After leaving Manchester United at the end of the 1997 season, Eric Cantona moved to Barcelona with his family. This of course meant when he was in the same city as our lads when they lifted their first European Cup since the Busby era.
In Andy Mitten‘s brilliant book, Glory Glory!
“When you see teams win things you want to be involved,” he said. “But I had been away from football for two years. I was proud and happy. I knew ten of the players and Ferguson. I was very happy for him. I would have loved to have been on the pitch in Barcelona, of course.”
Cantona’s trademark in his time with United was of course the lifted collar, a fashion tip copied by little lads all over the city on school playgrounds. Rumours circulated it was because he had a Leeds United tattoo on his neck but the reason was much more simple than that.
“That was not a gimmick,” he said. “I put my shirt on. It was a cold day. The collar stayed up so I kept it like that. We won so it became a habit to play with my collar up.”
Cantona recently returned to Manchester to film Looking For Eric which brought back some fond feelings for the city.
“I do miss Manchester a lot,” he said. “I like the culture. Oasis, and the others. The Stone Roses. I liked The Smiths before I moved to Manchester. Morrissey, I liked the things he did and the way he did them. Very much. Manchester United is so strong and you can feel that in the city. There is a lot of energy in Manchester in football, music and culture. Maybe it’s because of the rain. I only lived there when I was a player. I went back to live there recently for one month to shoot Looking For Eric with Ken Loach recently. Some cities you have beautiful things to see and visit; in Manchester they have energy.”
Aside from the attitude and talent and excitement that Cantona brought, it’s hard to ignore that his arrival at United was the catalyst for the past almost two decades of success. The kids had Cantona to look up to, to admire, to aspire to be like, and after he left, already had a few league titles to their name and all the confidence needed to go on to be the main men of the team.
Cantona has reflected on the feelings inspired of that first title win in 1993 though and his feelings towards the fans before the final game of the season.
“We had been crowned champions of England by default the day before,” he said. “Now we wanted to play like champions. The lid was ready to jump off, mouths were ready to open. It was a feeling of the greatest delight and madness. The songs that came from the depths of the crowd were so beautiful that for an instant I didn’t want to have to play, but would have liked to stand still somewhere and just listen… We brandished the cup before Sir Matt Busby, the man whose most beautiful children had perished in that air catastrophe. We did a lap of honour to cheers from all around the ground. When I compare this spectacle to all the shows in the world, this isn’t far from being the most perfect because, just as in certain theatres, the audience is almost part of the play.”
Glory Glory!
Man Utd News 24/7
Cantona= GOD
Long live the King!!!
It worries me how much I love him!
On the 12th day of Christmas my true love sent to me…
Wow..great read as always!! Is he the best united player ever?? I did not see a great deal of him playing for us really but I have never heard anything but praise for this guy from all united fans.
United, Cantona, Anything else less relevant. In that order.
@cherry:
It’s hard to say. As long as i have followed United, I think he and Ronaldo might be the most talented to have ever played for us. But in my opinion, the best United player of the last 20-30 years is Ryan Giggs.
Scott hit the nail on the head though. He arrived at a team that was already on the verge of greatness, but he gave us that air of invincibility. He gave us that somethingt extra to go and win titles. I am just sad that he and United found each other so late. We only got 5 years our of him.
weird though that he quoted oasis.
what a legend!!
hope he takes over from Sir Alex once he decides to retire.
King Eric. I love him.
Yeah Costas…I was thinking likewise abt him and Ronaldo. I have seen a few clips of him playing for us but it’s really hard to say between him and Ronaldo interms of talent. I was also thinking that Ronaldo is the most talented to have ever played in the EPL…
@cherry: cantona is é greatest. i follow man utd since ’86, no other player has had that kind of impact on me. can’t be explain in words, cantona is like a religion to me. still gives me é vibes up é spine when i watch cantona greatest goals now after so many years. if u ask me, i put in down to cantona arrival which propel man utd to where we are for é past 18 years.
Just when you think you can’t love this man any more he talks about liking The Smiths, he truly is like some kind of Olympian God walking among us, showing us the way forward.
Great player for us but saf did say, we wud have still won the league that year if he hadn’t of signed, but saying all that he seemed to knit everything together.
devil@singapore…that’s cool mate. I hope he will one day return to OT in some kind of position. Every united fan adores this gr8 man.
King Eric can get away with Oasis, afterall he did also say Stone Roses.
LEGEND
To fully embrace Manchester, he had to mention ‘Oasis’. Its alright if its Cantona, I guess.
What is it about Oasis? pls tell educate us
5 CANTONAS
I love it, it’s one of my top 3 chants that I love and it give me the feeling that christmas more so than a tree would. Eric Cantona what cam be said about this man. A legend to the highest order what English football is today , the premiership. Is there because of Eric on the pitch and Alex off the pitch. He wasn’t the sole reason for united since 1992 or to say it was a one man team it’s just that he added something special that I can’t putt finger on and don’t think I ever will be able. Emily sings the 5 cantona song and if I’d my computer running I’d stick the link on it but I don’t because of the phone but Emily knows about cantona his picture is hanging int sitting room over my tv and at Christmas rime when Emily sees manger she see says there’s baby Jesus and if you ask her whaat happened when Jesus grew up she says he became cantona
They are City fanboys.
Cantona is the King. I don’t care if he likes Oasis, I like the Beatles.
Sorry but this is a bit off topic.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A60674862
Chelsea fielded Essien against Arsenal and Wolves when he was ineligible to play as he had failed to turn up for Ghana’s friendly in Angola.
Shouldn’t Chelsea get a points deduction for those games?!
Then again this ic Chelsea we’re talking about….
Cherry – Eric > Ronaldo in every single way.
Amazing player, amazing man.
Watched a Cantona classic last night . Norwich away April 93. Fucking hell of a player. Magical.
Roses> Oasis
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/2770956/Vidic-to-put-Man-United-first.html
United>Worldcup for vidic!
Any1 on the planet>Stan collybore
cherry na cantona was good but he is not has good has best charlton schmecheal scholes and giggs. giggs for me is uniteds greatest ever player followed closly by schmecheal.
@cherry
oasis is an english band. liam gallagher is the lead singer for the group and he is a man city fan.
Ah so he does like The Smiths wahoo! I thought Morrissey complained of being flabbergasted at being snubbed by Eric one time, maybe he discovered his music late. The Queen Is Dead – LONG LIVE THE KING
Red Hot Chili Peppers > Oasis
Hell, Jonas Brothers > Oasis. Well, actually no. Jonas Brothers = Oasis.
@Gotta hate tiny tears, I chocked on my food laughing so hard over your baby Jesus, Cantona comments.lol.hahahahahaaaaaa
What can I say that has not been already said about this phenomenal man…Words cannot describe. One of the most authentic and influential players to have every played in the league. Great player and a great person. I would not mind if he replaces Fergie, even though he has fuck all experience in management.
lol @ theboogeyman
@rooney the new king, to each his own. i respect ur opinion, all those u name are great great players, but muz says damn damn surprise cantona are below them. well….shocking haha.
players like Best and Cantona are the reason kids go out and play football
he was in bloody leeds for only one season & win them è title. he moves to man utd end ’92, we finally win our first title in 26 years. i believe he’s still è only player to win back to back epl title with 2 different team. after winning it è first time, we went on to retain the title. when he was ban for the best kick of his life @palace, we lost é title that year. it’s not just his present on é field, there’s really something special about cantona. to quote him from ‘looking for eric’, “i’m not a man, i’m CANTONA.”.
Fze123.thanks a ton that you voted for giggsy yesterday for me too.glad he won
@ devil@singapore the reason why
- scholes and giggs have basically been through every great era of fergies great sides maybe scholes was not part of the great 93 and 94 sides and after nearly 2 decades they still at times show the rest how it is done especially giggs. and some of uniteds biggest title wins have been through these 2 and they teach some of todays youngest players how to act has pros and on and off the field.
- schmeicheal was basically at times our only defence who made defenders like may johnsen berg even the neville bros at times when they were naive players look good, and he is uniteds greatest ever keeper without the great dane united would not have won those trophys especially 1999. it took united years to get a decent replacement because of the standards and match winning saves he done.
- best and charlton helped resurrecte united and drove them to european cup glory and other trophys, and they helped put united back on the map has the club they are today, and they have helped inspire some of todays great united players. the things best done on the pitch is just nothing short of impossible not even ronaldo giggs messi zidane could do the things best has done, for wing play best is on his own.
these are reasons why cantona is behind the players I picked.
John ferry
it’s the truth thou and the other say I got a bit of an ear bashing from the misses because she believes in the invisable man and I can’t be saying stuff like that to Emily so I sat Emily down and had a talk with her about Jesus and said “when jesus grew up” Emily quickly said “he was cantona” I had to say no it wasn’t and in a moment of pure prouddaddyisms Emily slightly tilted her head with an inquisitive look on her face and said, and I swear this is the truth, Emily said ” did he become Rooney”
raj k thanks mate for the explanation of Oasis. Maybe I will get to understand these stuffs better in the next couple of months as I am moving to London soon to pursue a course. My only worry is whether I will be able to see all united matches as I have here in Freetown.
@rooney the new king, reasoning accepted. i wasnt fortunate enough to watch charlton & best play, wish i was born earlier. as i said, to each his own & i respect ur arguement. if cantona had been around longer, i’m sure he would have been higher up ur list. i believe everybody have their own list of man utd greats. for me, top 5 (’86 onwards):
Cantona
Schmeichael (we have been searching & still in my opinion hasnt found anyone to fill his shoe yet)
Giggs
Solskajer (loyal, loyal, loyal, deadly)
Scholes
devil@singapore
cantona won the first division title with leeds then the premiership with us, henning berg i think is the only player to have won the premiership with two teams, blackburn/united
@Ulster Red: thanks mate for pointing out è error. u are rite. we won the 1st ever epl, leeds win was the old 1st division. not so sure abt berg part though. anyway, doesnt matter cos never really fancy him haha. cheers!
no problem mate! yea he won it with blackburn then signed for us and won it here aswell
I sing 5 Cantonas every morning in the bathroom before i go to work :p
Singing it gives me the strength and motivation to start the day.
I respect anybody naming other players as his greatest ever United player, but as long as i have loved Manchester United, Eric Cantona is the King of Old Trafford.
I don’t know what is “is”? maybe an aura. maybe because he was the last jigsaw in the puzzle. but because of “that” i put Cantona above all since i follow United through early 80′s. wait a minute….maybe because of his brilliance arrogant.
devil@singapore you are right he would have but because cantona was not at united long enough he does not make the list. someone like ronaldo would not get onto my top 15 players or top 20 players, cantona would be in the top 10 of my list but not top 5 of uniteds greatest players. I never saw best and charlton play but they still make the list of my top 5 greatest united players.
Cristiano Ronaldo may be the most talented player to ever play in the premier league, but in terms of charism and impact, Cantona is second to none.
Pogba has so freekin shot on him. He will score so punt of deflected of the keeper due to power of the shot goals in his football life
We’ll drink a drink, a drink, to Eric, the king, the king, the king…
@GHTT bro, why suddenly about Pogba? is he playing now?
And as I type it 1-0 scorer Paul pogba
wow thank you. you are so lucky to be able to watch it
U2
Radiohead
Stone Roses
Coldplay
Muse
Happy Mondays
Charlatans
Chili Peppers
Inspiral Carpets
Kasabian
Manic Street Preachers
Ian Brown
Guns N Roses
Oasis
Why the fuck I made that list is beyond me.
Long live the King.
Cantona7 sorry mate didn’t see your question united Bolton reserves 18 minutes gone it’s 1 all Bolton just scored. Pogba gets stuck in defending he is strong and knows hoe to use it. Really a prospect and a half
Gotta hate – Is Pogba already in the reserves now? And scored? Gonna be massive for United is this kid.
GHTT no prob n thank you. Wow it’s a RESERVE game, Pogba is playing and SCORING? He’s just 16 isnt he?
I don’t wanna take anything away from norwood Sam husten, not spelt right, or Stewart but pogba is attacking true the middle like a scholes but for such a young age he’s getting himself into possitions that a Micheal Owen would at 30. Really really goof half hour so far out of him and I can’t work out weather he’d be better off been a striker or a cm player.
http://www.justin.tv/fishing__tv/popout/ – Reserves match link
Oo.. Thanks again for the info. Got to sleep now. Cya again
ghtt, he’s an all round midfielder, more defensive than creative, heck of an engine and heck of a shot. he’s like essien, only more lanky.
@m34ch thank you! it’s showing very fine for me now, so i’m gonna put my sleep on hold. and i just watched that goal from Pogba.
lanky Essien is a perfect way to discribe him
aww… I think our GK should have done better with that goal.. Is that Ben Amos?
nice goal!!! that is one very well taken shot by Ajose
Ah went for a piss who scored uniteds second
Ajose.. the number11. A header-assist from Pogba sent him through, but he took a first-time low volley from the outskirts of the penalty box
Just got in. Gonna sit down and watch it. Must admit I have been impressed with Ajose this term. Knows where the goal is. Looks like that cunt from JLS though.
Ajose>nani
and I mean that
by the by that Bolton miss is the worst miss I’ve ever seen in football he was about 12 inches out side an open goal and he missed the ball with his foot and ended up backheeling it away from goal
yeah that got me rolling on the floor.. and i think i rolled more than that ball did just 12 inch in front of our goal…
Reserves game gone to pens…
Balls
Bolton knocked them off
Wow! I didn’t know that he liked The Smiths! The two greatest institutions on earth (The Smiths and Manchester United) are coming even closer! What next? Johnny Marr to be revealed as Fergie’s nephew, perhaps?
Che Guevarist then you have not seen many great premiership players. canton scholes giggs le tissier henry bergkamp were has talented has ronaldo or more talented. scholes in my eyes is the premierships most talented player i the history of the prem what I have seen watching football.
@GHTT: Hey mate. Off topic, but how’s the celebration for Sheamus going?
Cantona is all.
seen some fantastic players at united in in last 20 or so years robson hughes giggs ronaldo van nistelrooy but eric had that aura about him he was the main man
@Rooney the new king: hang your head in shame, fella.That crap you wrote about Schmeichel (funny that you can’t spell the name of your 2nd greatest ever United player) was absolute bollocks. First of all; May, Johnsen, Berg and the Neville brothers were all fine defenders. Saying Schmeichel “made them look good” is an insult to these great servants who played their part in United’s success in the mid to late 90s.
Now, while Scmeichel was an incredible factor in United’s 90s resurgence, Cantona’s influence was incomparable. Schemichel was the foundation our success was built on, but Eric was the catalyst for it. We could not and would not have won the league in ’93 without Eric. And that was just the beginning.
Another reason Schmeichel will never compare to Eric is beacuse the Great Dane tarnished his legacy while playing for Manchester City in the last ever derby at Maine Road. In case you are unaware, your ’2nd greatest ever United legend’ delighted the Bitters by celebrating City’s goals wildly, even performing the ‘aeroplane’ gesture used by the Bitters to taunt us about Munich.
Just to add, I’m not saying Schmeichel knew what he was doing with his aeroplane impersonation (it was probably thoughtless) but the Bitters certainly got a kick out of it. Besides, what’s the cunt doing celebrating a goal against United so enthusiastically anyway? Look at how Ronaldo didn’t celebrate his goals for us against Sporting. That is the kind of class I would have hoped for from Schmeichel in that derby.
there’s nothing like a good cantona post to lift everyone’s spirits around here. it works like magic.
the debate over who was the greatest player in united history misses the point of it all. united are the greatest team because we have the greatest selection of legendary great players. comparing best, law, charlton, giggs, cantona… it’s like choosing between rembrandt, van gogh, picasso, and da vinci. you don’t need to rank genius, you just need to appreciate it when it comes along.
long live the king!
Ajose>Nani?
That is funny, this is reserve football people, get a grip! Lee Martin and Chris Eagles looked out of this world at this level for the past few years
Offtopic, does anyone know about the £1 billion buyout for man utd. I read somewhere that some group of businessmen are preparing a bid of £1 billion for man utd.
Raj
hi mate. the glazers have rubbished it saying the club is not for sale.
http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/northwest/news/19055-man-utd-not-for-sale-say-glazers.html?news_section=4158
@Raj
This is a better link
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/posts/view/112627/Man-Utd-not-for-sale-
Costa my man
a bunch of 27/28 year old lads having. Few beers between 1-4 in the morning watching wrestling. Sad but really really happy.
@tony starks
I’ve given up on nano and when I watch ajose do a stepover or a flick or some sort of trick that’s grand but then the. Guy crosses or shoots or something he makes the right choice
Cantona and Ronaldo are both very good footballers, but they would not have been so successful on their own. As for which is best, it’s a real pity most of you did not have the pleasure of watching Georgie Best as I did. He was a phenomenon with a ball at his feet and could have achieved greater things had he not chosen the life he did. I have been following Manchester United for over 40 years and still believe Bestie is exactly that; the best.
Aig alex is god, you’re welcome mate. All thanks to everyone else who also voted for Giggsy.
Thanks aig alex for the info
@Raj
welcome mate
I don’t think that in my life I’ ll never love another United player as much as KING ERIC ! HE MADE SOOOO HAPPY !!!!
Cantona liked Morrisey, fuck me pink, how depressing, everyday is like Sunday, and I am putting my arms around Paris. lol
Enough to kill, well knee cap.