The word legend has been banded around a lot, especially for Manchester United in their thirty-plus years of success but perhaps Eric Cantona could well be the king.
Under Sir Alex Ferguson in the late 1980s, Manchester United had to sit back and watch Liverpool and Leeds United, two of their greatest rivals, compete for league titles.
Ferguson was under pressure from United fans at one point with his job on the line, but the signing of French forward Eric Cantona from Leeds United on November 12, 1992, changed the Red Devils’ fortunes.
Cantona would go on to score 70 goals for the Red Devils and provide 56 assists and help United win their first Premier League title.
10 Quotes about Eric Cantona
Here are 10 quotes about the former United forward…
Sir Alex Ferguson
Former United boss Ferguson claimed Cantona was one of only four world-class players he managed and was certainly a big fan of the Frenchman.
“If ever there was one player, anywhere in the word, that was made for Manchester United, it was Cantona,” said Ferguson.
“He swaggered in, stuck his chest out, raised his head and surveyed everything as though he were asking: ‘I’m Cantona. How big are you? Are you big enough for me?’”
Paul Ince
Former United midfielder Paul Ince said of Cantona: “He just had that aura and presence about him when he joined. He took the responsibility away from us.”
Peter Schmeichel
“In my eyes, he was responsible for the Premier League developing as quickly as it did,” said Peter Schmeichel. “Everyone took to him, controversy or not.”
Roy Keane
Arguably one of the biggest legends of United, Roy Keane said of Cantona: “Cantona led by his presence more than anything else, his charisma.”
Gary Neville
“He’ll always have a place in the hearts of the fans because of his charisma and his daring. He wasn’t arrogant at all but polite and considered,” said Gary Neville. “He always remained real. He drove a modest car, and lived in a modest house in Salford.”
Ryan Giggs
“He had a massive influence on my career as a young player coming into the team,” Ryan Giggs said. “We struck up a good relationship and he ruled Old Trafford for five years. He was unbelievable to play with, watch in games and in training.”
David Beckham
Another former player of the Class of ’92, David Beckham said of Cantona: “When I first came into the team at United, we used to watch Eric stay behind later than any player, practising every day, and it rubbed off on us.”
Andy Cole
“Eric was cool. His presence at Manchester United was absolutely huge and rightly so because he was a brilliant footballer who achieved so much at the club,” Andy Cole said.
“He had such a great aura around him and in the dressing room, he was very good at speaking when he needed to but otherwise, he was very quiet.”
Nicky Butt
“He [Cantona] was the ultimate professional in training and he loved being the main man on the stage,” Nicky Butt said.
“You saw him in the changing room, collar’s up, chest out. I looked at him and thought, if he’s in the team, we will win. A bit like with Roy Keane a few years later.”
Paul Scholes
“He had a big influence on all of us, I think. Not so much by what he said but by his actions and the way he trained,” Paul Scholes said.
“He was probably the first player who would go in the gym before and after training. He had a big influence on us.”
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
