Eric Cantona
Birthplace: Paris, France (1966)
Height: 6'2"
Forward
(App)(Gls)
1983-1988: Auxerre 81 23
1985-1986: Martigues(Loan) 15 4
1988-1989: Marseille 22 5
1989: Bordeaux 11 6
1989-1990: Montpellier(Loan) 33 10
1990-1991: Marseille 18 8
1991: Nimes 16 2
1992: Leeds United 28 9
1992-1997: Manchester United 143 64
Career: 367 131
International Career: France (45) 20
Eric Cantona started his profssional Football career in 1983 in his native country France for Auxerre where he spent five years as a youngster learning his trade. Cantona`s international career starting very well, because in 1988 he was part of the French under-21 set upt hat won the 1988 under 21 European Champianships.
Eric Cantona was a classy football player but he soon showed signs of his ill-tempered personality, when playing for Marseille in 1989 during a friendly game against Russian side Torpedo moscow, Cantona ripped his jersey off and threw it away in complete frustration. In another incident when Eric Cantona was on loan to Montpellier, Cantona was involved in a fight with team mate Jean-Claude Lemoult and threw his boots at Lemoult`s face. The incident led to six of Lemoult`s team mates demanding for Eric Cantona to be sacked., however with team mates such as Laurent Blanc and Colombian international Carlos Valderrama backing the Frenchman, the club allowed Cantona to play on. With the class and influence of Eric Cantona the club went on to lift the French Cup.
In December 1991 when playing for Nimes, in Cantona`s fury he threw the ball at the referee when a decision went against him, he had to have a disciplinary hearing with the French FA and they had no option but to ban Eric Cantona for a month. Cantona responded in rage, he walked up to every committee member and calling them "idiots". Eric`s ban was increased to two months. It was to much to take for Cantona and announced his shock retirement from professional Football in December 1991. Michael Platini who was the French national team coach at the time persuaded Cantona to make a comeback. On the advice of Gerard Houllier, he moved to England to restart his career. Cantona orriginally came for a trial with Sheffield Wednsday. In February 1992, Leeds United signed Eric Cantona where he was apart of the team that won the very last first Divson in 1991-92 season, before the Premier League was formed. The Frenchman was very inspirational in the Charity Shield win, scoring a hat-trick in a 4-3 win.
In the 1992-93 season, Cantona left Leeds United for Manchester United for argubly the steel of the century, where Alex Ferguson got his man for a mere £1.2 million. Leeds that season finished 17th with out the services of Eric Cantona. The Leeds United faithul was disgusted with the sale of Eric Cantona to arch rials Manchester United and it would turn out to be the best bit of businss that Alex Ferguson has ever done. Before the signing of Eric Cantona, Manchester United were disappointing, but Cantona quckly settled in scoring some vital goals and using his silky skills to create some fantastic goals. He helped Manchester United win many trophies scoring twice in an FA Cup Final in a 4-0 win. Cantona scored an injury time winner in another FA Cup Final against arch rivals Liverpool.
Cantona went on to become one of the all time great Footballers but often when greatness comes along, controversy isn`t far behind, an incident at selhurst park was one of the low points of Cantona`s career, when against Crystal Palace he was sent of, as he was walking of the pitch he seemed to change directon and he started walking over to the Crystal Palace supporters and in one shocking moment that shocked the nation he leaped of the ground and did a kung-fu kick right into his head the fan was later identified as Matthew Symmons. Cantona was given 120 hours of community service after an appeal court over turned a 2 week prison sentance, he was also banned till the following October by the Football Association, Manchester United eventually lst the title to Blackburn Rovers that season. The following season Ferguson sold several key players and replaced them with players from the youth team. Cantona was once again inspirational in helping the young players. much was made of his return match on the 1st October 1996 against Liverpool where he set up Nicky Butt after just 2 minutes and scored a penalty. King Eric was back and back to his best. Cantona has had n exceptional but controversal career and their is no doubt that Cantona has been labeled an all time great and will be remembered for his unbelievable Footballing ability. Eric Cantona was entered in to the English Hall Of Fame.