| A promising career looked doomed after a series of discipline problems. Cantona arrived in England
having served two months of a six month ban earned for throwing a ball at a referee. He was due
to sign for Sheffield Wednesday but the coach, Trevor Francis, wanted to see Cantona in action.
Cantona felt a private training session was beneath him and joined Leeds United insted. He won the
league championship in his first season ironically as Leeds pipped Manchester United to the title.
In a move of sheer treachery the following season Leeds manager Howard Wilkinson sold Cantona
to their bitter rivals.
Cantona inspired the red devils to their first Championship in over 25 years and went on to win two
league and cup doubles. He was famously suspended for several months for Kung Fu kicking a fan as
he walked off the pitch having been sent off for an all too common retribution foul on an opponent.
A tremendously gifted player and scorer of great goals but never managed to re-produce his league
form outside of the Premiership. He couldn't handle the tighter marking in the European Cup and
a was a complete flop at International level for 'Les Blues'. Famously labelled France Captain
Didier Deschamps 'a water carrier'. Will be remembered as a genius in Manchester, the player who
inspired the current generation to new heights, but not so fondly thought of outside of the
British Isles. |
France