A Tribute Simply Eric (original) (raw)
History 92-94
A surprise 1.2 million signing by UNITEDin Nov 92, Eric Cantona was
not manager Alex Ferguson`s initial target when he bid to increase the**
**Red`s goalscoring output. Having failed in his 3.5 million attempt to land
Sheff Wed David Hirst, Ferguson was subsequently successful in his
bid for the 26 year old Parisian. In many ways it was a moment of
supreme serendipity as Ferguson could not have dreamed just how great 
and glorious a catylyst Cantona would prove for his developing team.
At the time of his signing, an optimistic and, indeed prophetic view
came from Guy Roux, the Auxerre manager who discovered Cantona as a 14
year old and turned him into a star. "He will get goals that United
want", said the former boss, who also added that he would have him back
tomorrow, if he could afford him."Cantona`s career included a French Cup
win with Montpelier and a League Championship with Leeds United, who
pipped UNITED for the title in 91-2.
His first appearance for the Reds was against Benfica in Lisbon, in a friendly match to mark the 5oth birthday of Eusebio. Cantona`s class has never been in doubt, but apparently unpredictable and often outspoken artistic Gallic temperament was, to some degree, the reason behind no less than eight different moves in the space of 10 years which had seen the French international adapt to many types of play, but not always the individuals in authority, most recently at Leeds, where he left amid recriminations om both sides.
He quickly settled on the big stage at Old Trafford, however, his subtle skills and flair for the unexpected option blossoming within the framework of a gifted side with many willing runners to feed from his delightfully weighted chips and flicks into open spaces. Certainly UNITED supporters clasped him to their hearts as a cult hero and his contribution to successive Premier league titles has been an immensley significant one. Not only has he created a fresh dimension in attack by his vision and self-confidence, but he also proved an inspiration to his talented team-mates who have responded with aplomb to his uplifting and unique brand of unforgettable soccer sorcery. Eighteen Premiership goals and four in the FA Cup - which included two elegantly sidefooted pressure penalties in the final against Chelsea - was Erik`s** **"magnifique" contribution to the Red`s Double winning-season.
With his trademark turned-up collar, and shirt worn outside his shorts, the fiery Frenchman cut an impressive figure throughout 93-4 and fully warranted his PFA Player of the Year award.
Without doubt, Eric Cantona is a footballer of independent genius to be admired and enjoyed.
Short resume of 94-96:
Premier League Champion 96
FA Cup Winner 96 (Final 95)
Player of the Year 96
Black day of his career 1/5/95: five minutes into the second half at Crystal Palace Cantona
received a red card. On his way off the pitch the Palace fans yelled at him and Eric took
the situation into his own hands tackling Matt Simmons with a breast height
karate kick. He was rightfully banned for the rest of the season.
Eric Cantona accepted his punishment and came back a reformed character to help
UNITED win the famous Double Double in 95-6.
Here is the absolutely fantastic 13 match run in for the Double Double: Eric scores in 9/13 games, 5 of them match winning goals!
Eric`s Chant from Old Trafford! 
Bobby Charlton note:
"We`re just very grateful he`s here. He`s such a great player. I`m still pinching myself. A player like that only comes along once or twice in a lifetime, and you don`t leave him out or put him in the reserves. You_** **_respect his skill. Eric is the brainiest player I`ve ever seen, he see's such a lot when he has the ball. The big thing he has given UNITEDis the ability to make attacks count, not waste good positions until the right option appears, and we now finish almost every move with an effort on goal. The other thing is his ability to release players, even when the pass doesn`t look on. If you make the run Eric will probably get you the ball."
Appearances: 92-97 
Eric stats: Games Goals League Cup 92/93 23 10 22/9 1/0 93/94 48 25 34/18 14/7 94/95 24 13 21/12 3/1 95/96 38 19 30/14 8/5 96/97 49 14 36/11 13/3
Total 182 80 143/64 39/16
"Thanks for everything Eric. See you around?" A tribute from the mailing list by Tim Emanuel <temanuel@PW001.PROWEB.CO.UK>
Erik celebrates against Rapid Vienna
Greetings to Manchester UnitedSupporters "All Over The World".
Do you have any information not mentioned, please E-mailme
Here are Eric's Last 17 performances:
Man United 24 Dec 1997
LONG LIVE KING CANTONA!
In a year when yet more foreigners arrived in the Premiership, Manchester Unitedsaid adieu to the most successful import of them all.
Five years after he had arrived on our shores, Eric Cantona set sail for France in his trawler with his haul of five championship and two FA Cup medals.
Cantona quit at the top after his performances, by his own high standards, were beginning to slip to the levels of mere mortals.
When he arrived from Leeds in a £1.2million deal in November 1992, he proved to be the catalyst that fired Unitedto their first championship in 26 years.
The following season he was the inspiration behind their first Double success.
But in January 1995, came his infamous Kung-Fu attack on fan Matthew Simmons at Selhurst Park and he was banned until the end of September.
Unitedfinished runners-up in the league and the FA Cup that season and many believe they would have done the Double again had Cantona not been suspended.
He scored in his comeback against Liverpool at Old Trafford and his knack of netting vital goals at crucial times steered Unitedto their second Double success.
Last season he helped United win their fourth title in five seasons and chairman Martin Edwards has no doubts about his contribution to the club's success.
``It's no coincidence that shortly after Eric's arrival we won the league for the first time in 26 years and have subsequently completed two Doubles - it was a magical time,'' he said.
For manager Alex Ferguson, Cantona was one of the best players he had worked with.
``Eric has had a huge impact on the development of our young players,'' he said.
``He has been a model professional in the way he conducted himself and he has been a joy to manage.''
Sir Bobby Charlton, himself a legend at Old Trafford, feels he brought real class to the side.
``Eric has gone now and we are very sorry that he has,'' he said.
``We can never thank him enough for what he did when he was here. He gave Manchester United something that had been missing for a long time - star quality.
``We were delighted to have him here and we still wish him well in the future.''
Ericquotes Dec 97: from the British GQ magazine January 98 issue featuring an interview with Eric Cantona:
Q / A How does it feel to be the youngest retired man in France? "I won't say that I've stopped thinking about it, but I'm up to my neck in other things at the moment."
What did you want to do when you were little? Be a footballer. Give a performance.
How does the thought of starting a new career make you feel? I stopped playing football because I'd done as much as I could. I needed something which was going to excite me as much as football had excited me. After football, did you want to start making films straight away? Actually, I wanted to act even when I was still playing football. There were moments - I would be daydreaming - I would imagine scenes, even if there wasn't a camera around. In my head, I was acting. It stopped me getiting bored when we went away for long periods. Instead of watching TV, I was watching the images in my head.In football, one of your trademarks was the raised shirt collar. In films, do you think you'll also have a trademark or sign? In football, I wore my collar up like that to hide the traces of the heavy burden I was carrying! No, I'm kidding: I was never the one saying that. But it's like the idea of tattoos for this photo - I liked it because I thought it was very powerful. Have you noticed that people have stopped using "sporting" as a term? It's no longer used because it no longer applies to sport. I prefer to play and lose rather than win, because I know in advance I'm going to win.
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"When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think that
sardines will be thrown into the sea"
Eric Cantona: 31.03.95
"An artist in my eyes, is someone who can lighten up a dark room.
I have never and will never find difference between the pass from Pele to
Carlos Albert in the final of the World Cup in 1970 and the poetry of the
young Rimbaud, who stretches
'
cords from steeple to steeple and garlands from window to window'.
There is in each of these human manifestations and expression of beauty
which touches us and gives us a feeling of eternity
"What A Friend We Have In Jesus" What a friend we have in Jesus............he`s a saviour from afar What a friend we have in Jesus.........and his name is Cantona.... Ooh Aah Cantona,Ooh Aah Cantona Ooh Aah, Ooh Aah, Ooh Aah Cantona.... Ooh Aah Cantona.......
"Eric The King" We`ll drink and drink and drink_** **_To Eric the King the King the King_** **_He`s the leader of our football team He`s the greatest French Footballer that the world has ever seen....
