Legends - Eric Cantona
Eric 'King' Cantona is often regarded as having played a major talismanic role in the revival of Manchester United as a footballing powerhouse. In his professional footballing career at Manchester United, he won four Premiership titles in five years, including two FA Cup doubles.
Cantona was bought from Leeds for a fee of 1.2 million pounds in 1992. He quickly settled into the team, not only scoring many goals but creating chances for the other players. For the next two years, United went on an amazing run, winning the inaugural Premiership in 1993 (their first Championship title for 26 years) and then the double in 1994, with Cantona's two penalties helping them to a 4-0 win over Chelsea in the FA Cup Final. Cantona then became infamous for an incident that occurred in January 1995. In an away match against Crystal Palace, he launched a 'kung-fu' style kick against an abusive Crystal Palace fan, Matthew Simmons, after being sent off by the referee for a tackle on Palace defender Richard Shaw.
Cantona galvanised the United team to greater success in Europe the following year, with the likes of Ryan Giggs and new bloomed youngsters in David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville emerging under his influence, Cantona had attained the status of 'legend' or as his moniker went, 'The King'. As United retained the league in 1996/97 season, Cantona had won six league titles in seven years, the exception being the 1995 season which he had largely missed through suspension. At the end of the season, he surprisingly announced his retirement from football, at the age of 30. Cantona's achievements in the English League was marked in 2002 when he was made an Inaugural Inductee of the English Football Hall of Fame.
Source: Wikipedia
'The King' voices his opinions on EPL ...excellent article.
posted by Lucas @ 8:32 AM
3 Comments:
Cantona is probably second only to Bergie in being the best import into the English game.
It's ur opinion but Cantona has been voted the most popular and best overseas player ever to play in the Premiership...Henry comes second.
Had Bergkamp played for United, maybe he would have pipped Cantona to that position,we never know. whatever said and done, United enjoyed huge fan following at that time and coupled with the facts that they were on a purple patch,it turned all the limelight on the man of the rejuvenation,Cantona. And the fact that he was a character meant that he was always going to have the media's attention on him for things apart from his on-field skills.
Bergy,on the contrary, was
laidback as far as advertising his credentials went. And Arsenal's fans base was and is still less when compared to United. But longevity,guile and discipline, Bergy has provided in plenty. Like Cantona is to English, I believe, Bergy is to Dutch.
As a matter of fact, London clubs do not idolize or celebrate people as much as clubs like Newcastle, Manchester or Liverpool do. Withstanding this fact, Thierry is famous. Maybe, due to his all-round football and consistency.
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