For 26 years, a very long time, before Eric Cantona came to be the symbol of victory of Old Trafford, Manchester had not got any Premiership cup. With a great club like them, this was a very big problem. However, just 4 years in Manchester, Cantona helped them get 4 English Premiership cup and more importantly, he opened a new bright era for the greatest club in the history of English soccer.

In Manchester United, people adore Cantona with a passion that only George Best ever had. To the crazy fan of the “Red Devils”, Cantona is the king, even the Highness, the one who brings Manchester United to the top of the highest top. If you ever see his performance, you will be impressed by his perfect confidence, his open collar symbolizing his excellent skill as well as ways of thinking.

*) Résumé:

- Date of birth: May 24^th 1966

- Place: Paris, France

- Clubs: Auxerre, Martigues, Marseille, Bordeaux, Montpellier, Nimes, Leeds United, Manchester United.

- Achievements in Manchester United:

+ FA Premier League: 142 matches (64 goals)

+ League Cups: 6 Matches (1 Goal)

+ European Cups: 16 matches (5 Goals)

- National Team: 45 Matches (19 Goals)

1. Mysterious man:

Not only a very eminent soccer player, be Eric Cantona a person who loves poetry, art and philosophy, which are not appropriate to a soccer player, especially a heinous-face man like him. He is said to have been “The Rebel” or “Free Man.” His point of view in the life contributes to the reason why people call him so: “The sea birds follow the fishing boat for they think there are fish to be thrown away to the sea.”

It seems to be difficult to understand but according to the psychologists, it not only reflects his intelligence but also reflects his complacence. Obviously, Cantona has the strange virtue that not everybody has. To most of the fans, he is a wonderful soccer player who has the surprised goal that nobody ever thought of. Understandably, Cantona is the soul of the match.

Born in Paris, Cantona has wandered around in the French Soccer League. Descending from Auxerre of Guy Roux, a legendary coach, Cantona had the virtues of a professional French soccer player. He had played 81 matches for them before playing for Martigues. After that, He went to Marseille, Bordeaux, Montpellier and Nimes. On those wandering days, Cantona had a Champion French cup with Montpellier in 1990 and a Ligue I cup with Olympique Marseille in 1991. It’s not much for an excellent player, just enough for a young man.

2. A straight forward man:

The point of view in his life usually brought to him the complications. In 1988, Cantona was punished to be out of soccer for 1 year since he condemned the coach of French soccer team for the poor performance. In December 1991, he once again received a punishment that forces him out of soccer for 2 months for calling the referee who gave him the yellow card “Stupid foolish.” Tired of everything that he had had, Cantona planned to give up his life like a soccer player at the age of 25. Luckily, with the passionate love for the ball, Cantona decided to continue his profession.

After a long time wandering in France, Cantona went to England to find a new inspiration. His first destination was Sheffield Wednesday of Trevor Francis. However, “the first step is the hardest.” The meeting was cancelled for a very ridiculous reason: So much snow and Trevor did not want to go with snow in the résumé. The achievements of Cantona made Francis want the French player to have more time to try. Of course, Cantona did not agree and he got away.

3. In Elland Road:

In February 1992, the coach of Leeds United, Howard Wilkinson, signed a short-term contract with Cantona. With the inborn talents and the passionate love with the ball, Eric Cantona quickly got along with the whole team. He played a very important role in the victory of Leeds United that year. In the final match of Charity Shield Cup, Cantona had a hattrick that the Leeds’ fan can never forget.

4. Fame in Old Trafford:

In the short time being a hero of Leeds United, although Cantona played quite well, the conflict between him and the coach often made him sit out of the match. He always wanted to find a new club that respected his talents and his love with the ball. In the end, he had a chance. In November 1992, Billy Fotherby, the president of Leeds United that time had a meeting about the transferring of Dennis Irwin, a very famous left defender of Manchester United. Sir Alex Ferguson also attended the meeting at that time. He knew the importance of Irwin to the club and then quickly decided not to sell him. Suddenly, a thought came to his mind. The thought that changed the history of the greatest club in the world: “Why don’t we bring Cantona to the Old Trafford?” He told the president of Manchester United, Martin Edwards, about his new idea. He thought that with 1.5 Million of pounds for Cantona, Manchester United would have many glorious victories. But he was wrong. They just needed 1 Million of pounds to bring the history of the “Red Devils” into a whole new era.

Leeds United seemed very satisfied with this contract. They had a huge amount of money and no more “unnecessary” striker. People in Leeds thought that selling Cantona was a very good idea. However, many experts in soccer at that time stated that selling Cantona was a very crazy and stupid idea. Right then, meanwhile Cantona had brought many cups to Old Trafford, Ellend Road became the graveyard of its owner: Leeds United. They played more and more badly till the presence. After the departure of Cantona, they got no cup and became a very trivial club in England. In the next season when Cantona left, Leeds United was in 17/20 position, very lucky for them not to be dropped out of the Premiership.

On the other hand, Old Trafford welcomed their new King, who brought a new glorious chapter to not only their home but also his career. He quickly got the Cup back to the Hall of Fame of Manchester United in Old Trafford after 26 years being away. Since then, he eternally becomes the legend in the eyes of Manchester United’s fans. The next seasons, Cantona brought a “double cups” victory when he helped the “Red Devils” got the Premiership Cup and won over Chelsea in FA Final match with four goals. In the 1995-1996 season, Cantona directed the potential young players of Manchester United to the Triple Victory. Manchester United once again, since the age of Sir Matt Busby, became an extreme power of Premiership. And Cantona became the King of them. Nothing could stop either Cantona or Manchester United.

Cantona had written the history of European soccer as well as the history of Manchester United. He carved the name of the “Red Devils” on the highest top of the glory. The whole European field of soccer admitted that it seemed like the destiny sent him to Manchester United, tied him with them by the glories. He belonged to nowhere but Manchester United; He could be no one but the King of the “Red Devils.”

5. The accident at Selhurst Park:

In the third season in Old Trafford, Cantona and his partners tried their best to be the third club in England that could have a Hattrick (like Huddersfield and Arsenal). On the way to the glory that season, King Eric and his partners coped with a big wall named Blackburn Rovers of Alan Shearer. Although they had myriad of difficulties, Cantona and the “Red Devils” were still on the way to the triumph. Everything seemed to be on the right track but there was an accident that nearly put an end to his career. In the match against Crystal Palace in Selhurst Park, being so angry with the ridiculously poor performance of the so called “owners” Crystal Palace, the fans condemned Cantona and his partners badly. Being an innately irascible man, Cantona could not suffer from it. He gave the thick-faced fan a kick that from that on, people have called it the “Kungfu kick.” Consequently, the King had been suspended to be out of matches for 8 months. King Eric had a very obscure time in his career.

Being shocked by that event, Manchester United seemed to be lost on the last steps to the glory. They lacked of a King, a leader to guide them to the glory. It was lucky for Blackburn Rovers. Alan Shearer and his partners, like the opportunists, seized the Crown that Manchester had held for nearly 3 seasons in the last day of the season. One week later, Manchester United lost 0-1 against Everton in the Final Match of FA Cup. Nothing could be worse than that.

Life is always unfair. All the people blamed Cantona for the failures of Manchester United. People just need to satisfy themselves. They do not care about any other thing. And at that time, Eric Cantona was considered to be their servant. They could call him King when he brought the Crown to them. But when the club lost it, he is nothing but a useless man. King Eric became lugubrious. He felt tired of everything. He came back to his beloved home and had lived here for a long time without soccer – a part of his life. He just lived with his passion in art, poetry. Once again, the King planned to abdicate the Throne. He wanted everybody to forget him, forget the wonderful soccer player of the world, and forget the King who brought them to the top of the wall. He just wanted to be a dilettante, live the peaceful life of a normal person. He wanted to be forgotten.

However, always being the greatest coach, Sir Alex Ferguson did not think so. He could not forget the age of the King in Manchester United. He used to be very strict to either Whiteside or McGrath. But to Cantona, Sir Alex knew that the King would always be the King. And moreover, being a visionary coach, Sir Alex could see the glories that Cantona would bring to Manchaester United in the future. He did everything to persuade Cantona stay still. He went to Paris just to know that Eric was 70 km far from there. He got on a motorbike and rushed into the small house of the King. He got what he deserved: Eric was still the King of the “Red Devils” that time. Right then, everything proved Sir Alex Ferguson was totally right. Eric King came back to his throne, shone brightly, and led Manchester United to rule over English soccer.

6. Triumph and Art:

King Eric had changed. He knew his importance in the “Theatre of Dreams.” His partners at that time were so young and they needed a patient leader. Cantona always motivated his partners on time. In the hardest time, everything seemed to be at the end, Cantona often scored significant goal that stimulate the whole team to the victory. In the next 2 seasons 1995-1996 and 1996-1997, King Eric led his “heinous” empire to conquer the Premiership 2 times and get one more FA cup.

However, no one is perfect in this life. King Eric could not lead the “Red Devils” to seize the whole European soccer like his predecessor George Best or Bobby Charlton. Lost against Borussia Dortmund in the semi-final match, Manchester United seemed to be so far away from the Champions League Cup. Eric Cantona felt like the burden for the whole team. Once again, the King decided to cede the throne. And this time, nothing could stop him this time.

The farewell of Eric Cantona put an end for one of the most glorious age of Manchester United. At the age of 31, Eric left Manchester United and the ball, gave the fans all over the world a big pity. With all the achievements he had brought to Old Trafford, Eric was voted to be the most wonderful player of the “Red Devils.” Eric now devotes his rest life to the art. Thinking of him, people all over the world think of a painstaking player, a man of glories, and more importantly: An Immortal Devil King.