Eric Cantona remains an unforgettable figure in the history of Manchester United, who inspired an era of success.
The signing of Eric Cantona was the move which turned Manchester United from title challengers into a truly dominant domestic force.
By the time the Frenchman retired prematurely in 1997 at the age of 30, Eric Cantona had amassed four Premier League title wins for Manchester United in five seasons.
The one exception was 1994/95, the season in which Eric Cantona’s season ended four months early after his now infamous kung-fu kick on a Crystal Palace supporter at Selhurst Park.
Eric Cantona apologised, not as many expected
Eric Cantona was handed an eight-month ban, which almost certainly cost Manchester United the title. Sir Alex Ferguson‘s men went onto lose the league on the final day by a single point.
The media were baying for blood, and demanded an apology from Eric Cantona for his behaviour.
Sir Alex Ferguson worked hard to keep the Frenchman away from the spotlight, but couldn’t stop him appearing in an advert for Nike back in 1995, in which he provided his apology.
And it was certainly in his own irreverent and controversial style.
“I made some terrible mistakes. Last year, in a certain 5-0 victory, I only scored one goal.
“Against Newcastle, I put shot three inches wide of the post. And I failed to complete a hat-trick.
“I realised this behaviour was unacceptable, and I promise not to make such mistakes again.”
The advert was quintessential Cantona, and was accompanied by print adverts from Nike ahead of his return, which read, “He’s been punished enough, now it’s somebody else’s turn.”
Cantona showed how he really felt, with the main consequence from the incident at Palace being that it cost him game time.
In a more recent interview, speaking on film The United Way, Cantona discussed his feelings on that night in 1995, commenting: “I have one regret… I would have loved to have kicked him even harder.
Cantona backed up his words
Eric Cantona scored on his comeback at Old Trafford against Liverpool, raising the roof at the stadium as he stepped up to score a penalty.
That year he led Manchester United to win the Premier League and FA Cup, becoming the first ever team to win the ‘Double Double’, clinching both trophies in the same season. Cantona was part of the team which had done so two years earlier in 1993/94.
Cantona scored the winning goal in the FA Cup final in 1996 against Liverpool at Wembley, firing through a crowded penalty box after a David James mistake, sending the Merseysiders home in their white suits.
It is little wonder Cantona is named by new Manchester United investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe as his favourite ever player.
Ratcliffe says he plans to meet up with Cantona, and the pair will likely have lots to talk about. Just don’t mention the kung-fu kick.