Martigues 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 international cap.
The following year, Cantona was again in trouble because of a dangerous kung-fu tackle on Nantes player Michel Der Zakarian, resulting in a three-month suspension, this was later reduced to a two-month suspension as his club Auxerre threatened to make the player unavailable for selection 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 side,{{cite news|title=French in Front|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HZJUAAAAIBAJ&pg=6122%2C3804160|date=15 April 1988|work=New Straits Times|access-date=12 October 2013}} and shortly after he transferred to Marseille for a French record fee (FF22m).{{Cite web |date=31 May 2008 |title=Mai 1988, à 22 ans, Cantona vaut 22 millions |url=https://www.parismatch.com/Actu/Sport/Mai-1988-a-22-ans-Cantona-vaut-22-millions-133122 |access-date=22 June 2024 |website=parismatch.com |language=fr}} Cantona had grown up as a Marseille fan.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}
=Marseille=
In January 1989 during a friendly game 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 earlier, he had been banned from international matches for one year after insulting the national coach Henri Michel on TV.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/3006409/Cantona-returns-to-Old-Trafford.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090513004848/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/3006409/Cantona-returns-to-Old-Trafford.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 May 2009 |title=Cantona returns to Old Trafford |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=30 May 2001 |access-date=1 May 2009}}
==Loans to Bordeaux and Montpellier==
{{BLP unsourced section|date=February 2024}}
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 team-mate 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 support of team-mates such as Laurent Blanc and Carlos Valderrama, the club retained his services, although they banned him from the ground for ten days. Cantona was instrumental as the team went on to win the French Cup and his form persuaded Marseille to take him back.
==Return to Marseille, transfer to Nîmes==
Back at Marseille, Cantona initially played well under coach Gerard Gili and his successor Franz Beckenbauer. However, the Marseille chairman 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 title, he was transferred to Nîmes the following season, for a fee of 10 million francs, signing a three-year contract.{{Cite web |url=https://www.humanite.fr/cantona-nimes-pour-10-millions-de-francs-23305 |title=Cantona a Nimes pour 10 millions de Francs |trans-title=Cantona in Nimes for 10 million francs |work=L'Humanité |date=8 June 1991 |access-date=7 September 2021 |language=fr}}
In December 1991, during a match for Nîmes, he threw the ball at the referee, 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 month. Cantona responded by walking up to members of the hearing 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.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zJVUAAAAIBAJ&pg=6927,1151918&dq=eric-cantona&hl=en |title=Cantona packs it in |work=New Straits Times |via=Google News |date=18 December 1991 |access-date=25 January 2018}} 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 as well as his psychoanalyst, he moved to England to restart his career: "He [my psychoanalyst] advised me not to sign for Marseille and recommended that I should go to England."{{cite news |last=Hind |first=John |title=Did I Say That?: Eric Cantona |work=The Observer |date=3 May 2009}}
==Departure and move to England==
On 6 November 1991, after Liverpool's 3–0 victory over Auxerre in a UEFA Cup second round, second leg tie at Anfield, Liverpool manager 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 reason. After being turned down by Liverpool, Cantona was given a trial at Sheffield Wednesday when Wednesday manager Trevor Francis was approached by Platini and Francis' former agent, Dennis Roach. In a 2012 interview Francis explained that he had agreed to take Cantona on as a favour to Roach and Platini, who he knew from his time playing in Italy, and that it was intended as an opportunity for Cantona to put himself in the "shop window": Wednesday had only recently been promoted back to the top flight, with most of the squad still being on Second Division-level wages, and the club could not afford to sign him. Cantona spent two days with Wednesday, training and playing in an indoor tournament at Sheffield Arena.{{cite news |url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/exclusive-francis-sets-the-record-straight-on-why-sheffield-wednesday-did-not-sign-cantona-1-4470843 |title=Exclusive: Francis sets the record straight on why Sheffield Wednesday did not sign Cantona |last=Hercock |first=Richard |date=21 April 2012 |work=The Yorkshire Post |access-date=5 June 2016}}
=Leeds United=
==1991–92 season==
Cantona's arrival at Leeds United was announced in January 1992. Leeds would pay £100,000 to Nîmes to take him on loan until 15 April, after which they would have to pay another £900,000 to sign him permanently.Auclair (2009), p. 184. Cantona made his debut for Leeds in a 2–0 loss at Oldham Athletic on 8 February 1992.{{cite news |last=Falkingham |first=Katie |title=24 years ago today: Eric Cantona makes Leeds United debut |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/24-years-ago-today-eric-cantona-makes-leeds-united-debut-1-7721233|access-date=12 January 2018 |work=The Yorkshire Post|date=8 February 2016}} 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 division in English football. He made 15 appearances, and despite only scoring three goals, he was instrumental in their title success, primarily with assists for leading goalscorer Lee Chapman. Cantona scored his first goal for Leeds in a 2–0 win at home to Luton Town on 29 February and set up the other goal for Chapman.Auclair (2009), p. 193. Having played little football in the six weeks before signing for Leeds, Cantona struggled to find a place in an established line-up, with manager Howard Wilkinson preferring to put him on against tiring defences. Against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on 7 March, Cantona came off the bench to set up a goal for Gary McAllister, securing a win that moved Leeds two points ahead of Manchester United, who had a game in hand, in the title race.Auclair (2009), pp. 193–5. Cantona was deployed as a part of a front three, along with Chapman and Rod Wallace, in a 5–1 thrashing of Wimbledon at Elland Road on 14 March, scoring Leeds' fourth goal of the game.Auclair (2009), p. 196.
Leeds' title ambitions survived the difficult tests of Arsenal at Highbury (a 1–1 draw with Cantona denied a late winner by David Seaman) and West Ham (a 0–0 draw with Cantona being denied a first-half goal through a dubious offside decision); however, they lost 4–0 to Manchester City on 4 April at Maine Road, allowing Manchester United to take pole position in the title race again.Auclair (2009), p. 197–9. 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 20th goal of the season before rounding off the scoring with a lob over Chelsea defender Paul Elliott. Two days later, 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 revenue.Auclair (2009), pp. 200–1. Starting with that Chelsea match, Leeds went unbeaten in their final five games, securing the league title on the penultimate weekend with a 3–2 win over Sheffield United after Manchester United had lost to Liverpool.
==1992–93 season==
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,{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-charity-shield-cantona-lifts-the-occasion-champions-flourish-on-french-flair-in-a-wembley-1539535.html |work=The Independent |first=Joe |last=Lovejoy |title=Football / Charity Shield: Cantona lifts the occasion: Champions flourish on French flair in a Wembley spectacle which outshone its modest promise: Joe Lovejoy reports from Wembley |date=9 August 1992}} the first hat-trick in the Charity Shield since Tommy Taylor in 1957.Auclair (2009), pp. 217–8. 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 title defence with a 2–1 win over Wimbledon on 15 August; Cantona started alongside Chapman up front, but had a quiet game, although he did pick up his first yellow card in English football, after 17 games.Auclair (2009), pp. 219–20. After Cantona scored his first league goal of the season in a 4–1 defeat at Middlesbrough and followed it up with another hat-trick, the first in the newly created Premier League in a 5–0 win over Tottenham on 25 August.{{cite news |last=Andrews |first=Phil |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-cantona-hits-hattrick-to-crush-spurs-1542635.html |title=Cantona hits hat-trick to crush Spurs |date=26 August 1992 |access-date=9 August 2014 |work=The Independent}} Cantona then flew to Paris to join the France national team for a friendly against Brazil on the very same day, due to newly installed manager Gérard Houllier's desire to have the whole squad present for his first match.Auclair (2009), pp. 221–2.
Leeds slipped towards mid-table with a pair of 2–2 draws despite excellent performances by Cantona, drawing two excellent saves from a young David James against fellow title challengers Liverpool on 29 August and scoring a brace against Oldham Athletic three days later. Leeds then fell 2–0 to Manchester United at Old Trafford on 6 September, with Cantona coming off the bench and nearly scoring with a bicycle kick.Auclair (2009), p. 223. Leeds' first foray into the European Cup since 1974–75 started poorly with a 3–0 defeat at Stuttgart on 16 September; Cantona, struggling with a hamstring injury, had a pass intercepted that led to Stuttgart's opening goal, exacerbating a growing rift with manager Wilkinson.Auclair (2009), pp. 223–4. Cantona missed the next two games, a 1–1 draw at Southampton and a 4–1 win 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.Auclair (2009), p. 224.
Four days later, 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 before half-time to make it 2–1 to Leeds before Cantona's looping shot 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 neutral Camp Nou in Barcelona on 9 October.Auclair (2009), pp. 225–6.
An exhausted Leeds then stumbled to a 4–2 defeat at Ipswich Town, with Cantona's form dipping through fatigue and injury. He had a poor game as Leeds won the play-off against Stuttgart 2–1.Auclair (2009), p. 227. A return to national duty then saw Cantona and Jean-Pierre Papin score in a 2–0 victory over Austria.Auclair (2009), p. 228. He brought his revived form back to England, helping in a 3–1 victory against Sheffield United in October. This game would, however, be Cantona's last win while with Leeds.
Leeds were drawn against Rangers in the European Cup, a tie billed as 'The Battle of Britain' by the press.{{cite news |last=Ingle |first=Sean |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/dec/12/uefa.sport |title=Leeds and Rangers to go double Dutch |work=The Guardian |date=12 December 2001 |access-date=28 June 2019}} Despite McAllister's first-minute goal, Cantona and Leeds struggled and fell 2–1 amid a hostile Ibrox crowd. Cantona walked straight to the dressing room after being substituted, which was interpreted by Wilkinson as disrespectful to the other players. Leeds also lost the return 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 unused substitute when Leeds travelled to Queens Park Rangers as Wilkinson, favouring a more direct approach, found no room for him. Leeds lost 2–1, with Cantona leaving for France after being granted leave on the morning of the match.Auclair (2009), p. 229–32. Wallace was preferred to start over Cantona in a fighting 2–2 draw at home to Coventry City. Managing just one win in four, Leeds' title defence had imploded in October, just as Arsenal's had in the previous season.
Cantona did however start in the 4–0 defeat 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 dreadful misses" as Watford knocked them out of the League Cup on 10 November. Despite suffering along with his team, Wilkinson, rather than Cantona, was held responsible, after having to reinvigorate a side with a number of ageing stars. Despite Cantona scoring (with his shoulder) for France against Finland four days later, Wilkinson kept him out of the team, citing an unconvincing excuse of a "groin strain", as Leeds pulled off an improbable but resounding 3–0 win over Arsenal, ending the Gunners' six-game winning run.Auclair (2009), p. 234. 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.Auclair (2009), pp. 234–5
=Manchester United=
==Transfer from Leeds United==
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 turbulent player from the team.Auclair (2009), pp. 238–40.
Cantona left Leeds for Manchester United for £1 million on 26 November 1992. Leeds chairman Bill Fotherby had telephoned Manchester United chairman Martin Edwards to enquire about the availability of Denis Irwin. Edwards was in a meeting with manager Alex Ferguson at the time 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 chairman to ask whether Cantona was for sale. Fotherby had to consult with Wilkinson, but within a few days the deal was complete.{{Cite news|last=Hills|first=David|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/aug/12/sport.obsmagspecial1 |title=The ten most entertaining transfers|work=The Guardian |date=12 August 2007|access-date=1 May 2009}}
==1992–93 season==
{{Quote box|width=27%|align=right|quote="He [Cantona] illuminated Old Trafford. The place was a frenzy every time he touched the ball." |source=—Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson.{{cite web|title=Eric Cantona|url=https://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/halloffame/eric-cantona|website=National Football Museum|access-date=5 February 2015}}}}
Cantona had arrived too late 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 vital win. He made his first appearance for the club on 1 December 1992 in a friendly match against Benfica in Lisbon to mark Eusébio's 50th 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 little impact that day.
{{Quote box|width=30%|align=left|quote="The Frenchman waltzed into The Cliff, United's old training ground, and had team-mates in his thrall with barely a word. In his first season, the first of the Premier League era, he cultivated what would become the hallmarks of United for two decades: attacking football, ingenuity, aggression and an utter insistence on winning. As Paul Ince recalled: "He just had that aura and presence. He took responsibility away from us. It was like he said: 'I'm Eric, and I'm here to win the title for you'." |source=—FourFourTwo magazine, "How Cantona transformed Manchester United, the Premier League, and a Christmas Carol"}}
United's season had been disappointing up to Cantona's signing. They were falling behind the likes of big-spending Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers in the race for the first Premier League title, as well as surprise challengers including Norwich City and Queens Park Rangers. Goalscoring had been a problem since the halfway point of the previous season – when it had cost them the league title as they suffered defeats or were held to draws at the hands of teams they had been expected to beat. Ferguson had first tried to sign Alan Shearer from Southampton during the 1992 close season, but lost out to Blackburn Rovers. He then spent £1 million on Dion Dublin, who suffered a broken 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.
Cantona quickly settled into the team, slotting in alongside Mark Hughes, while Brian McClair was switched to midfield. Cantona contributed greatly to a quick upturn in the team's fortunes, not only scoring goals but also 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 came on Boxing Day in a 3–3 draw against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough, where they claimed a point after being 3–0 down by the hour mark. However, controversy was never far away and on his return to Elland Road to play Leeds a few weeks later, he spat at a fan and was fined £1,000 by The Football Association.{{cite news |last=Haylett |first=Trevor |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-fa-charges-cantona-over-spitting-1495411.html |title=FA charges Cantona over 'spitting' |date=3 March 1993 |access-date=9 August 2014 |work=The Independent}} United only lost twice in the league after Cantona's arrival and finished the season 10 points clear at the top of the table, finishing as champions for the first time in 26 years, which made 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 successive seasons, having helped Marseille win the French league title in 1991.
==1993–94 season==
{{Quote box|width=27%|align=right|quote="Collar turned up, back straight, chest stuck out, Eric glided into the arena as if he owned the place." |source=—Former Manchester United team-mate Roy Keane}}
United retained the Premier League and Cantona's two penalties helped them to a 4–0 win over Chelsea in the 1994 FA Cup Final. He also collected a runners-up medal in the Football League Cup, which the team lost 3–1 to Aston Villa. He was also voted PFA Player of the Year for that season and finished as United's top scorer 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 was also dismissed in successive league games in March 1994, firstly against Swindon Town and then against Arsenal. The two successive red cards saw Cantona banned for five matches, including an FA Cup semi-final clash with Oldham Athletic, which United drew 1–1. Cantona was available for the replay and helped them win 4–1.
1993–94 was the first season of squad numbers in the Premier League. Cantona was issued with the number 7 shirt, a squad number he kept for the rest of his United career and that already had iconic status, having previously been worn by club legends including George Best and Bryan Robson;{{cite web |url=https://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Features/2014/Aug/Gallery-Manchester-United-no7s.aspx |title=Gallery: Manchester United no.7s |website=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United |date=28 August 2014 |access-date=25 January 2018}} however, squad numbers were not set for the Champions League matches and Cantona wore the number 9 shirt in the four fixtures home and away against Kispest Honvéd and Galatasaray. On 19 December 1993, he scored two against Aston Villa, the previous season's runners-up, in a 3–1 victory that put United 13 points clear at the top of the league. They extended their lead to 16 points soon after and eventually finished eight points ahead of runners-up Blackburn. Cantona was United's top scorer with 26 goals in all competitions.{{cite news |last=Allsop |first=Derek |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-villa-succumb-to-mastery-of-maestro-cantona-manchester-united-reaffirm-their-position-as-the-premierships-leading-force-as-french-flair-and-english-grit-win-the-day-1468713.html |title=Villa succumb to mastery of maestro Cantona |date=20 December 1993 |access-date=10 August 2014 |work=The Independent}}
==1994–95 season, 'kung-fu' incident and ban from football==
In the 1994–95 season, United looked to win a third successive league title, and for the first half of the season, things went smoothly enough for player and club. The season began with a 2–0 Wembley win over Blackburn in the Charity Shield, in which Cantona scored a penalty.{{cite web |url=https://www.footballsite.co.uk/Statistics/CommunityShield/1994-95CharityShield.htm |title=1994/95 Charity Shield |website=Footballsite.co.uk |access-date=25 January 2018}} Cantona frequently scored for Manchester United, who put intense pressure on a Blackburn side that led the table for much of the season, particularly with a 4–2 win at Ewood Park in late October, in which Cantona was on the scoresheet. He was also on the scoresheet in a memorable 5–0 derby win over Manchester City in November. On 22 January 1995, he scored the winning goal in a 1–0 home win over Blackburn that made the title race even tighter and brought Cantona's tally of league goals for that season to 12. He scored a further goal in an FA Cup third round win at Sheffield United, and a second double was possible. The arrival of striker Andy Cole from Newcastle United on 10 January further boosted these hopes, even though Cole was cup-tied for FA Cup fixtures.{{cite web |title=Manchester United |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesm/manutd95.html |work=RSSSF |date=16 May 1995 |access-date=25 January 2018}}
On 25 January 1995, he was involved in an incident that attracted headlines and controversy worldwide. In an away match against Crystal Palace, Cantona was sent off by the referee for kicking Palace defender Richard Shaw, after Shaw had frustrated Cantona throughout the game by closely marking him. As he was walking towards the tunnel, Cantona launched a 'kung-fu' style kick into the crowd, directed at Palace supporter 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".{{cite news |title=When Manchester United's Eric Cantona attacked a fan in 1995 |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/english-premier-league/23/blog/post/2258750/when-manchester-uniteds-eric-cantona-attacked-a-fan-at-crystal-palace-rewind-to-1995 |access-date=28 September 2018 |agency=ESPN}} Cantona followed the kick with a series of punches.{{cite news |first=Brian|last=Oliver|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/oct/31/newsstory.sport |title=The kick that stunned football |work=The Guardian |date=31 October 2004 |access-date=30 September 2013}}{{cite news |first=David |last=Lacey |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/1995/jan/26/newsstory.sport1 |title=Cantona hits fan, faces lengthy ban |work=The Guardian |date=26 January 1995 |access-date=1 May 2009}}{{cite news|first=Jamie|last=Jackson|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/oct/31/newsstory.sport2 |title=The 30 most outrageous sporting moments: The target |work=The Guardian |date=31 October 2004 |access-date=1 May 2009}}
At a press conference called later, Cantona said, in a slow and deliberate manner:
{{quote box|width=30em|bgcolor=#c6dbf7|align=center|quote="When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea. Thank you very much."|source=—Cantona's brief, much-publicised, statement{{cite news |last=Midgley |first=Simon |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/when-the-seagulls-follow-the-trawler-it-is-because-they-think-sardines-will-be-thrown-into-the-sea-1613641.html |title=When the seagulls follow the trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea |date=1 April 1995 |access-date=10 August 2014 |work=The Independent}}}}
Cantona then got up from his seat and abruptly left, leaving behind him a packed media room surprised and baffled – some roared with laughter – with those in the room trying to decipher his cryptic words.{{cite news |title=Eric Cantona's kung-fu kick at 20: Guardian reports from the archive |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/from-the-archive-blog/2015/jan/25/eric-cantona-kung-fu-kick-20-1995-archive |access-date=28 September 2018 |work=The Guardian}}
Cantona was faced with a criminal charge of assault, which he admitted to on 23 March, resulting in a two-week prison sentence, although he was freed on bail pending an appeal.{{cite news|title=Jail term may make Cantona quit UK|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/jail-term-may-make-cantona-quit-uk-1612464.html|first=Steve|last=Boggan|date=24 March 1995|access-date=29 May 2013|work=The Independent}} This was overturned in the appeal court a week later and instead he was sentenced to 120 hours of community service, which was spent coaching children at United's training ground.{{cite news|title=Cantona completes community service|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=m8EzAAAAIBAJ&pg=3542%2C3935051|date=31 May 1995|access-date=29 November 2014|work=Lodi News-Sentinel|page=15}} The fan that Cantona kicked, Simmons, went on trial separately where he claimed that he only shouted "Off! Off! Off! It's an early bath for you, Mr Cantona!", but was found guilty of abusive behavior and handed a £500 fine and banned from the stadium for a year. Immediately after the verdict was proclaimed, Simmons then assaulted prosecutor Jeffrey McCann, for which he was sentenced to a week in jail, plus an additional £500 fine as well as £200 in legal costs.{{Cite web |date=8 February 2022 |title=What happened to the man Eric Cantona kung fu kicked? |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/what-happened-to-the-man-eric-cantona-kung-fu-kicked |access-date=12 June 2023 |website=fourfourtwo.com }}{{cite web |url=https://footballpost.com/interesting/what-happened-to-man-eric-cantona-kung-fu-kicked/ | title=What happened to Matthew Simmons? (The man Eric Cantona Kung-Fu kicked!) | date=23 January 2023 }}
As well as criminal proceedings, there was also disciplinary action from his club and The FA. A lengthy 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 life. In accordance with The FA's wishes, United's initial 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 still in the hunt for a second double.{{cite news|title=Cantona is out|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QBRJAAAAIBAJ&dq=crystal%20palace&pg=3823%2C3382208|work=The Hour|location=Norwalk|agency=Associated Press|date=27 January 1995|access-date=29 May 2013}}{{cite news |last=Haylett |first=Trevor |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cantona-banned-until-summer-the-cantona-affair-france-strip-united-playmaker-of-captaincy-and-will-not-con-sider-him-for-internationals-until-next-season-1570200.html |title=Cantona banned until summer THE CANTONA AFFAIR: France strip United playmaker of captaincy and will not consider him for internationals until next season |date=28 January 1995 |access-date=10 August 2014 |work=The Independent}} The FA then increased the ban to eight months, up to and including 30 September 1995, and fined him a further £10,000.{{cite news |last=Haylett |first=Trevor |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cantona-escapes-life-ban-as-fa-takes-suspension-into-next-season-1574847.html |title=Cantona escapes life ban as FA takes suspension into next season |date=25 February 1995 |access-date=10 August 2014 |work=The Independent}}
The FA Chief Executive Graham Kelly described his attack as "a stain on our game" that brought shame on football. FIFA then confirmed the suspension as worldwide, meaning that Cantona could not escape the ban by being transferred or loaned to a foreign club.{{cite news |last=Thomsen |first=Ian |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/1995/01/27/cantona.php |title=French Star's 'Stain' on English Soccer|work=International Herald Tribune |date=27 January 1995 |access-date=1 November 2009}} He was stripped of the captaincy of the France national team by coach Aimé Jacquet, and never played for the France national team again, and his club lost the title to Blackburn Rovers.{{cite news |first=Trevor |last=Haylett |title=Cantona banned until summer The Cantona Affair: France strip United playmaker of captaincy and will not con sider him for internationals until next season |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cantona-banned-until-summer-the-cantona-affair-france-strip-united-playmaker-of-captaincy-and-will-not-con-sider-him-for-internationals-until-next-season-1570200.html |work=The Independent |date=28 January 1995 |access-date=21 July 2012}}{{Cite web |last=Delaney |first=Miguel |date=5 August 2020 |title=How Eric Cantona's kung-fu kick changed football forever |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/manchester-united-news-eric-cantona-kung-fu-kick-1995-date-anniversary-a9299871.html |access-date=16 March 2024 |website=The Independent }}
There had been media speculation that Cantona would leave United to play for a foreign club when his suspension finished and many observers felt he would not be able to cope with the inevitable goading from rival players and supporters. Ferguson persuaded him to stay in Manchester, despite interest from Italian club Inter Milan, who had managed to lure his team-mate Paul Ince to Italy that year.{{cite news|title=Sports People: Soccer; United Suspends Cantona|date=28 January 1995|access-date=29 May 2013|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/01/28/sports/sports-people-soccer-united-suspends-cantona.html|work=The New York Times}}
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. 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 match against another club at the club's training ground, which was defined as a friendly match despite the 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 later, following a meeting in Paris with Ferguson, he declared that he would remain at the club.
In 2011, Cantona said that the attack on Simmons was "a great feeling" and a memory he is happy for fans to treasure, but "... it was a mistake".{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/8361054/Eric-Cantona-kung-fu-kick-on-hooligan-was-like-a-dream-for-some-fans.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/8361054/Eric-Cantona-kung-fu-kick-on-hooligan-was-like-a-dream-for-some-fans.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Eric Cantona: kung-fu kick on hooligan was like a dream for some fans |date=4 March 2011 |work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=4 March 2011 |location=London |first=Steve |last=Wilson}}{{cbignore}} In 2002, the notoriety of the Kung fu kick saw it ranked number 12 on Channel 4's poll of the 100 Greatest Sporting Moments.{{Cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/G/greatest_sporting/results.html|title=100 Greatest Sporting Moments – Results|year=2002|publisher=Channel 4|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020204090913/http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/G/greatest_sporting/results.html|archive-date=4 February 2002|url-status=dead|access-date=8 August 2019}} In retrospect, Simmons' behavior that provoked Cantona's kick would a decade later be regarded as racial abuse which almost certainly would have forced the partial or full closure of Crystal Palace's stadium, as well as meriting Simmons a considerably lengthier sentence.{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/oct/31/newsstory.sport | title=The kick that stunned football | newspaper=The Observer | date=30 October 2004 | last1=Oliver | first1=Brian }} More recently when Paul Pogba's Manchester United team-mate Marcus Rashford was racially abused on social media,{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49462830|title=Marcus Rashford racially abused: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says perpetrators 'hiding behind' profiles|work=BBC Sport|date=24 August 2019}} and ex-footballer Garth Crooks said that "[i]f something drastic is not done soon…" there could be an incident between a player and a fan, similar to Cantona's kung-fu kick on the offensive fan in 1995.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49468845|title=Racism in football: Garth Crooks fears 'Cantona moment' unless action taken|last=Crooks|first=Garth|publisher=BBC Sport|date=26 August 2019|access-date=1 January 2024}}
==1995–96 season==
File:Spitting Image Puppet of Eric Cantona (2956625432).jpg during the 1990s]]
In his comeback game against arch rivals Liverpool on 1 October 1995, Cantona set up a goal for Nicky Butt two minutes into the game and then scored a penalty to secure a point for United in a 2–2 home draw.{{Cite web |last=Luckhurst |first=Samuel |date=1 October 2015 |title=Manchester United 2–2 Liverpool: Eric Cantona's 1995 comeback |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/manchester-united-2-2-liverpool-10110875 |access-date=16 March 2024 |website=Manchester Evening News }}{{Cite web |date=4 October 2015 |title=Cantona: Return of the King – A Sky Sports Originals story |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/10012142/cantona-the-return-of-the-king |access-date=16 March 2024 |website=Sky Sports }} However, eight months without competitive football had taken its toll and Cantona struggled for form prior to Christmas; by 24 December, the gap between United and league leaders Newcastle had increased to 10 points and eventually 12.{{Cite web |last=Delaney |first=Miguel |date=28 March 2020 |title=Keegan, Fergie, Cantona and a collapse: The inside story of the 1995/96 title race |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/manchester-united-newcastle-1995-96-season-ferguson-keegan-a9429656.html |access-date=16 March 2024 |website=The Independent }}
However, after defeat to Tottenham on New Year's Day, which by that point, Man Utd faced with a 12-point deficit, United went unbeaten for 12 consecutive league matches, including Cantona's first visit to Selhurst Park since he was banned,{{cite news|title=Kung-fu kicker returns|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iq4sAAAAIBAJ&pg=2058%2C733399|date=3 February 1996|access-date=25 January 2015|work=Wilmington Morning Star}} during which he scored twice in a 4–2 win over Wimbledon.{{cite news|title=Cantona back at his best: Mellowed striker sends powerful message to French team manager|date=5 February 1996|page=46|work=New Straits Times|agency=Reuters|access-date=25 January 2015|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lLlOAAAAIBAJ&pg=4773%2C1971380}} Victory over Arsenal on 20 March, with Cantona scoring the only goal of the game with a 25-yard half-volley, saw United overtake Newcastle in the title race, where they would remain for the rest of the season.{{cite news |title=Flashback: Cantona scores screamer against Arsenal |url=https://www.premierleague.com/video/single/570901 |access-date=23 September 2021 |agency=Premier League}} The goal came as part of a personal scoring run of six consecutive league matches for Cantona, four of which saw him score the game's only goal.Auclair (2009), pp. 429–31. He scored the fifth in a 5–0 win over Nottingham Forest on the penultimate day of the season, a result that meant that United realistically only needed to avoid defeat at Middlesbrough on the final day; they won 3–0 to secure their third league title in four years. Cantona finished the season as the club's top scorer with 14 goals from 30 league appearances.
Cantona's ban meant he was not eligible to appear in their League Cup or UEFA Cup campaigns, but he did score in four of United's six matches on the way to the 1996 FA Cup Final against Liverpool, their third in a row in the competition. In the absence of regular captain Steve Bruce due to injury, Cantona wore the armband for the final and took on the captain's responsibility by volleying in the only goal of the game from the edge of the penalty area in the 86th minute after Liverpool had failed to clear a corner.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/jul/24/golden-goal-eric-cantona-for-manchester-united-v-liverpool-1996 |title=Golden Goal: Eric Cantona for Manchester United v Liverpool (1996) |work=The Guardian |date=24 July 2015 |access-date=12 May 2020 |first=Alan |last=Smith}} United's victory made them the first club to win the Double twice and Cantona the first FA Cup-winning captain from outside the British Isles.
==1996–97 season==
{{Quote box|width=27%|align=right|quote="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."|source=—Following retirement, in May 1997 Cantona has his chant (and "Cantona 7") patented as commercial trademarks.{{cite news |title=Ooh aah, Cantona registers new ambition |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/ooh-aah-cantona-registers-new-ambition-1263968.html |access-date=30 August 2019 |work=The Independent}}}}
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 season which he had missed the second half of through suspension.
At the end of the season he announced that he was retiring from football at the age of 30. His final competitive game came against West Ham on 11 May 1997, and his final appearance before retiring was five days later on 16 May in a testimonial for David Busst (whose career had been ended by an injury 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 tally to 82 goals in less than five years.{{cite news |date=6 December 2017 |title=How Cantona transformed Manchester United, the Premier League and a Christmas carol |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/how-cantona-transformed-manchester-united-premier-league-and-a-christmas-carol |access-date=28 September 2018 |work=FourFourTwo}}
=After leaving=
In 1998, the Football League, as part of its centenary 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 inductee of the English Football Hall of Fame. Later in 1998, Cantona organised a match of Manchester United players against other players from around the world in what was originally designed to be a memorial for the victims of the Munich air disaster in 1958 and their families, but which was merged with a testimonial for Cantona himself.{{cite web |url=https://www.red11.org/mufc/matftest.htm |title=Man Utd 8 v 4 European XI |website=red11.org |access-date=3 July 2021}}
{{multiple image
| align = right
| direction = vertical
| header =
| width = 210
| image1 = Cantona at The Lowry, Salford, February 2017 (01).JPG
| width1 =
| alt1 =
| caption1 = An Evening with Eric Cantona was held at the Lowry in Salford, Greater Manchester, in February 2017
| image2 = Cantona at The Lowry, Salford, February 2017 (05).JPG
| width2 =
| alt2 =
| caption2 = Cantona being interviewed on stage
}}
In his 1999 autobiography Managing My Life, Alex Ferguson claimed that Cantona had informed him of his decision to retire from playing within 24 hours of Manchester United's Champions League semi-final defeat to Borussia Dortmund, though the decision was not made public for almost a month afterwards. During that time, there had been speculation about his future at Manchester United, including talk of a move 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 easy, your life becomes difficult. I should know because sometimes I feel I quit too young. 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 lot of other things, the things I like in life."{{Cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/cantona-s-world-of-sardines-fat-managers-and-early-retirement-115212.html |title=Cantona's world of sardines, fat managers and early retirement |work=The Independent |first=Jason |last=Burt |date=15 April 2003 |access-date=1 April 2010 |location=London}} In 2004, Cantona was quoted as saying, "I'm so proud the fans still sing my name, but I fear tomorrow they will stop. I fear it because I love it. And everything you love, you fear you will lose."{{cite web |url=http://www.footballfancast.com/premiership/manchester-united-premiership/manchester-united-hall-of-fame-eric-cantona |title=Manchester United – Hall of Fame |publisher=FootballFanCast.com |date=5 July 2008 |access-date=2 December 2009 |archive-date=31 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091231014909/http://www.footballfancast.com/premiership/manchester-united-premiership/manchester-united-hall-of-fame-eric-cantona |url-status=dead }}
He was interviewed in a "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 assistant manager or coach) and would create a team like no other and play the way he thinks football should be played; however, Cantona opposed the ownership of Manchester United by the Glazer family and stated that he would not return to the club, even as a manager, while they were in charge.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/4458856.stm |title=Cantona hits out at Glazer family |publisher=BBC Sport |date=22 November 2005 |access-date=1 November 2009}}
In March 2014, Cantona was arrested and cautioned for an act of common assault on Regent's Park Road in Camden, North London. The victim did not require medical attention.{{cite news |title=Eric Cantona cautioned for common assault in north London |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-26565133 |website=BBC News |date=13 March 2014 |access-date=15 August 2015}}
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 science, war and crime. Similar to the response to his "seagulls" press conference in 1995, the puzzled audience watched in silence.{{cite news |title=Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi & Eric Cantona light up Uefa awards |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49516474 |website=BBC Sport |date=30 August 2019 |access-date=30 August 2019}}
International career
Cantona was given his full international debut against West Germany in August 1987 by national team manager Henri Michel.{{cite web |last1=Shah |first1=Rushabh |title=Top Contributor |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/5-great-football-players-to-have-never-played-in-the-world-cup/2 |website=Sportskeeda |date=29 March 2018 |access-date=20 June 2020 |ref=Great Player}} In September 1988, angered after being dropped from the national team, Cantona referred to Michel as a "bag of shit" in a post-match TV interview and was indefinitely banned from all international matches.{{cite news |url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/06/25/12/nasri-latest-join-les-miserables-french-cast |title=Nasri latest to join 'Les Miserables' French cast |work=ABS-CBN |date=25 June 2012 |access-date=25 January 2018}} 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 acts was to recall Cantona. Platini stated that whilst he was coach, Cantona would be selected for France as long as he was playing competitive top-class football; it was also Platini who had initiated Cantona's move to England to restart his career. France qualified for UEFA Euro 1992 held in Sweden, but failed to win a single game despite the strike 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 FIFA World Cup in the United States after losing the final game 2–1 at home 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 captain until the Selhurst Park incident in January 1995 that led to his ban and captaincy being stripped. In addition, he lost his place to Zinedine Zidane, as Jacquet had revamped the squad with new players. Cantona, Papin and David Ginola lost their places in the squad and were never selected for the French team again, thus missing Euro 96.{{Cite web |date=19 May 1996 |title=Cantona and Ginola omitted by France |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cantona-and-ginola-omitted-by-france-1348207.html |access-date=16 March 2024 |website=The Independent }}
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.Wightman 2002, p. 198. In a 2015 interview with French radio network France Info, Cantona stated that had he still been involved with the national side, he would have extended his career to feature in the 1998 FIFA World Cup, held in Cantona's home nation.{{Cite news|url=http://www.espnfc.co.uk/barclays-premier-league/story/2626908/cantona-would-have-delayed-retirement-for-1998-world-cup|first=Mark|last=Rodden|title=Man United star Eric Cantona would've delayed retirement for France 1998 WC|work=ESPN FC|date=24 September 2015|access-date=25 September 2015}} Cantona still harbours resentment for the people at the head of his national team but also admiration for his adopted football country; at UEFA Euro 2004 and the 2006 FIFA World Cup, he supported England and not France.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/euro_2004/3848181.stm |title=Cantona blasts France |publisher=BBC Sport |date=28 June 2004 |access-date=25 January 2018}}
Post-playing career
=Acting career=
File:Looking for Eric Cannes 2009.jpg's film Looking for Eric (2009) at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. ]]
Cantona focused his later career mostly as an actor in French cinema, having had his first role as a rugby player in Le bonheur est dans le pré, shot during his 1995 suspension from football. In the late 1990s, he accepted a role 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 independent British film Jack Says, released to DVD in September 2008. He co-starred as director Thierry Grimandi in French Film (2009), and was co-producer and a lead actor in Ken Loach's Palme d'Or-nominated film 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.{{cite news |title=The Salvation (2014) |url=https://tuppencemagazine.co.uk/entertainment-news/the-salvation-2014/ |work=Tuppence Magazine |date=26 May 2014 |access-date=15 June 2014}}
In January 2020, Cantona played The King in the music video for Liam Gallagher's single "Once".[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-51323991 "Liam Gallagher is 'King' Eric Cantona's butler in new video for song Once"]. BBC. Retrieved 2 February 2020
==Work with Nike and other companies==
{{Quote box|width=27%|align=right|quote=1966 was a great year for English football. Eric was born. |source=—Nike slogan which appeared on billboards throughout England in 1994, referencing Cantona's birth (the same year England won the World Cup){{cite book |last1=Shaw |first1=Phil |title=The Book of Football Quotations |date=2014 |publisher=Random House |page=62}}}}
Cantona has frequently appeared in commercials for the sportswear company Nike.{{cite news|title=Nike and Maven Networks Introduce JogaTV |url=https://news.nike.com/news/nike-and-maven-networks-introduce-jogatv |work=NikE |date=17 April 2006 |access-date=3 September 2021}} In 1994, he was involved in a Nike advertising campaign which featured a black and white image of himself in front of the English flag, with the caption: "'66 was a great year for English football. Eric was born." In 1996, he was the central figure in a Nike commercial titled "Good vs Evil" in a gladiatorial game set in a Roman amphitheatre. Appearing alongside football players from around the world, 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 in his trademark style, and delivering the final line, "Au Revoir", before striking the ball which punches right through the demon goalkeeper.{{cite book|last1=Jackson|first1=Steven J.|title=Sport, Culture and Advertising: Identities, Commodities and the Politics of Representation|date=10 November 2004|publisher=Routledge|page=186}}
Since his retirement from professional football in 1997, Cantona has continued to appear in Nike commercials, often in a non-playing role. In 1997, he starred in Nike's "Park Life" commercial, set to the song "Parklife" by Blur, in which a group of pub league players playing amateur football at Hackney Marshes in east London are suddenly joined by top Premier League footballers, including Cantona, Ian Wright, David Seaman and Robbie Fowler.{{cite news |last=Dyer |first=Clare |title=Nike scores own goal on Hackney Marshes |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/sep/12/media.business |access-date=8 August 2019 |work=The Guardian}} In 2000, "Park Life" was ranked number 15 in Channel 4's poll of the 100 Greatest TV Ads.{{Cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/greatest_ads/|title=The 100 Greatest TV Ads|year=2000|publisher=Channel 4|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010618095141/http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/greatest_ads/|archive-date=18 June 2001|url-status=dead|access-date=8 August 2019}}
In a global Nike advertising campaign in the run-up to the 2002 FIFA World Cup entitled "Secret Tournament", Cantona starred as the organiser of "underground" games (branded by Nike as "Scorpion KO") in a commercial directed by Terry Gilliam, which takes place between football players such as Thierry Henry, Ronaldinho, Francesco Totti, Roberto Carlos and Hidetoshi Nakata.{{cite news |first=Claire |last=Cozens |title=Cantona hosts World Cup with a difference |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/apr/03/advertising.worldcupfootball2002?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487 |work=The Guardian |date=3 April 2002 |access-date=21 July 2012}}{{cite news |title=A lighter shoe, cooler kits, a faster ball, a Secret Tournament – every touch counts |url=http://www.nikebiz.com/story/stry_scorpion.shtml |work=NikeBiz |publisher=Nike |access-date=21 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020602055510/http://www.nikebiz.com/story/stry_scorpion.shtml |archive-date=2 June 2002}} In a Nike campaign ahead of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Cantona appeared as the lead spokesman for the Joga Bonito organisation, an association attempting to eliminate acting and fake play from football.{{cite news |first=Pat |last=Kane |title=Let football eat itself |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2006/jul/18/letfootballeatitself |work=The Guardian |date=18 July 2006 |access-date=21 July 2012}} He also starred in a Eurostar commercial in 1996,{{cite news |first=Christian |last=Wolmar |title=Pounds 49 Paris return in Eurostar takeover |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/pounds-49-paris-return-in-eurostar-takeover-1348540.html |work=The Independent |date=22 May 1996 |access-date=21 July 2012}} and an Irish EuroMillions advertisement in 2004.{{cite news |first=Carl |last=Palmer |title=Cantona's star shoot |url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/131/131404_cantonas_star_shoot.html |work=Manchester Evening News |date=23 September 2004 |access-date=21 July 2012 |archive-date=21 April 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130421103937/http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/131/131404_cantonas_star_shoot.html |url-status=dead }} In 2009, he featured in a British television advertisement for a new model of the Renault Laguna.{{cite web |title=Renault team up with Cantona in 'love affair' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/motoring/comment/renault-team-up-with-cantona-in-love-affair-1646129.html |work=The Independent |date=16 March 2009 |access-date=3 September 2021}}
=Beach soccer=
Shortly after his departure from Manchester United in 1997, Cantona became captain of the France national beach soccer team, gaining an interest in the sport through his brother Joel who was already a part of the France national side travelling the world to play matches.{{cite news |first=Lhadi |last=Messaouden |title=Life's a beach for Cantona |url=http://www.sofoot.com/que-s-est-il-passe-avec-l-equipe-de-france-de-beach-soccer-201961.html |work=So Foot |date=18 June 2001 |access-date=17 October 2017}} Cantona continued his interest 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 recognisable figure, Cantona was key to beach soccer's growth during the sports early years, being a magnet for drawing in fans to beach soccer events,{{cite news |first=Jonathan |last=Jurejko |title=England beach soccer team aiming to restore national pride |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/23601537 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=8 August 2013 |access-date=17 October 2017}} and also helping to promote the sport, saying in 2002, "Physically it is difficult, technically it is difficult, and tactically it's difficult too. We must work very hard, and train regularly together. Beach Soccer has got everything needed to be a great sport."{{cite web |first=Eric |last=Cantona |title=E. CANTONA: "Beach Soccer is a real sport" |url=http://www.beachsoccer.com/index2.asp?main=noticiasola.asp%3Fn_noti%3D148 |publisher=Beach Soccer Worldwide |date=19 August 2002 |access-date=17 October 2017 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020921024754/http://www.beachsoccer.com/index2.asp?main=noticiasola.asp%3Fn_noti%3D148 |archive-date=21 September 2002}}
He found considerable success as he managed and played in the French team which won their first European title at the 2004 Euro Beach Soccer League. At the inaugural FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Rio de Janeiro in 2005, he was player-manager of the team and scored one goal in a 7-4 win against Spain. France ended up winning the tournament. This was Cantona's final year as a player. However, he continued to coach the France national team at the 2006 Beach Soccer World Cup, which finished third. In 2007, Cantona enjoyed another successful year as manager, taking France to fourth place in the World Cup and narrowly missing out on a second European title, finishing runners-up to Portugal after a 7–6 loss in the final of the 2007 Euro Beach Soccer League. The World Cup was held in France for the first time in 2008; however, Cantona was unable to make the top four after losing to Italy in the quarter-finals.
After failing, as manager, to qualify France to the World Cup for the first time in 2009, Cantona's demise as head coach was sealed in 2010 as not only did France fail to qualify for the upcoming World Cup again, but Cantona also lead the national team to relegation from the top division of the Euro Beach Soccer League down to Division B. These series of disappointments lead to Cantona resigning as manager of France in 2011,{{cite news |first=Lhadi |last=Messaouden |title=QUE S'EST-IL PASSÉ AVEC L'ÉQUIPE DE FRANCE DE BEACH SOCCER ?|url=http://www.sofoot.com/que-s-est-il-passe-avec-l-equipe-de-france-de-beach-soccer-201961.html |work=sofoot.com |date=28 May 2015 |access-date=17 October 2017}} after almost 15 years involved in the team. In 2019, the magazine France Football placed Cantona fourth in an article named "10 Legends of Beach Soccer".{{cite news |first=Alexey |last=Adamov |title=Топ-10 легенд пляжного футбола по версии France Football. Кто лишний, а кого забыли? |url=https://bsrussia.com/ru/article/top-10--12565 |work=Beach Soccer Russia |date=19 October 2019 |access-date=19 October 2019}}
=Brief stint with New York Cosmos=
File:CantonaCosmosAugust52011.jpg
New York Cosmos announced the Frenchman's return 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 position in the United States and then{{nbsp}}... to become one of the best clubs in the world over the coming years."{{cite news |title=Eric Cantona takes New York Cosmos director job |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9366577.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=19 January 2011 |access-date=19 January 2011}} Cantona was later fired by the club after a confrontation with a photographer, and in May 2015, he sued the Cosmos for nearly $1 million in back pay and a promised 4% equity share.{{cite web|title=Eric Cantona sues New York Cosmos over alleged monies owed |url=https://www.espnfc.us/new-york-cosmos/story/2460020/eric-cantona-sues-new-york-cosmos-over-monies-owed|work=ESPN |date=21 May 2015 |access-date=21 September 2016}}{{cite web|title=Eric Cantona sues New York Cosmos for $1m in alleged back pay|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/may/20/eric-cantona-sues-new-york-cosmos |work=The Guardian |date=20 May 2015 |access-date=21 September 2016}} Cosmos rejected his claims, insisting that his role as Director of Soccer was largely ceremonial and that Cantona's true job was as "a promoter and brand ambassador".{{cite web|title=Cantona et al. v. New York Cosmos – Motion to Dismiss|url=https://www.scribd.com/document/272306839/Cantona-et-al-v-New-York-Cosmos-Motion-to-Dismiss|via=Scribd|access-date=30 August 2017}} The two parties later agreed to dismiss the lawsuit, though terms of a settlement were not disclosed.{{cite web |last=Zagger |first=Zachary |title=Former Soccer Star Ends Firing Suit Against NY Cosmos|url=https://www.law360.com/articles/906961/former-soccer-star-ends-firing-suit-against-ny-cosmos |website=law360.com|access-date=30 August 2017}}
Style of play
Regarded by pundits as one of the best players of his generation,{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3533891.stm |title=Pele's list of the greatest |publisher=BBC Sport |date=4 March 2004 |access-date=28 September 2018}}{{cite web |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/features/101-greatest-football-players-last-25-years-full-list |title=Ranked! The 101 greatest football players of the last 25 years: full list |publisher=FourFourTwo |date=26 July 2019 |access-date=24 April 2020}} one of the greatest Premier League players of all time,{{cite news |last=Doyle |first=Paul |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/jul/24/premier-league-25-best-player-eric-cantona |title=Premier League at 25: the best player – Eric Cantona |work=The Guardian |date=24 July 2017 |access-date=24 April 2020}} and as one of France's and Manchester United's greatest players ever, Cantona was nicknamed by Manchester United fans as "King Eric".Ganguly, Aubrey (March 2001). Ganguly, Aubrey. ed. "Eric and us". United (Manchester: Future Publishing) (100): 42–48{{cite web |url=https://www.manutd.com/en/players-and-staff/detail/eric-cantona |title=Eric Cantona |publisher=Manchester United |access-date=24 April 2020}}{{cite news |last=Taylor |first=Daniel |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/maverick-worth-the-risk-1.1045576 |title=Maverick worth the risk |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=4 January 2002 |access-date=25 April 2020}} A large, physically strong, hard-working and tenacious player, Cantona was a forward who combined technical skill and creativity with power and goalscoring ability.{{cite web|url=http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/entertainment/articles/2011-07/05/gq-sport-eric-cantona-interview-manchester-united-football/viewall |title=When GQ met Eric Cantona |publisher=GQ Magazine |first=Simon |last=Emmett |date=5 July 2011 |access-date=1 September 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118223112/http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/entertainment/articles/2011-07/05/gq-sport-eric-cantona-interview-manchester-united-football/viewall |archive-date=18 January 2015}}{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/488544 |title=Game Changers: Eric Cantona |publisher=Premier League |last=Cox |first=Michael |date=6 October 2017 |access-date=24 April 2020}} Despite his height and imposing physique, he was a skilful player on the ball, due to his long torso, which gave him a lower centre of gravity than most players of his stature, and who possessed good technique and ball control, as well as an excellent first touch.{{cite news |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/comment-scholes-close-to-greatness-1178144 |title=Comment: Scholes close to greatness |work=The Manchester Evening News |date=13 January 2013 |access-date=25 April 2020}}{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/1562903.stm |title=Veron v Cantona |publisher=BBC Sport |date=25 September 2001 |access-date=25 April 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/united-still-language-of-europe-1.85545 |title=United still language of Europe |newspaper=The Irish Times |last1=Lacey |first1=David |date=12 September 1996 |access-date=7 June 2020}}
He was renowned for his vision, passing, intelligence and playmaking skills, in addition to his eye for goal and powerful and accurate striking ability, which often saw him score from spectacular strikes and volleys. As such, he often played in a free, creative role between the midfield and forward lines throughout his career, acting as a deep-lying forward behind the main striker, due to his tendency to drop deep into midfield to retrieve the ball and orchestrate attacking plays, as well as his ability both to score goals and provide assists for team-mates. However, Cantona was also capable of playing as a centre-forward, due to his ability to hold-up the ball with his back to goal, although this was not his favoured position, as an out–and–out striker, as an attacking midfielder, or even as a central midfielder on occasion.{{cite web |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/why-eric-cantona-meant-so-much-manchester-united-fans |title=Why Eric Cantona meant so much to Manchester United fans |publisher=FourFourTwo |last=Mitten |first=Andy |date=2 March 2016 |access-date=24 April 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1155925-eric-cantona-10-reasons-he-could-be-the-all-time-greatest-premier-league-player |title=Eric Cantona: 10 Reasons He Could Be the All-Time Greatest Premier League Player |publisher=Bleacher Report |last=Carroll |first=Terry |date=23 April 2012 |access-date=24 April 2020}} He was also an accurate penalty and free kick taker.{{cite web |url=https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/who-was-best-penalty-taker-for-man-united-in-premier-league |title=WHO HAS BEEN UNITED'S BEST PENALTY TAKER? |publisher=Manchester United F.C. |last=Marshall |first=Adam |date=21 November 2018 |access-date=27 April 2020}}{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/7219291.stm |title=Ronaldo savours his 'best' goal |publisher=BBC Sport |date=31 January 2008 |access-date=27 April 2020}}
Due to his height, physique, positional sense and heading accuracy, he was strong in the air. He was known for being both mentally and physically tough, and was highly regarded for his strong, commanding and charismatic personality, as well as his leadership qualities and bravery, which helped to alleviate pressure from his team-mates. Cantona was known for turning up his collar during matches. Wayne Barton notes that he first wore his collar up in a Manchester derby match on 7 November 1993, following United's elimination from Europe at the hands of Galatasary, commenting: "one wonders if, in his own superstitious way, this was Cantona's way of calming that fire inside him after the trip to Turkey, a way to focus his thoughts on moving forward."{{cite news |last1=Barton |first1=Wayne |last2=Booth |first2=Dominic |title=Why Eric Cantona always played with an upturned collar for Manchester United |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-utd-eric-cantona-collar-17996806 |work=The Manchester Evening News |date=30 March 2020 |access-date=25 April 2020}} When asked about the reason behind his famous on-field appearance, he commented: "I didn't plan it. During one game it was cold and my collar just stayed up. We won, so it became a habit to play with my collar up."{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/news/they-said-eric-cantona-1290590 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731052246/https://www.fifa.com/news/they-said-eric-cantona-1290590 |url-status=dead |archive-date=31 July 2020 |title=They said it: Eric Cantona |publisher=FIFA.com |date=27 August 2010 |access-date=27 April 2020}}
Cantona was a hard-working player, who also stood out for his defensive contribution off the ball, as well as his ability to start attacking plays after winning back possession. He also drew praise in the media for his discipline and dedication in training.{{cite web |last=Spall |first=Leo |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/english-premier-league/23/blog/post/3281566/remembering-eric-cantona-impact-at-man-united-25-years-later |title=Remembering Eric Cantona's impact at Manchester United 25 years later |publisher=ESPN |date=25 November 2017 |access-date=27 April 2020}} Despite his talent and ability, he was also notorious for his aggression, confrontational behaviour, volatile temper and lack of discipline on the pitch, as well as his tendency to commit hard challenges, which made him a highly controversial figure in world football.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/30916435 |title=Eric Cantona's kung-fu kick: The moment that shocked football|publisher=BBC Sport|date=22 January 2015|access-date=1 September 2015}}{{cite web |url=https://www.ultimouomo.com/cantona/2/ |title=Eric Cantona: niente da giustificare |website=ultimouomo.com |language=it |last=Manusia |first=Daniele |access-date=24 April 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/may/09/eric-cantona-kung-fu-victim-assault |title=Eric Cantona's kung fu victim spared jail for assault at football game |work=The Guardian |date=9 May 2011 |access-date=24 April 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/man-utd-eric-cantona-premier-league-legend-legacy-why-we-still-love |title=Dominant, volatile and hijacked by cliché: why we still love Eric Cantona |publisher=FourFourTwo |last=Stafford-Bloor |first=Seb |date=6 April 2020 |access-date=7 May 2020}} While was known for being outspoken on a number of issues,{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0254-0e99d91e4113-8022b8fa9961-1000--all-hail-king-eric-an-inspiration-on-and-off-the-pitch/ |title=All hail King Eric: an inspiration on and off the pitch |publisher=UEFA |date=27 August 2019 |access-date=27 April 2020}} he was also accused in media of being arrogant.{{cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/le-cult-eric-cantona/ |title=The Cult: Eric Cantona |publisher=Vice News |last=Weeks |first=Jim |date=22 April 2017 |access-date=27 April 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/eric-cantona-uefa-speech-kick/ |title=The Legend of Eric Cantona |publisher=Vice News |last1=Golby |first1=Joel |date=9 September 2019 |access-date=27 April 2020}} When he was asked whether Zidane or Platini was the greatest French player of all time, for example, he said: "No, it is me." He drew criticism from certain pundits for being inconsistent at times,{{cite web |url=http://inbedwithmaradona.com/marseille-blog/2017/4/6/cantona-and-marseille-a-tumultuous-affair |title=CANTONA AND MARSEILLE: A TUMULTUOUS AFFAIR |publisher=InBedWithMaradona |last=Howard-Cofield |first=Stuart |date=6 April 2017 |access-date=7 May 2020}} and for his disappointing performances at international level{{cite web |url=https://www.beinsports.com/en-mena/football/articles/eric-cantona-a-tale-of-international-woe-with |title=Eric Cantona – A Tale of International Woe With Les Bleus |publisher=beIN SPORTS |date=13 May 2020 |access-date=19 March 2024 }} and in European club competitions, as well as his lack of significant speed, which was particularly evident in his later career with his advancing age.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/portrait-of-the-artist-as-an-old-man-1269048.html |title=Portrait of the artist as an old man |work=The Independent |last=Hodgson |first=Guy |date=24 April 1997 |access-date=6 June 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/9703309/Twenty-years-since-Eric-Cantona-joined-Manchester-United-its-impossible-to-resist-a-game-of-What-if....html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/9703309/Twenty-years-since-Eric-Cantona-joined-Manchester-United-its-impossible-to-resist-a-game-of-What-if....html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Twenty years since Eric Cantona joined Manchester United, it's impossible to resist a game of 'What if...' |work=The Telegraph |last=Ogden |first=Mark |date=26 November 2012 |access-date=5 June 2020}}{{cbignore}}
Political views
Cantona called for a social revolution against the banks and encouraged customers of the major retail banks to withdraw their money on 7 December 2010 in protest at the 2008 financial crisis. This proposal became the basis of an online campaign calling for a bank run.{{cite news |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20101202-lagarde-tackles-cantona-over-banks-protest-YouTube |title=Finance Minister Lagarde gives red card to Cantona over bank plan |work=France 24 |date=2 December 2010 |access-date=25 January 2018}}
In January 2012, Cantona began trying to gather the 500 signatures from elected officials necessary for a bid for the French presidential election, in order to draw support for the homeless charity and campaign group Emmaus.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturecritics/sarahcrompton/9005693/Eric-Cantona-running-for-French-presidency-was-a-dream-that-turned-out-to-be-nothing-but-a-mirage.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111234012/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturecritics/sarahcrompton/9005693/Eric-Cantona-running-for-French-presidency-was-a-dream-that-turned-out-to-be-nothing-but-a-mirage.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 January 2012 |title=Eric Cantona running for French presidency was a dream that turned out to be nothing but a mirage |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=11 January 2012 |access-date=25 January 2018}}
In June 2012, he signed a petition for the release of Palestinian footballer Mahmoud Sarsak, imprisoned without conviction by Israel in July 2009 and released on 10 July 2012.{{cite news |last=Henriksen |first=Sissel |title=Fotballspiller i fare|trans-title=Footballer in danger |work=Klassekampen |date=16 June 2012 |page=24 |language=no}}
Personal life
Cantona married Isabelle Ferrer in 1987. They have two children together. They divorced in 2003. He married actress Rachida Brakni in 2007. They have two children together.{{cite news |title=Eric Cantona makes waves at the seaside – but are there any seagulls following him? |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/eric-cantona-makes-waves-seaside-8480750 |access-date=22 September 2018 |work=The Mirror}}
Cantona's brother, Joël, is a former footballer who retired at a young age and went into acting. His cousin, Sacha Opinel, is a footballer.{{cite news |title=Former Orient defender Sacha Opinel wants kids to learn football the way France used to play it |url=https://www.guardian-series.co.uk/sport/leytonorient/8262708.former-orient-defender-sacha-opinel-wants-kids-to-learn-football-the-way-france-used-to-play-it/ |access-date=22 September 2021 |work=Guardian}}
Career statistics
=Club=
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}{{cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/players/player=5329/profile/index.html |title=Eric Cantona |publisher=UEFA |access-date=17 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120409182553/http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/players/player%3D5329/profile/index.html |archive-date=9 April 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.stretfordend.co.uk/playermenu/cantona.html|title=Cantona Manchester United stats|work=Stretfordend.co.uk|access-date=2 February 2013}}{{NFT player|id=13959|name=Éric Cantona|access-date=17 July 2012}} | ||||||||||||
rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Coupe de France, FA Cup}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes Football League Cup}} !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
rowspan="6"|Auxerre
|2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 2 | 0 | ||||
1984–85
|Division 1 |5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 5 | 2 | |||
1985–86
|Division 1 |7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 1{{efn|name=UC}} | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 8 | 0 | |||
1986–87
|Division 1 |36 | 13 | 4 | 4 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 40 | 17 | ||||
1987–88
|Division 1 |32 | 8 | 5 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | 2{{efn|name=UC|Appearances in UEFA Cup}} | 1 | colspan="2"|– | 39 | 10 | |||
colspan="2"|Total
!82||23||9||5||colspan="2"|–||3||1||colspan="2"|–||94||29 | ||||||||||||
Martigues (loan)
|15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 15 | 4 | ||||
rowspan="3"|Marseille
|Division 1 |22 | 5 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 22 | 5 | ||||
1990–91
|Division 1 |18 | 8 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 3{{efn|name=EC|Appearances in European Cup}} | 1 | colspan="2"|– | 21 | 9 | |||
colspan="2"|Total
!40||13||0||0||colspan="2"|–||3||1||colspan="2"|–||43||14 | ||||||||||||
Bordeaux (loan)
|Ligue 1 |11 | 6 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 12 | 6 | |||
Montpellier (loan)
|Ligue 1 |33 | 10 | 6 | 4 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 39 | 14 | ||||
Nîmes
|Ligue 1 |16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 16 | 2 | ||||
rowspan="3"|Leeds United
|15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 15 | 3 | |||
1992–93
|13 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}} | 2 | 1{{efn|name=FAC|Appearances in FA Charity Shield}} | 3 | 20 | 11 | |
colspan="2"|Total
!28||9||0||0||1||0||5||2||1||3||35||14 | ||||||||||||
rowspan="6"|Manchester United
|Premier League |22 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 23 | 9 | ||
1993–94
|Premier League |34 | 18 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 4{{efn|name=UCL}} | 2 | 1{{efn|name=FAC}} | 0 | 49 | 25 | |
1994–95
|Premier League |21 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2{{efn|name=UCL}} | 0 | 1{{efn|name=FAC}} | 1 | 25 | 14 | |
1995–96
|Premier League |30 | 14 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 38 | 19 | ||
1996–97
|Premier League |36 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10{{efn|name=UCL}} | 3 | 1{{efn|name=FAC}} | 1 | 50 | 15 | |
colspan="2"|Total
!143||64||17||10||6||1||16||5||3||2||185||82 | ||||||||||||
colspan="3"|Career total
!368 | 131 | 33 | 19 | 7 | 1 | 27 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 439 | 165 |
{{notelist}}
=International=
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year{{cite web |title=Eric Cantona – International Matches |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/cantona-intl.html |date=15 June 2002 |website=RSSSF |access-date=2 February 2013}} | |||
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
rowspan="9"|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 | |
colspan="2"|Total | 45 | 20 |
:Scores and results list France's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Cantona goal.{{cite web |url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=3163 |title=Eric Cantona |website=EU-Football.info |access-date=17 April 2013}}
class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Eric Cantona | ||||||
scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Venue !scope="col"|Opponent !scope="col"|Score !scope="col"|Result !scope="col"|Competition | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
align="center"| 1 | 12 August 1987 | Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany | {{fb|FRG}} | align="center"| 1–2 | align="center"| 1–2 | Friendly |
align="center"| 2
|rowspan="2"| 16 August 1989 | rowspan="2"| Malmö Stadion, Malmö, Sweden | rowspan="2"| {{fb|SWE}} | align="center"| 1–1 | rowspan="2" align="center"| 4–2 | rowspan="2"| Friendly | |
align="center"| 3 | align="center"| 4–2 | |||||
align="center"| 4 | 11 October 1989 | Parc des Princes, Paris, France | {{fb|SCO}} | align="center"| 2–0 | align="center"| 3–0 | 1990 FIFA World Cup qualification |
align="center"| 5
|rowspan="2"| 24 January 1990 | rowspan="2"| Kazma SC Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait | rowspan="2"| {{fb|GDR}} | align="center"| 1–0 | rowspan="2" align="center"| 3–0 | rowspan="2"| Friendly | |
align="center"| 6 | align="center"| 2–0 | |||||
align="center"| 7 | 28 February 1990 | Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier, France | {{fb|FRG}} | align="center"| 2–1 | align="center"| 2–1 | Friendly |
align="center"| 8
|rowspan="2"| 28 March 1990 | rowspan="2"| Népstadion, Budapest, Hungary | rowspan="2"| {{fb|HUN}} | align="center"| 1–0 | rowspan="2" align="center"| 3–1 | rowspan="2"| Friendly | |
align="center"| 9 | align="center"| 2–1 | |||||
align="center"| 10 | 5 September 1990 | Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland | {{fb|ISL}} | align="center"| 2–0 | align="center"| 2–1 | UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying |
align="center"| 11
|rowspan="2"| 20 November 1991 | rowspan="2"| Parc des Princes, Paris, France | rowspan="2"| {{fb|ISL}} | align="center"| 2–0 | rowspan="2" align="center"| 3–1 | rowspan="2"| UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying | |
align="center"| 12 | align="center"| 3–0 | |||||
align="center"| 13 | 14 October 1992 | Parc des Princes, Paris, France | {{fb|AUT}} | align="center"| 2–0 | align="center"| 2–0 | 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification |
align="center"| 14 | 14 November 1992 | Parc des Princes, Paris, France | {{fb|FIN}} | align="center"| 2–0 | align="center"| 2–1 | 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification |
align="center"| 15 | 17 February 1993 | Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan, Israel | {{fb|ISR}} | align="center"| 1–0 | align="center"| 4–0 | 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification |
align="center"| 16
|rowspan="2"| 28 April 1993 | rowspan="2"| Parc des Princes, Paris, France | rowspan="2"| {{fb|SWE}} | align="center"| 1–1 | rowspan="2" align="center"| 2–1 | rowspan="2"| 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
align="center"| 17 | align="center"| 2–1 | |||||
align="center"| 18 | 28 July 1993 | Stade Michel d'Ornano, Caen, France | {{fb|RUS|1991}} | align="center"| 2–0 | align="center"| 3–1 | Friendly |
align="center"| 19 | 17 November 1993 | Parc des Princes, Paris, France | {{fb|BUL}} | align="center"| 1–0 | align="center"| 1–2 | 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification |
align="center"| 20 | 26 May 1994 | Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium, Kobe, Japan | {{fb|AUS}} | align="center"| 1–0 | align="center"| 1–0 | 1994 Kirin Cup |
Honours
Auxerre
- Cup of the Alps: 1986–87{{cite news | url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/alpi87.html | title=Cup of the Alps 1987 | work=RSSSF | access-date=1 April 2010}}
Marseille
- Division 1: 1988–89, 1990–91{{cite news|url=http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/2292/editorials/2012/02/12/2901303/legends-manchester-uniteds-fearsome-frenchman-eric-cantona|title=LEGENDS: MANCHESTER UNITED'S FEARSOME FRENCHMAN – ERIC CANTONA|work=Goal.com|access-date=25 January 2018|first=Shravan |last=Manghani}}
Montpelier
Leeds United
Manchester United
- Premier League: 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/342/Eric-Cantona/overview |title=Eric Cantona: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=24 January 2018}}
- FA Cup: 1993–94, 1995–96
- FA Charity Shield: 1993, 1994, 1996
France U21
France
- Kirin Cup: 1994
France Beach
Individual
- Division 1 Rookie of the Year: 1987{{cite web |title=France – Footballer of the Year |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/franpoy.html |date=18 January 2018 |website=RSSSF |access-date=25 January 2018}}
- Most assists in the Premier League: 1992–93, 1996–97{{cite web|url=https://www.premierleague.com/stats/top/players/goal_assist|title=Premier League Player Stats – Assists|website=premierleague.com|access-date=25 July 2024|quote=Select season in the "Filter by season" drop-down menu.}}
- Ballon d'Or third place: 1993{{cite web |title=European Footballer of the Year ("Ballon d'Or") 1993 |website=RSSSF |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/europa-poy93.html |access-date=23 June 2015}}
- BBC Sport Goal of the Month: February 1994, December 1996
- PFA Premier League Team of the Year: 1993–94
- PFA Players' Player of the Year: 1993–94
- FWA Footballer of the Year: 1995–96
- Premier League Player of the Month: March 1996
- Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year: 1993–94, 1995–96{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Froggatt|title=Vote for United's Player of the Year |url=https://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2017/May/Voting-open-for-Manchester-United-Sir-Matt-Busby-Player-of-the-Year-award.aspx |work=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United |date=6 May 2017 |access-date=25 January 2018}}
- Onze d'Or: 1996{{cite web|url=https://as.com/diarioas/2012/09/28/english/1348783202_850210.html|title=Lionel Messi wins the 'Onze d'Or' for third consecutive year|publisher=Diario AS|date=28 September 2012|access-date=25 January 2018|archive-date=23 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190923120137/https://as.com/diarioas/2012/09/28/english/1348783202_850210.html|url-status=dead}}
- ESM Team of the Year: 1995–96
- Premier League 10 Seasons Awards (1992–93 to 2001–02)
- Overseas and Overall Team of the Decade
- Overseas Player of the Decade
- Inducted into the inaugural English Football Hall of Fame: 2002
- UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll: No.42
- FIFA 100 Greatest Living Footballers: 2004
- Football League 100 Legends
- Golden Foot Legends Award: 2012{{cite web|url=http://goldenfoot.com/player/eric-cantona/|title=Éric Cantona|publisher=Golden Foot|access-date=4 October 2016|archive-date=23 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190923120139/http://goldenfoot.com/player/eric-cantona/|url-status=dead}}
- 10th French Player of the Century
- UEFA President's Award: 2019{{cite news|url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0254-0e99d93b499d-8c999b72e93f-1000--eric-cantona-to-receive-uefa-president-s-award/|title=Eric Cantona to receive UEFA President's Award|website=UEFA|publisher=Union of European Football Associations|date=27 August 2019|access-date=27 August 2019}}
- Premier League Hall of Fame: 2021{{cite web |title=Cantona inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/2140246 |publisher=Premier League |access-date=18 May 2021 |date=18 May 2021}}
Filmography
=Film=
class = "wikitable sortable" |
Year
! Title ! Role !class="unsortable"| Notes |
---|
1995
|Eleven Men Against Eleven | Player | Television film |
1995
| Lionel | |
1998
| |
1998
|Mookie | Antoine Capella | |
1999
|The Children of the Marshland | Jo Sardi | |
2001
|The High Life | Bocce Player 2 | |
2003
| Séléna | |
2003
| Comedian | |
2005
| Pierre | |
2005
|Une belle histoire | | |
2006
|Lisa et le pilote d'avion | Fando | |
2007
| Alban | |
2008
| Man at Bar | |
2008
|Black Butterfly | Jack | Television film |
2008
| Thierry Grimandi | |
2009
| Himself | Executive producer |
2009
|La liste | Michaël Lombardi | Television film |
2010
|Together Is Too Much | Gérard | |
2011
| Damien Forgeat | |
2011
|De Force | Manuel Makarov | |
2011
|Etreinte | Eric | |
2012
| Football coach | |
2012
|Hip Moves | Michel | |
2013
| The Stallion | |
2013
| Himself | Documentary |
2014
| The Corsican | |
2015
| Jacky Chichinet | |
2016
|Marie & the Misfits | Antoine | |
2017
|Anka | The Brazilian | |
2018
| Ulysse | |
2020
| Alain Delambre | Miniseries |
2021
| Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In | Himself | Documentary |
2021
| Himself | Documentary |
2023
|AKA | Victor Pastore | Television film |
2024
| Jules Gobert | |
=Documentaries=
- Les rebelles du foot (2012)[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2229708/?ref_=nm_flmg_prd_1 Les rebelles du foot (2012)]
- Looking for Istanbul (2012)[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2271467/?ref_=nm_flmg_prd_2 Looking for Istanbul (2012)]
- Foot et immigration, 100 ans d'histoire commune (2014)[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4212700/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_1 Foot et immigration, 100 ans d'histoire commune (2014)]
- Looking for Rio (2014)[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4767566/?ref_=nm_flmg_slf_3 Looking for Rio (2014)]
- Looking for Athènes (2013)[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3599044/?ref_=nm_flmg_slf_5 Looking for Athènes (2013)]
- The Stone Roses: Made of Stone (2013)[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2126403/?ref_=nm_flmg_slf_6 The Stone Roses: Made of Stone]
- Manchester United: The Official History 1878–2002 (2002)[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0410292/?ref_=nm_flmg_slf_29 Manchester United: The Official History 1878–2002 (2002)]
=Stage=
- Face au paradis (English title: Faced with Paradise) – 2010 (stage production directed by Rachida Brakni)
Discography
Bibliography
- {{Cite book |last=Auclair |first=Philippe |title=Cantona: The Rebel Who Would Be King |year=2009 |publisher=Macmillan|isbn=978-0-230-74430-1}}
- {{Cite book |last1=Blacker |first1=Terence |last2=Donaldson |first2=William |title=The Meaning of Cantona: Meditations on Life, Art and Perfectly Weighted Balls |year=1997 |publisher=Mainstream Publishing |isbn=978-1-85158-950-0}}
- {{Cite book |last=Cantona |first=Eric |title=Cantona on Cantona: Reflections of a sporting legend |year=1996 |publisher=Andre Deutsch |isbn=978-0-233-99045-3}}
- {{Cite book |last=Robinson |first=Michael |title=La Philosophie De Cantona |year=1995 |publisher=Prentice Hall |isbn=978-1-898051-39-8}}
- {{Cite book |last=Wightman |first=Rob |title=FourFourTwo Great Footballers: Eric Cantona |year=2002 |publisher=Virgin Books |isbn=978-0-7535-0662-2}}
- {{Cite book |last1=Worrall |first1=Frank |title=The Magnificent Sevens |year=2008 |publisher=John Blake Publishing |location=London |isbn=978-1-84454-609-1 |page=103 |chapter=Chapter 7: From Caveman to Cavemen}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
- {{FFF player}}
- {{UEFA player}}
- {{FIFA player}}
{{France squad UEFA Euro 1992}}
{{Navboxes
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| title = Awards
| list1 =
{{1993–94 Premier League Team of the Year}}
{{Onze Mondial European Footballer of the Year}}
{{Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year}}
{{PFA Players' Player of the Year}}
{{FWA Footballer of the Year}}
{{FIFA 100}}
{{FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup winning captains}}
{{Golden Foot Legends Award}}
{{UEFA President's Award}}
{{English Football Hall of Fame}}
{{Football League 100 Legends}}
{{Premier League Hall of Fame}}
}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cantona, Eric}}
Category:20th-century French male actors
Category:21st-century French male actors
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:English Football Hall of Fame inductees
Category:English Football League players
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England
Category:FC Girondins de Bordeaux players
Category:Footballers from Marseille
Category:France men's international footballers
Category:France men's youth international footballers
Category:France men's under-21 international footballers
Category:French beach soccer players
Category:French emigrants to England
Category:French expatriate men's footballers
Category:French expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:French expatriate sportspeople in the United States
Category:French men's footballers
Category:French male film actors
Category:French male stage actors
Category:French male television actors
Category:French people of Catalan descent
Category:French sportspeople of Italian descent
Category:French people of Sardinian descent
Category:French people of Spanish descent
Category:Sportspeople of Spanish descent
Category:Leeds United F.C. players
Category:Manchester United F.C. players
Category:Montpellier HSC players
Category:Nîmes Olympique players
Category:Olympique de Marseille players
Category:People convicted of assault
Category:Premier League Hall of Fame inductees
Category:Premier League players
Category:UEFA Euro 1992 players
Category:French male criminals
Category:20th-century French criminals
Category:French sportspeople convicted of crimes