Eric Cantona is one of the most flamboyant players ever in football and his antics off the field many times seemed to outshine his brilliance on the field.
«Le Roi, c'est moi» [I am the King] was a famous advertisement in the USA which had Cantona as the main figure, in 1996.
Known for his temper and disciplinary failings, L'Enfant Terrible, or the Bad Boy, lived a stormy and unsettled football career, having fallen-out with chairmen, managers, team-mates and referees, and his indiscipline led to numerous periods of suspension.
"Mauvais esprits"
Cantona's life in France turned sour, due to his controversial incidents as he became known for his 'Mauvais esprits' (malignant spirit).
Despite his talent, Cantona failed to shine and achieve success, as well as not winning any European competition and not representing his nation in any World Cup.
So frustrated did Cantona become that he decided to retire from football in 1991, aged just twenty-five. But France coach, Michel Platini, convinced him to try again - in England.
Sheffield, Leeds and United
In 1992 the troubled striker signed for Leeds United, following a period on trial at Sheffield Wednesday. The Leeds fans welcomed him with ‘Ooh Aah Cantona’ and, in his first season, he helped the club win the League Championship.
France lose to Bulgaria at the Parc des Princes in the last qualifier for the 1994 World Cup USA.
However, and despite recognising his talents, Leeds United boss Howard Wilkinson was still concerned about Cantona’s instabilty and he decided to sell him to Manchester United for just over £1m, to Alex Ferguson’s surprise, half-way through the 1992-1993 season.
Cantona's impact at Old Trafford was immediate, with the Frenchman scoring nine goals during the remainder of that campaign and helping the Red Devils to become league champions, for the first time in 26 years.
King under Ferguson
Carisma: Arrogance in the way Cantona celebrated his goals, especially towards his opponentes.
After the Crystal Palace incident, Cantona shocked the media for stating: "When the seagulls follow the trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea."
But he was also a strong, athletic footballer, who was two-footed and good in the air. He had great vision and concentration, and assisted goals for others, as well as scoring them himself. He added confidence and class to a good side and made it great and became known for wanting to to score ‘beautiful goals.'
In 1994 he helped United claim the treble: FA Premier League, FA CUP e Charity Shield.
He became the first French player to shine in England and won the players’ Player of the Year award in 1994 and the writers’ Player of the Year in 1996. He also returned for France. He was a complex footballer: creative, temperamental and undeniably different. But to those who greatly enjoyed the Cantona-era, Eric was ‘the king’.
"Kung fu a la Cantona", probably the most famous kick in his career...
Cantona - Rock star
After failing to convince France coach Aimé Jacquet, who left him out of the squad for the Euro 1996, and later for the France World Cup 1998, Cantona abandoned United and football, in that same year, and decided to try his luck in cinema, featuring in the film 'Elizabeth', next to acclaimed actress Cate Blanchet.
He also dedicated himself to beach football, where he played and took the role of manager of the French team.
His 'Bad Boy' reputation continued as he was continuously invited for beach football tournaments around Europe and America, as well as film festivals.
Cantona also held polemical television interviews, and never showed regret for infamous kicking the Crystal Palace supporter. He even said, at an interview in France in 2011, that he considered the incident as a pleasant moment.
After finishing his player career, Cantona became a media star.
But that didn't stop the French striker from being recognised for his talent as a footballer, as he was voted Manchester United's best player of the 20th century by the fans, coming ahead of club icons Bobby Charlton and George Best.
He was also included in the 100 best players in England of all time, as well entering the Hall of Fame of English football.
The "King" is still admired in England, whilst not as much in his home country France. As a consequence, a disappointed Cantona always makes sure he fuels his love-hate relationshio with France, praising England as a country, as opposed to slamming France, in many occasions.
Os problemas seguiram-no, e pouco depois seria afastado pela Federação por ter atirado uma bola contra um árbitro. Mas o castigo seria alargado para dois meses após ter chamado «idiotas» aos dirigentes federativos. Desiludido com o rumo das coisas, resolve dar por terminada a carreira e pendurar as botas...«Flamboyant»*, «Flanêur»**, talvez não haja língua melhor que a francesa para descrever a presença de Éric
Cantona nos campos de futebol.
Cantona era excessivo, era inconstante, tinha a centelha que abençoa os génios, entrava em campo com a concentração com que iria para a praia, tinha a leveza de um bailarino e a rudeza de um estivador do porto de Marselha.
O seu temperamento, irascível, deixou marcas no campo, nos adversários, nos equipamentos e até em alguns espetadores. L'Enfant Terrible, o Bad Boy marselhês, não fazia prisioneiros, como se convencionou dizer. Com ele não havia meio-termo e nunca foi de levar desaforos para casa.
«Mauvais esprits»: empréstimos e fim da carreira...
Ao lado dos seus inúmeros feitos desportivos, há um rol de inglórias suspensões, castigos, lesões e problemas profissionais, que impediram
Cantona de ser efetivamente aquilo que ele era, um dos melhores jogadores de futebol de todos os tempos. Esse falhanço foi fruto dos seus «Mauvais esprits», o que os franceses chamam de «espíritos malignos», daí advinha a insubmissão e a indisciplina, que impediram
Cantona de atingir todo o seu esplendor.
Os primeiros sinais dos seus lendários maus-fígados surgiriam já em Marselha, depois de ter sido transferido do Auxerre, quando após ter sido substituído num amigável com o Torpedo de Moscovo, rasgou e tirou os calções e jogou-os no chão em direção do banco. A direção do Olympique castigou-o com alguns dias sem poder treinar e jogar.
Na mesma altura insultava o selecionador nacional durante um programa de televisão e era castigado pela Federação e impedido de vestir a camisola bleu, que só voltaria a usar quando Michel Platini se tornou treinador dos gauleses.
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