Eric Cantona » News

Cantona to Speak at Global Sports Forum 2012

Linus — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:13:00 +0000

Eric Cantona will take part in the Global Sports Forum Barcelona, to be held in Barcelona from 7 to 9 March, 2012.

Cantona will join many of the world’s leading brands, government institutions, rights holders and governing bodies from sport already signed-up to attend the 4th edition of the Forum, which has quickly established itself as one of the industry’s most influential thought leadership platforms. He will focus on the various projects he has been involved in since retiring from football in a session on “Life after Sport.”

“We are extremely excited to announce that one of the most influential footballers of his generation will be attending the Forum this year, to provide his thoughts on his new role in America and look ahead to the future of sport. Signing up such a sporting icon is further evidence of the Forum’s growing reputation in the industry and I am very much looking forward to hearing what he has to say,” said Lucien Boyer, General Commissioner of the Global Sports Forum Barcelona.

“Eric Cantona’s career has developed full-circle since he finished his playing career, with acting, painting, photography and charity work all featuring in his life after sport,” continued Lucien Boyer. “Now that he’s back in football with New York Cosmos, I am sure many of our delegates will be keen to hear from him, along with many of the other fantastic speakers we already have lined-up to discuss the future of the sports industry.”

Sky Sports kicks back at rivals with Eric Cantona ads

Cantona launches ‘presidential bid’ to highlight French housing crisis

Linus — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:39:17 +0000

Eric Cantona stunned fans across the World this morning with the relevation that he would be launching a bid for the French presidency. However, it has been revealed that it was a publicity stunt intended to draw more awareness on the French housing crisis.

Cantona’s gesture was revealed to be the latest in a string of highly effective publicity coups to raise awareness of the plight of poor people in France. Cantona’s letter to local politicians was in fact a call for them to sign a petition on the French housing crisis for the leading charity, the Abbé Pierre Foundation.

“He isn’t looking for signatures to be a candidate for the presidency, but to pass on the message of the Abbé Pierre foundation in support of better housing policy, and to make housing, which is a priority for French people, a priority for the presidential candidates,” Libération’s deputy editor, Paul Quinio, told the I-Tele news channel.

“I’m a committed citizen,” Cantona wrote in his appeal to mayors. “This engagement obliges me to speak up, more seriously than usual, but also with a keen sense of my responsibility, at a time when our country is faced with difficult choices.”

He added that getting the 500 mayors to sign up to his message on housing and poverty “would allow me to send a simple but clear message: a message of truth and respect”.

Cantona: Ferguson is one of the greatest managers in the World

Linus — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 14:28:56 +0000

Eric Cantona has praised Sir Alex Ferguson’s achievement in reaching 25 years in charge of the club, calling him “one of the greatest managers in the world”.

Cantona told The Sun: “Season after season he gets stronger and stronger.”

“Even though he is getting older every year he still has the energy of a young man.”

“Sir Alex is a very strong man with a lot of personality. He’s one of the greatest managers in the world.”

“I like the way he handles situations. Sometimes you have a bad adventure, you don’t have a wonderful life every day.”

“You might lose a few games in a row or a very important game, but he is able to handle it.”

“And he looks at how he can use the situation to be even stronger the next day. He uses his experience to do so.”

Vote for Cantona in Greatest Manchester United XI

Linus — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 09:22:00 +0000

The official Manchester United website is currently running a competition for fans to vote for the Manchester United Greatest Ever XI. Vote for Eric Cantona as the greatest Manchester United forward!

The competition will run from 11 August to 1 September, with five polls in which you can choose from a shortlist for each position to make up your all-time Reds XI: goalkeeper and centre-backs, full-backs, central midfielders, wingers, and forwards. Cantona is under the “forwards” category.

The line-up that fans select will be featured on an official, four-disc DVD collection, which will be released on 14 November. Voters will automatically be entered into a draw to win a money-can’t-buy prize.

The box-set will feature fans making the case for their picks and reliving memories of mighty performances on the pitch, alongside expert analysis from a panel of pundits and a detailed look at the club’s most memorable players.

Greatest Ever XI on ManUtd.com

Cantona urges Sir Alex Ferguson to buy Sneijder

Linus — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 15:13:21 +0000

Eric Cantona has urged Sir Alex Ferguson to buy Wesley Sneijder saying the Inter Milan player ‘reminds me of myself’.

“He is what Manchester United needs. There’s no-one like him right now,” said Cantona, speaking at the launch of a book for the New York Cosmos.

“He’s strong. Sometimes he reminds me of myself.”

Cantona believes United will remain ahead of City

Linus — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 02:49:37 +0000

Eric Cantona has warned that Manchester City will never emulate Manchester United while they rely on big spending as the route to winning trophies.

“United are the best team. I don’t know how City work, maybe they work on the academy, but today they want to spend to build a team, to buy players.”

“They’ve been successful because they won the FA Cup, but if they only do that they will not be as strong as United who are bringing through young talent.”

Cantona also spoke out against players who claim they cannot settle in the area despite their massive wages.

“With these ‘unsettled’ players it depends where they come from – and why they come.

“If they come from Milan, maybe. If they come from – no, I don’t want to name cities, but I had a great time here.”

“The most important thing for me was to play for the best club in the world with some of the best players in the world.”

“That’s the important thing when you’re a professional player.”

“The greatest time you can have is on the pitch. I loved Manchester when I was here, and I loved the people. I had a great time.”

Cantona heads to Old Trafford today, leading the New York Cosmos team in Paul Scholes’ testimonial match.

“It is always great to come back, especially to Old Trafford.

“Every time I come back to Manchester I go to Old Trafford. It’s very special for me and it will be even more so this time.”

With Cosmos star Pele alongside him, Cantona disputed Ferguson’s claim that Scholes would be irreplaceable.

He added: “You can replace players, especially at a club like United with a great manager like Sir Alex Ferguson. Every time a player leaves we think the club can’t win any more and they still win things because they are very strong.”

“When I was there I played with two generations of players.

“Sir Alex introduced a lot of young players, and Paul Scholes was one of them.

“Now, I come back 15 years later and the manager is still here.

“You can replace players, especially a club like United with a great manager like Sir Alex Ferguson.

“I left, Ronaldo left, Hughes left, and United are still one of the best clubs in the world.”

As always, Cantona was queried on an eventual return to Manchester United where he is still revered.

“I didn’t want to do the typical ex-player thing and hang around my old club, though I must admit it’s great to be coming back with Cosmos,” Cantona said. “If I am going to try to be a manager I wanted to do it at a special club, and that it just what the New York Cosmos is. The city is unique and the club history is legendary.”

He replied: “Maybe I’ll die before Alex Ferguson! I’m sure he’ll be on the bench for ever because it’s his life.”

Evra: Cantona opened the door for French players

Linus — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:00:46 +0000

Patrice Evra has thanked former Eric Cantona for “opening the door” to French players at Manchester United.

Cantona became the club’s first French player when he made the switch from Leeds in 1992, and became a fan favourite in the five years he spent at Old Trafford.

Evra remembers watching Cantona on television in France, and believes the striker paved the way for French players to succeed at United.

“I already knew Cantona was ‘The King’, but I really discovered who he was when I arrived here,” Evra told the club’s official website, manutd.com.

“He is a legend. If French football players like me succeed at United, it is him who first opened the doors for us. We will never thank him enough for that.”

“During my first season, I watched lots of Eric’s DVDs and told myself, ‘You now know what the United fans are expecting from the French players’.”

Since Cantona first appeared for United, a further eight French players – William Prunier, Mikael Silvestre, Fabien Barthez, Laurent Blanc, David Bellion, Louis Saha, Patrice Evra and Gabriel Obertan – have turned out for the club.

Cantona to return to Old Trafford for Scholes’ testimonial

Linus — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 14:36:44 +0000

Eric Cantona will return to Old Trafford for Paul Scholes’ testimonial game on August 5th.

Cantona will coach the New York Cosmos for after taking the position of director of soccer at the American side, who are currently bidding to gain admittance to Major League Soccer.

“I wish to congratulate Paul for such an incredible career at Manchester United and I am looking forward to returning to Old Trafford in my new role with the New York Cosmos,” said Cantona, who recently celebrated his 45th birthday.

Brazil legend Pele will also be in attendance on the night in his role as honorary president of the Cosmos.

Matthew Simmons spared jail term

Linus — Wed, 11 May 2011 07:57:02 +0000

Matthew Simmons, the infamous Crystal Palace fan who was kung-fu kicked by Eric Cantona in 1995 and still hated by his fans, has avoided jail time for assault on a manager of his son’s football team.

He was handed a six-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, plus ordered to undertake 150 hours of community service for attacking Stuart Cooper. Last month, a jury found Simmons guilty of assault causing actual bodily harm after hearing the 36-year-old clashed with Mr Cooper at a pre-season match following his the latter’s decision to drop his son from his under-8s side, allegedly after learning of the Cantona incident.

On sentencing Simmons at Kingston crown court, Judge Michael Hopmeier said: “On August 7 2010, families came to watch a football match. Your own son was playing as well as the son of your victim.”

“For reasons that remain unclear, you decided to assault your victim by punching him repeatedly in the face, arms and body. It seems there been some antagonism between you and him as a result of events that had taken place some years previously.”

On top of the suspended sentence and community service, Simmons was also ordered to pay £1,000 in compensation to his victim and £2,000 in prosecution costs.

Neville: Every fan respects Cantona for kung-fu kick

Linus — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 07:15:38 +0000

Gary Neville believes football fans have nothing but respect for the way Eric Cantona unleashed his kung-fu kick on terrace boo boys.

At the end of a week when Wayne Rooney earned himself a two-match ban for using foul language after scoring a hat-trick, Neville recalled the night 16 years ago when Cantona floored Crystal Palace fan Matthew Simmons with a kung-fu kick.

Neville said: “If you asked 100 per cent of football fans – and not just United fans – what they now think about that incident they probably respect Eric for doing what he did.

“Supporters think, ‘well yeah, he was having a go, he was criticising’, and I believe Eric now gets a level of respect for reacting like he did.

“It was all about passion and emotion. Alright, you can’t condone a player going into the stands and doing what Eric did.

“But the reality is that’s real life. That’s what football is. You’re going to get that forever more.”