Eric Cantona was one one of the best players of the nineties, although his strong character and personality slowed down his career as a footballer. His talent on the field transformed into uncontrollable rebellion, and his human values clashed with what was supposed to be a soccer star. He was always politically incorrect and had to flee France to England to stop being misunderstood. In Manchester, he merged with a club that, like him, wanted to rise from its ashes and where Cantona became the King of the Theater of Dreams.
Get ready to learn the story of L'enfant Tribute, a genius with a lot of genius who became United's Red Devil and the most rebellious footballer in history.
Biography (1983-1988)
Éric Cantona was born on May 24, 1966, in the French city of Marseille and grew up in a gypsy family of Italian and Spanish origins. In the Caillols neighborhood, he started playing football, and at the age of 14, he was about to sign for Nice, although it was finally Auxerre who signed him. At the age of 16, he began playing with the reserve team, and in 1983, he debuted with the first team. In 1986 and due to a lack of minutes, he went on loan to Martigues.
His good performances in the French second division made him sign a professional contract with Auxerre, with whom he had his first great season in 86-87. The 21-year-old emerged as the team's top scorer, scoring 17 goals in 40 games. In the summer of '87, he made his debut with the French team and scored his first goal in a friendly against Germany.
Cantona was France's star in the Under 21 European Championship won by the French team and seemed on track to be the new talent in French football. However, his bad temper began to take its toll on him. In 87-88, he scored another 10 goals, but he punched his teammate Martini and made a violent tackle that cost him a three-month suspension.
Olympique Marseille (1988-1989)
The footballer's rebellion caused him to request a transfer to a club with greater aspirations, and in 1988, he was transferred to Olympique de Marseille. Cantona joined his hometown club, and Olimpique invested 22 million francs in his signing, a record amount for the time.
The French striker enjoyed playing for his childhood team, but a few weeks later, his controversial character betrayed him again. Coach Henri Michel did not call him up for the French team, and Eric Cantona exploded by calling him a "Sack of Shit." The French federation sanctioned him with a one-year suspension, and in January 1989, he "Enfant terrible" the mess with Olympique. Angry with his coach over a substitution in a friendly, Cantona threw the Marseille shirt on the ground, and the club imposed another disciplinary sanction on him.
Bordeaux and Montpellier (1989-1990)
The episode ended with Cantona's loan to Girondins de Bordeaux, where he finished the season, scoring 6 goals in 11 games. In 1989, Cantona returned to the French team, where Platini hoped to tame his character and take advantage of his talent. On the other hand, Marseille does not have the forward, whom they decide to loan for one season Montpellier. There, Cantona had a magnificent year, scoring 14 goals in 39 games, forming an exquisite tandem with the Colombian Carlos Valderrama and culminating the campaign with the French Cup title.
Return to Marseille (1990-1991)
His great performance allowed him to return to Marseille, where the new coach was Franz Beckenbauer, and became his main supporter. Cantona responded with goals and, as in the French team, formed a lethal forward line with his compatriot Jean Pierre Papin. When he seemed most settled, he suffered an injury and came to the bench Raymond Goethals he ended up separating him from the starting eleven. The Belgian coach changed the system to play with a single striker, and his team won the league without him feeling like a protagonist.
Cantona did not play a single minute in the French Cup final in the very final of the European Cup that Red Star beat Marseille, so Cantona asked the president to leave the club.
Threat of withdrawal and departure from France (1991-1992)
Marseille ended up transferring him at the end of the season, and the modest Nimes was the one who bet on him, paying a current value of 1.5 million euros. However, Cantona's performance was not as expected. The forward only scored 2 penalty goals in 17 games, and his talent was insufficient to prevent the team from falling to the relegation spots.
The criticism of Éric was immediate, and the tension caused the genius of the Marseille genius to explode again. In a match against Saint-Étienne he was sent off for hitting the referee with a ball and, after being suspended for four games, he exploded by calling the members of the disciplinary committee idiots.
His reaction led to a two-month suspension, and, wounded in his pride, Cantona announced his retirement at only 25 years old to dedicate himself to the world of painting.
Leeds (1992)
Éric's decision caused a great commotion in France, where Cantona remained indisputable for the French team. The coach Michel Platini he managed to convince him to continue his career in another country and intermediate him to leave France for England.
In January 1992, he arranged a test with him Sheffield Wednesday, even playing a soccer game indoors with the Owls shirt. However, coach Trevor Francis rejected his signing as too expensive, and Cantona he ended up signing for Leeds United. The Whites paid 900,000 pounds to transfer to Nimes, and the French forward made his debut on February 8 in the First Division.
Cantona played 15 games in the second round of the championship, and his participation was essential for Leeds to win the title League unexpectedly.
Manchester United (1992-1997)
After that failure, Cantona returned to England and completed one of the best games of his career score 3 goals in the Charity Shield. Leeds won the title after beating Liverpool 4-3, and the French striker reached the best moment of his sporting career. A week later, he scored another hat-trick against Tottenham Hotspur, and in his first 20 games of the season, he managed to score 13 goals, becoming one of the best players in the newly created Premier League.
In November, Manchester United lost striker Dion Dublin due to a serious injury, and the Red Devils took to the market to sign Cantona. Leeds coach Howard Wilkinson accepted the transfer due to the player's unstable character and, after disbursing 1.2 million pounds, the French Demon arrived at the Theater of Dreams.
Cantona debuted with the Red Devils in the Manchester derby, and from the first moment, he shone with his own light. Alex Ferguson took advantage of all his talent and, thanks to his 9 goals in 22 games, helped United to win the League championship after 26 years of waiting.
Out of the 1994 World Cup
In 93-94, Cantona continued to lead Manchester United, but before the end of the year, the Frenchman would experience one of the biggest disappointments of his career. France was playing for qualification United States World Cup in front of Bulgaria in the Parc des Princes. The Gauls took the lead on the scoreboard with a goal from Cantona, but totally unexpectedly, the Bulgarians came back with a goal from Kostadinov in the last minute that left France out of the World Cup.
United's "The King"
Added to the World Cup disappointment was the elimination of United in the Champions League, where they lost by surprise to Turkish side Galatasaray. However, the performance of the French star in England was sublime, winning three titles and becoming the player of the season. Awarded with him 1993 Bronze Ball, Cantona lifted another Charity Shield, won his first FA Cup, and achieved a career-high by scoring 18 goals in the League. Those from Ferguson won their second consecutive Premier and Éric earned the nickname "The King" of the Theater of Dreams.
Mancunian fans enjoyed the talent and competitiveness of the French star, who, with the "7" on his back, became the symbol of a period team. In the summer market, Madrid and Barcelona were interested in his signing, but Ferguson and United refused to negotiate for their new star.
Best plays and goals from Cantona
"Kung fu" kick and exemplary sanction (1995)
Cantona had found his place and appeased his character, until on January 25, 1995, he was expelled and, on his way to the locker room, he kicked and punched a Crystal Palace fan several times.
The player was punished with 8 months of disqualification and 2 weeks in prison, although he did not end up in prison in exchange for serving 120 hours of community service. Cantona complied with the sanction with a mysterious phrase "When the seagulls follow the fishing boat it is because they think they are going to throw sardines into the sea" and years later he described that attack as "the best moment of his career".
Apart from the French Team
That sanction would be a turning point in his career since the French coach Aimé Jaquet removed him from the national team indefinitely. With that sad ending, Eric ended his international presence with Les Bleus, with whom he played 45 games and scored 20 goals. During his 9 years in the French team, Cantona was only able to play in one prestigious tournament and would be left with the thorn of not playing in any World Cup.
Return and Double (1995-1996)
With the Frenchman out, United could not retain the League title and came second, just one point behind Blackburn Rovers. Cantona returned to the pitch in October 1995 and led United in the midst of a generational change. The Generation of 92 rose strongly, and youth players such as the Neville brothers, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes, Ryan Gyggs, and David Beckham consolidated themselves in the first team. Cantona's 14 goals helped the Red Devils regain the Premier League throne, and another goal from "The King" against Liverpool helped United score another League and Cup double.
The epic Nike and Cantona commercial (1996)
Retreat at the Top
In the 96-97 campaign, Cantona lowered his scoring performance, although he left glimpses of his magic by scoring one of his most remembered goals, and in it, he left an iconic celebration. Cantona became a media star, and after starring in one of the most famous commercials in history, he won his fourth Premier in five years with the Red Devils.
For the first time in that five years, United reached the semifinals of the Champions League, but the English ended up being eliminated at the hands of a Borussia Dortmund team that would end up winning the Orejona.
Shortly after, a few days after turning 31, Cantona surprisingly announced his retirement from football: "I've been a professional for 13 years, and it's too long. I have always considered retiring when I was at the top, and with Manchester United, I have reached the peak of my career.
The Frenchman's arrival in Manchester marked a change of cycle for United, which began the most golden era in its history. With the Red Devils shirt, Cantona played 185 games, scored 82 goals, and won 9 titles. In his career total, he won 14 trophies, almost 500 games (495), and 200 goals scored (185).
Luxury Actor
After his soccer journey, Cantona began his career as an actor, played beach soccer, and filmed successful films and advertisements. His enigmatic personality continues to leave no one indifferent, and in August 2019, he starred in another disconcerting speech at the UEFA gala that left the world of football speechless. The French genius delighted us with the magic of his football and an unpredictable character, but above all, he allowed us to discover a unique charisma that said goodbye as one of the most rebellious footballers in history.
Famous Phrases
"Football is like making love. If you can't last 90 minutes like me, you don't win. "
"I am God" and "My best moment? When I kicked that hooligan, "
They once asked him who was the best French player in history, Zidane or Platini. He answered: "None, it's me"