Throw Back Thursday: King Eric Cantona Part. 1

Welcome to your weekly MUFC History Class.

Kicking things off is the Kung Fu Master, King Eric Cantona.

Born Eric Daniel Pierre Cantona on May 24th 1966 in Marseille, France. In his early years Cantona played as a goal keeper but it was not long until he realized his true calling and marched forward.

His career was always eventful even before he joined United. In 1987 he was fined after punching a team mate, a year later he was suspended for three months after a dangerous tackle towards an opponent. The suspension was reduced to two months as his club Auxerre threatened to make him unavailable for the national team.



All that in two seasons, 79 appearances and 27 goals. In 1988, 22 years old Cantona left his childhood club Auxerre and joined Marseille.

Late 1988 Cantona called his national team coach 'a bag of shit' on national TV and was banned from international matches for one year. In January 1989 Cantona was substituted in a friendly match. How does the King react? Kicks the ball to the crowd, rips off his shirt and throws it at his coach!

In an attempt to restore order, Marseille loaned him to Bordeaux and then a season long loan to Montpellier. You can't keep Cantona for a year without an incident. He was involved in a fight with teammate Jean - Claude Van Dame Lemoult. Six players asked the club to fire him but the club decided otherwise which paid off as he helped them with their 1989/1990 French Cup.

Impressed Marseille called him back. Helped the club to win the French Division One tiltle in 1990/1991 and was transferred to Nimes.

Playing in 1991 he was not happy with the referee's decision, threw a ball at him and walks away without even been shown a red card! At the hearing that was called by the French Football Federation where he was banned for a month from the ref's incident. Cantona walked to every member of that hearing and called them 'an idiot.' A one month ban turned into two.

16th December 1991, 25 years old Cantona announced his retirement!

Late 1991 Liverpool refused an offer to buy Cantona the manager claiming that he wants his dressing room as peaceful as possible. Sheffield Wednesday extended his trial from a week to two, which of course he refused and joined Leeds United.

Two seasons, 35 appearances, 14 goals and especially a 1992 Charity Shield hat trick Eric took his First Division medal and Charity Shield medals waved goodbye to Leeds and moved to Manchester United on a £1.2 million transfer fee.

For Part 2 of this click here.