Le King.
Another Sir Alex Ferguson transfer coup, Manchester United never looked back after Eric Cantona arrived at Old Trafford from bitter rivals Leeds in 1992. As part of our Best Premier League Transfers Ever series, here is how King Eric became a United legend...
The famous story goes that the deal began with one phone call... but it was not a call made from Old Trafford. Leeds' managing director Bill Fotherby rang United chairman Martin Edwards to enquire about signing left-back Denis Irwin. Edwards gave that idea short shrift, but Fotherby requested that Edwards at least speak to Alex Ferguson. Sensing an opportunity, Ferguson made Edwards ring back and ask about Cantona.
While Fotherby didn't expect then-Leeds manager Howard Wilkinson to consider letting the Frenchman go, especially after having just won the Division 1 title, Wilkinson OK'd the deal - and United managed to pluck away one of their rivals' top talents for a knock-down price.
The charismatic Cantona came to define an era for the Red Devils, with his rock-star persona, stunning technique and aggressive physicality providing Fergie’s Class of ‘92 with a unique role model; the true heir to George Best's No7 shirt. It is no coincidence that the same season Cantona joined United, they ended their 26-year wait for the League title.
There are so many glorious moments to choose from: an FA Cup Final winner against Liverpool, a volley through a sea of players which almost defied physics; that stunning chip and insouciant celebration versus Sunderland; an audacious assist for Irwin against Tottenham which featured prominently in the Ken Loach film 'Looking for Eric'.
But for all the memories Cantona gave United fans on the pitch, the incident which defined his Old Trafford career arc occurred just a few yards off the turf at Selhurst Park in January 1995. Launching himself into the stands with a shocking kung-fu kick aimed at Palace fan Matthew Simmons, Cantona had seemingly torn the curtain down on his United career.
A swift club punishment couldn't save him, and the Frenchman was banned from football for eight months as well as being sentenced to two weeks in prison for assault, which was later reduced to 120 hours of community service on appeal.
His response to the press? His legendary 'Seagulls' statement, which has yet to be bettered. Regardless of Cantona's witty remark, Ferguson was under pressure to sell... but he stood by his talisman, handed him a new contract, and Cantona rewarded that faith.
A goal and an assist on his comeback against Liverpool - with that memorable celebration of him swinging around the goal stanchion - kickstarted his career, and the adoring response from the Old Trafford crowd that day, with French flags dotted around the crowd, told him he was home again. He went on to lead United to the Premier League title that season, offering the sort of character redemption arc that Hollywood script writers dream of. Well, Cantona is an actor after all...
All told, Cantona won four League titles, two FA Cups and three Charity Shields with United. While Cantona was at Old Trafford, the Red Devils won four of the six League titles available, restoring the club's glory days and then some.
And then he was gone in the summer of 1997, retiring at the age of just 30. It was an abrupt end for such a showman, but Cantona later suggested he had lost the passion to "... go to bed early, not to go out with my friends, not to drink, and not to do a lot of other things, the things I like in life." You have to admire his honesty.
The one regret Cantona may have from his Old Trafford career is that he never got to lift the European Cup, but the groundwork he laid - especially with the Class of '92 - ensured United became champions of Europe just two years after his retirement.
Looking back at the highs and lows of Cantona at United, it is certainly one of the most romantic deals of the Premier League era... and his legacy is unrivalled. The Old Trafford faithful still sing his name to the rafters, especially on away days around Christmas time. For fans of a certain age, Manchester United is, quite simply, an upturned collar.
So, does Cantona get your vote? Or maybe another United icon pips him to the post? Cast your Best Premier League Transfers Ever vote above.
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