Cantona, Eric (1966– )

French footballer. In France he played for Auxerre, Martigues, Marseille, Bordeaux, Montpellier, and Nimes. He joined Leeds United during their Championship winning season of 1991–92, and in November 1992 moved to Manchester United, whom he helped win two League and FA Cup doubles 1993–94 and 1995–96 as well as two other league championships. He announced his retirement from the game in 1997, and in 1998 he was among the first players to be inducted into the FA Premiership's Hall of Fame.

Career highlights

International appearances (1987–94) 45 (20 goals)

French League Championship 1990

French Cup 1990

English League Championship 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997

English FA Cup 1994, 1996

Awards

English Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year 1994

English Football Writers' Association Player of the Year 1996

An incident during a match at Crystal Palace in 1995, when he attacked a spectator with a flying kick, resulted in an eight-month suspension and a court sentence of community service.

In the late 1990s Cantona developed his career as an actor, appearing in the films Le bonheur est dans le pré/Happiness is in the Field (1995), Elizabeth (1998), and Les enfants du marais/Children of the Marshland (1999).