Eric Cantona

French Footballer/Actor   -   [b.1966]

Baby-Biography

In 1983, Eric Cantona debuts as a professional footballer with French club Auxerre. Over three seasons he scores only twice in thirteen appearances and is loaned to Martigues. After returning to Auxerre in 1986 he scores 21 goals over two seasons. In 1987, he is heavily fined for punching his own goalkeeper; he also receives his first cap for France against West Germany.

In 1988, Cantona joins Marseille. He receives a one year ban from the French team for calling the national coach, Henri Michel, "one of the world's most incompetent trainers". He is later suspended by his club when, upon being substituded in a charity match, he kicks the ball into the crowd and throws his shirt at the referee. He joins Montepellier on loan where, in 1990, he is banned for 10 days after smashing his boot into the face of team-mate Jean-Claude Lemoult. He briefly returns to Marseille before signing for Nimes in 1991, but receives a three match ban for throwing the ball at the referee. At the French disciplinary hearing he calls each committee member 'idiot!' to their face, earning himself a further three month suspension - he announces his retirement from football.

On the advice on Michel Platini, Eric Cantona comes to England in 1992 where, after refusing a one week trial with Sheffield Wednesday, he joins Leeds United and wins the league championship in 1992. The following season he moves to Manchester United, winning the league championship again, but he is also fined £1,000 for spitting at a Leeds fan.

In 1994, Manchester United win the league and F.A. Cup, with Cantona scoring twice in the 4 - 0 Cup Final win over Chelsea. In 1995, when sent off at Selhurst Park, Cantona 'kung fu' kicks Crystal Palace fan Matt Simmons. He is sentenced in court to 120 hours' community service and banned from football worldwide for nine months. In 1996, Cantona is voted 'footballer of the year' by the football writers association following a further league/cup double with Manchester United. At the end of the 1997 season, Eric Cantona retires from football and begins a new career in acting.

Phespirit's Hero

It is particularly unusual that Phespirit should nominate somebody who is .....

1. French   (boo!)
2. an ex-Manchester United player   (boo! hiss!)
3. prone to random acts of violence   (careful now)

..... as a hero. But Eric Cantona surmounts these handicaps by means of the following:

• On the 5th January 1995 at Selhurst Park, post sending-off, Cantona is confronted by a laughable example of terrace trash shouting vile abuse from the apparent safety of the family stand. In an heroic gesture of the first water, Cantona reacts with a two-footed leap into the crowd, catching the villain squarely in the chest, and follows up with two or three good, solid punches. Fantastic stuff - at long long last an individual stands up against the mob mentality and gives it a good hiding. In the aftermath, of course, Justice puts on her blindfold and vanquishes the hero. On the night of the 5th January 1995, however, Eric Cantona showed the world a genuine redress ..... administered raw.

• Having dealt with the scum of the terraces, Cantona sets his sights on the scum of the media. A press conference is called. Journalists assemble with their pre-written stories, expecting to see this arrogant Frenchman finally broken and bowed by contrition. Cantona enters the room, sits before the gathered pack, utters a simple one-line statement, then gets up and leaves ..... and possibly for the first time ever the world's media is stunned into silence, having been completely outmanoeuvered by an inspired stroke of genius.   That Eric Cantona press briefing in full.

At his peak, Cantona was a charismatic footballer of great skill, strength and vision, who would remain consistent even while the rest of his team was crumbling under pressure. Setting aside the unfortunate lapses into petulance and snide foul-play, this special character is worthy of hero status.

Cantona gets physical - A football fan misjudges the impact of shouting obscenities about Cantona's mother to his face.

Cantona gets philosophical - "When the seagulls follow the trawler it's because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea"