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English Football Legends Series

Eric Cantona

Clubs: Auxerre, Marseille, Nimes, Leeds United, Manchester United

Position: Forward

Appearances*: 369

Goals*: 131

Honours: League Championship, 5
FA Cup, 2,
Ligue 1, 1
French Cup, 1

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* League appearances and goals only

Club Career in France

Cantona began his football career with his local club, SO Caillolais. In 1983, he joined 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.

In 1984, Cantona completed his national service, and after being discharged he was loaned out to French Second Division side, Martigues.

He rejoined Auxerre in 1986 and signed his first professional contract.

1987 saw him earn his first international cap. However, the first of a catalogue of disciplinary problems reared its head when he was fined for punching a team-mate in the face.

In 1988, he transferred to Marseille for a French record fee of FF22m. but Cantona was soon in trouble again.

During a friendly against Torpedo Moscow he kicked the ball at the crowd and threw away his shirt after being substituted.

He also received a 1-year ban from international football for insulting the French national coach, Henri Michel, on TV.

Eric Cantona's disciplinary problems at Marseille saw him regularly sent out on loan. He had spells at Bordeaux and at Montpellier, where he was again involved in an attack on a team-mate.

The incident led to six players demanding that Cantona be sacked, but the club kept him on and he helped them to win the French Cup in 1990.

After his loan spell he returned to Marseille, where clashes with the club's manager, and owner, saw him sold to Nimes in 1991.

In December 1991, during a match for Nimes he threw the ball at the referee, and received a one month suspension. Cantona responded by calling the members of the disciplinary committee "idiots" - the ban was increased to three months.

Angered by the decision, Eric Cantona announced his retirement from football in December 1991, but was talked out of quitting by French national team coach Michel Platini.

After a discussion with Gerard Houllier, future manager of Liverpool, he decided to move to England.

Leeds United

Eric Cantona was first recommended to Liverpool, but manager Graeme Souness declined, citing Cantona's poor disciplinary record.

In January 1992, he had a one-week trial with Sheffield Wednesday, but while Owls boss Trevor Francis wavered Cantona signed instead for their Yorkshire rivals Leeds United.

At Leeds, he was part of the team that won the final pre-Premier League title.

He made fifteen appearances during the championship winning season, scoring three goals. He also provided many assists, mostly for top goalscorer Lee Chapman.

Cantona started the 1992/93 season in scintillating form. He scored a hat-trick in the Charity Shield against Liverpool, and followed that up with another in a 5-0 league win over Tottenham Hotspur.

His hat-trick against Spurs was the first to be scored in the Premier League.

In November 1992 Alex Ferguson, dissatisfied with his striking options, contacted Leeds United boss Howard Wilkinson about the availability of Lee Chapman. Wilkinson rejected the approach, but mentioned that he was prepared to sell Eric Cantona.

It would be the signing that sparked the Manchester United revival.

Manchester United

Cantona's first Manchester United appearance was in a friendly match against Benfica and his competitive debut came as a second half substitute against Manchester City, at Old Trafford on 12 December 1992.

United won 2-1, and although Cantona made little impact that day, he quickly settled into the team.

His first United goal came in a 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on 19 December 1992, his second in a thrilling 3-3 draw against Sheffield Wednesday on Boxing Day.

However, as always with Cantona, controversy was never far off. On his return to Elland Road, he spat at a Leeds fan and received a 1,000 pound fine from the FA.

Nonetheless, Cantona's signing ignited United's faltering campaign. They were 11 points off the top when he joined in November, they won the title - their first since 1967 - by a massive 10 points.

In winning that title, Eric Cantona became the first - and so far the only - player to win back-to-back top-flight titles in England with different clubs.

The Double

They following season United retained the Premier League title and secured the double when Cantona's two penalties helped beat Chelsea 4-0 in the FA Cup Final.

Cantona was voted PFA Player of the Year, but once again there were disciplinary problems. He was red-carded in successive Premier League games against Swindon and Arsenal, and received a 5 match ban.

Eight Month Ban

Worse was to follow the following season. In a league match against Crystal Palace, Cantona was sent off by the referee for kicking Palace defender Richard Shaw.

As he left the pitch he was taunted by the Palace fans and responded by launching a 'kung-fu' kick into the crowd, followed by a number of punches directed at Crystal Palace fan Matthew Simmons.

There were calls in various quarters for a life ban, but in the end, Cantona received an 8-month world wide suspension from football, and a fine of 30, 000 pounds.

He also received a 14-day prison sentence for the assault, but this was reduced on appeal to 120 hours community service.

While Cantona served his ban United lost the Premier League title to Blackburn Rovers.

There was much speculation that he would leave English football once his ban ended, but he returned against Liverpool on 1 October 1995.

Second Double

United had sold a number of senior players in the off season, and promoted several youngsters from their successful youth team. In this young side Cantona proved inspirational, helping the team overhaul a 10-point Newcastle United lead to win another title.

They also made the FA Cup final, where they faced Liverpool. Cantona captained the side in the absence of the injured Steve Bruce, and got the only goal of the game as United completed a second double.

Captain of United

Following the departure of Steve Bruce to Birmingham City, Eric Cantona was confirmed as United's captain for the 1996/97 season.

He led the side to another title, their fourth in his five years at the club, before shocking the football world by announcing his retirement at the end of the season.

His final competitive game was against West Ham on 11 May 1997, his final appearance against Coventry City on 16 May in a testimonial for David Busst.

Cantona had played 144 league games for United, scoring 64 times. His total goal tally stood at 80.

Life after Football

Since retiring from football Cantona has worked primarily as an actor, appearing in a number of French productions, as well as in the movie Elizabeth, starring Cate Blanchett.

He was also co-producer and lead actor in Ken Loach's film, Looking for Eric, released in 2009.

Cantona has also appeared in numerous European television commercials, notably for Nike and Renault.

Shortly after leaving Manchester United, Cantona became captain of the French Beach Football team. He managed the French Team that won the inaugural FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in 2005, in Rio de Janeiro.

Eric Cantona was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002.

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