Eric Cantona facts for kids

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Eric Cantona

Cantona in 2009

Born

Eric Daniel Pierre Cantona

24 May 1966 (age 59)

Marseille, France

Occupation

Actor
footballer

Height

1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)

Spouse(s)

Isabelle Ferrer

(m. 1987; div. 2003)

Rachida Brakni

(m. 2007)

Children

Association football career

Youth career
Position(s)	Forward
1980–1981	SO Les Caillols
1981–1983	Auxerre
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1983–1988	Auxerre	82	(23)
1985–1986	→ Martigues (loan)	15	(4)
1988–1991	Marseille	40	(13)
1989	→ Bordeaux (loan)	11	(6)
1989–1990	→ Montpellier (loan)	33	(10)
1991–1992	Nîmes	16	(2)
1992	→ Leeds United (loan)	11	(3)
1992	Leeds United	17	(6)
1992–1997	Manchester United	143	(64)
Total		368	(131)
International career
	France U17
	France U21
1987–1995	France	45	(20)
1997–2006	France (beach)
Managerial career
1997–2011	France (beach)
2011–2012	New York Cosmos (director of soccer)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Eric Daniel Pierre Cantona (born 24 May 1966) is a French actor and former professional footballer. He is remembered as one of the greatest players of his time. He was a strong and hard-working forward who was known for his skill, power, and ability to score goals. He often played as a deep-lying forward, a position where he could create chances for his teammates. In 2004, the famous footballer Pelé named him in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players.

Cantona played for several clubs in France before moving to England. He played for Leeds United and then Manchester United. At Manchester United, he became a legend. He won four Premier League titles in five years and two League and FA Cup Doubles. Fans at Manchester United gave him the nickname "King Eric." He famously wore the number 7 shirt and played with his collar turned up.

He played for the France national team, scoring 20 goals in 45 matches. He was known for his strong personality and sometimes had a poor disciplinary record. One famous incident led to him being banned from football for eight months.

In 1997, Cantona surprised the world by retiring from football at age 30. He then started a new career in acting and has appeared in many films. He also became interested in beach soccer and was the player-manager for the French national team, leading them to win the 2005 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.

Football Career
International Career
Life After Football
- Acting Career
- Beach Soccer
Style of Play
Images for kids
See also

Football Career

Early Career in France

Cantona started his career at the French club Auxerre. He made his first appearance for the team in 1983. After a short time away for national service, he was loaned to Martigues. He returned to Auxerre in 1986 and became a key player. His good performances earned him a call-up to the French national team.

However, Cantona often got into trouble. In 1987, he was suspended for a dangerous tackle. A year later, he was transferred to Marseille, the team he supported as a child.

At Marseille, Cantona struggled to settle in. He was loaned to Bordeaux and then Montpellier. At Montpellier, he helped the team win the French Cup. After returning to Marseille, he helped them win the league title but was later transferred to Nîmes.

In December 1991, he threw the ball at a referee during a match. He was banned for a month. When he insulted the committee members at his hearing, his ban was increased to two months. After this, Cantona announced he was retiring from football. However, the French national team coach, Michel Platini, convinced him to return. On Platini's advice, he moved to England to restart his career.

Leeds United

In January 1992, Cantona joined Leeds United. He quickly became a fan favorite. He helped the team win the final Football League First Division title before it became the Premier League. He scored three goals and provided many assists for the team's top scorer, Lee Chapman.

The next season, he scored a hat-trick in a 4–3 victory over Liverpool in the 1992 FA Charity Shield. He also scored the first-ever hat-trick in the new Premier League against Tottenham Hotspur. However, his relationship with the manager, Howard Wilkinson, became strained. In November 1992, he asked to be transferred.

Manchester United

A Surprise Transfer

On 26 November 1992, Cantona moved to Manchester United for £1 million. The news shocked Leeds fans, as Manchester United were their biggest rivals. For Manchester United, it was a brilliant signing. The team had been struggling to score goals and was falling behind in the title race.

Cantona made an immediate impact. He scored goals and created chances for others. His first goal for the club was against Chelsea on 19 December 1992. With Cantona in the team, United's fortunes turned around. They lost only two more league games and won the first-ever Premier League title, their first league championship in 26 years.

King Eric's Reign

In the 1993–94 season, Cantona was at his best. He was Manchester United's top scorer with 25 goals. He helped the team win the Premier League again and the FA Cup, completing "the Double." He was voted the PFA Player of the Year by his fellow professionals.

The season was not without problems, though. He was sent off in two games in a row in March 1994 and was banned for five matches.

The Selhurst Park Incident

The 1994–95 season is remembered for a controversial moment. On 25 January 1995, during a match against Crystal Palace, Cantona was sent off for kicking a defender. As he walked off the pitch, a fan ran down from the stands to shout abuse at him. Cantona responded by kicking the fan.

This incident made headlines around the world. Cantona was banned from football for eight months and fined. He also had to complete 120 hours of community service. Without him, Manchester United lost the Premier League title to Blackburn Rovers.

Many people thought Cantona would leave England. But his manager, Alex Ferguson, persuaded him to stay.

A Triumphant Return

A puppet of Cantona from the TV show Spitting Image

Cantona returned on 1 October 1995, in a match against rivals Liverpool. He set up a goal and scored a penalty in a 2–2 draw. He soon found his best form again. He scored many important goals, including the only goal in six different 1–0 wins.

Manchester United won back the Premier League title. They also played Liverpool in the 1996 FA Cup Final. With the regular captain injured, Cantona led the team. He scored the only goal in the 86th minute to win the match. United became the first English club to win the Double twice.

Final Season and Retirement

Cantona was named the club captain for the 1996–97 season. He led Manchester United to another Premier League title. It was his fourth league title in five years with the club.

At the end of the season, at the age of 30, Cantona announced his retirement from football. His final game was on 11 May 1997. He scored 82 goals in less than five years for Manchester United and is remembered as one of the club's greatest-ever players.

International Career

Cantona made his debut for the France national team in 1987. He had a difficult relationship with the team's managers. In 1988, he insulted the coach on TV and was banned from the team for a year.

When Michel Platini became the coach, he brought Cantona back. Cantona played in UEFA Euro 1992, but France did not perform well. Later, under coach Aimé Jacquet, Cantona was made the captain of the team.

However, after the incident at Selhurst Park in 1995, he was banned from the national team and stripped of the captaincy. He was never selected to play for France again. This meant he missed out on playing in Euro 96 and the 1998 FIFA World Cup, which France won.

Life After Football

Acting Career

Cantona (far right) at the premiere of the film Looking for Eric in 2009.

After retiring from football, Cantona began a career as an actor. His first role was in the 1995 film Le bonheur est dans le pré. He has since appeared in many French and English films, including Elizabeth (1998) and Looking for Eric (2009), where he played himself.

He has also appeared in many commercials, especially for the sportswear company Nike. One famous ad showed him playing against a team of demons, where he delivered the line, "Au Revoir," before scoring the winning goal.

Beach Soccer

Cantona also became involved in beach soccer. He was the captain and later the manager of the France national beach soccer team. In 2005, he led the team to victory in the first-ever FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. He continued to manage the team until 2011.

Style of Play

Cantona was a unique and talented player. He was tall and strong, but also very skillful with the ball. He was known for his excellent ball control, vision, and creative passing. He could score amazing goals from long range or with powerful volleys.

He was a leader on the pitch and had a strong, charismatic personality. His trademark was playing with his shirt collar turned up. He said it started by accident in a cold game, but because his team won, it became a habit.

Although he was a brilliant player, he was also known for his temper and poor discipline. He was a controversial figure but is remembered as one of the most exciting players to ever play in the Premier League.

Images for kids

An Evening with Eric Cantona was held at the Lowry in Salford, Greater Manchester, in February 2017
Cantona being interviewed on stage
Cantona at Old Trafford with the Cosmos, 5 August 2011