Eric Cantona gave a moving interview with Sky Sports this week, in which he speaks about his great fondness for the manager, club and fans. He admits that he lost his passion for the game and that is why he retired, heaping the praise on Sir Alex Ferguson for managing to keep his passion as well as instilling success for over two decades with United.
In 2000, Eric Cantona was voted by the fans as the greatest player of the century at United, beating the greats of Edwards, Law, Best, Charlton, Robson, Keane, Giggs and Scholes. When asked how this made him feel, he responded “proud, very proud.”
He talked of how special the club was, with the feeling passed down from generation to generation amongst the fans. These fans sing his name week in week out even now, over ten years after he left. “We’ll drink to Eric the King” is heard every week in the local boozers The Trafford and Bishop’s Blaize, the fans United in lifting their bottles and pints in the air to cheer on “the greatest centre forward that the World has ever seen.”
He states he will never forget United, saying “in the last minutes of my life I will have this club in my heart.” He is clearly moved, claiming he doesn’t miss playing, then pauses before saying that “it was a great moment.”
Click below to watch this 5 minute interview in full.
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I will never in my life forget THE KING. King Eric Cantona made me feel so happy in my life.He was always there to give a lift up when needed to my beloved MAN UNITED. Thanks Eric for all you’v done ! I will always have a special place in my heart for you ! Please Eric come to Malta for a holiday and I can assure you that you will find people ready to give you a very V.I.P. treatment.
legend, truly a legend and great man. the way he talks about the club and Fergie you see he love this club. love when he told that everyone can make one great book but not many can make great books for 50 years with still same passion.
n the last minutes of my life I will have this club in my heart, do you miss it? No,
legend, the king
I’m so lucky to have gone to school with Cantona’s son, Raphael in Barcelona. I remember talking to Raphael about his dad and I only wish that I’d gotten an autograph!
I remember the first Barca game I went to (Valencia 4-2 Barca). The next day me and Raphael were talking about the game in school next day on the bus to the swimming pool. I asked him, “where did you sit?” And he was like “the director’s box.”
He also told me about how when he played football with his dad, his dad would kick the ball at him (he was around 12 at that time) and it would hit his stomach so he wouldn’t be able to breathe for a while. Hilarious. The King smacking the ball at his son’s stomach!
It’s a shame I lost contact with him but to have known the son of one of the greatest footballers of all time is just incredible.
The King holds court.
I admire his expressiveness in interview and willingness to talk about aspects touching his heart with honesty.
Do you miss it? No. Facial expression immediately after however is like why do you ask me such a question, how can you expect me to answer, then he counter with life goes on…pauses and says what a moment. Amazing. To me while he has gone on to playing then managing in beach football and there continues to be talk of managing a professional football team, maybe even United, his heart still desires to be the player with ball at his feet in centre stage in The Theater of Dreams.