Eric Cantona » Sir Alex Ferguson

Cantona Never Experienced Fergie’s Hairdryer

Linus — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 11:05:52 +0000

Eric Cantona is supposedly the only Manchester United player exempted from Ferguson’s hairdryer treatment.

Former Manchester United player Clayton Blackmore told Sport.co.uk in an exclusive interview that Cantona was never on the receiving end of Sir Alex Ferguson’s infamous ‘hairdryer treatment’ and that Ryan Giggs would just pip Cantona as the best player he ever played with.

He said: “Everybody had [the hairdryer] except Eric – I think he was the only one who never had it. Presumably because he never played badly!”

“Actually, it wasn’t so much playing badly as it was doing certain things wrong in a game. The hairdryer was a good way of letting you know not to do it next time.”

On the best player he ever played with, Blackmore said: “Eric came into it but I’ve got to go for Ryan [Giggs] for what he’s done in the game. He’s stayed at one club throughout and he’s still doing it now. It’s scary.”

Cantona at Football Extravaganza

Linus — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 20:00:45 +0000

Spotted at: Hilton Park Lane. London, England

For: Football Extravaganza 2010

Cantona at the Hilton Park Lane hotel to receive his Legend of Football Award at the annual Football Extravaganza from Sir Alex Ferguson.

Ferguson to present Cantona with Award tonight

Linus — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 15:00:03 +0000

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will honour Eric Cantona with the prestigious Legend of Football Award at the annual Football Extravaganza, which takes place this evening at the Hilton Park Lane.

Cantona is widely regarded as one of the best players in Manchester United’s illustrious history, collecting four Premier League titles and two FA Cups in his United career. Ferguson will present Cantona with his award on the 15th anniversary of the event in aid of Nordoff Robbins. Cantona was voted Manchester United’s player of the century and is still revered at Old Trafford where fans still chant “Ooh Aah Cantona”. He was voted PFA Player of the year in 1994 and the FWA Footballer of the Year in 1996.

Previous recipients of the Legend of Football Award at the annual Football Extravaganza include Sir Stanley Matthews, Sir Bobby Robson, Sir Bobby Charlton and Sir Alex Ferguson. Expected to be in attendance to see Cantona receive his award are a host of legends from the English football including Tony Adams, Sir Bobby Charlton, Alan Curbishley, Kenny Dalglish, Denis Law, Teddy Sheringham and Alan Shearer, all of whom are official patrons of the longest running annual charity football event.

Cantona Back At United

Linus — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 12:59:28 +0000

Spotted at: Manchester, England

For: Visiting Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United’s training ground, Carrington.

Cantona was reunited with Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson on Monday.

The Frenchman was in town and took the opportunity to pay his old boss a visit at United’s Carrington training ground.

Ferguson to present Legend of Football award to Cantona

Linus — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:00:41 +0000

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will honour Eric Cantona with the prestigious Legend of Football Award at the annual Football Extravaganza, which this year will be held at the Hilton Park Lane, on Monday 12th April 2010.

Cantona has been widely regarded as one of the best players in Manchester United’s illustrious history, and spent five years at Old Trafford inspiring Sir Alex Ferguson’s side to four Premier League titles and two FA Cups. One of Ferguson’s greatest ever signings, the Scot will be in attendance to give the former striker his award on the 15th anniversary of the event in aid of Nordoff Robbins.

Cantona was voted Manchester United’s player of the century and is still revered at Old Trafford where fans still sing his name and don his mask and t-shirts. He was voted PFA Player of the year in 1994 and the FWA Footballer of the Year in 1996.

Previous recipients of the Legend of Football Award at the annual Football Extravaganza include Sir Stanley Matthews, Sir Bobby Robson, Sir Bobby Charlton and indeed Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson. Expected to be in attendance to see Cantona receive his award are a host of luminaries from the world of football including Tony Adams, Sir Bobby Charlton, Alan Curbishley, Kenny Dalglish, Denis Law, Teddy Sheringham and Alan Shearer, all of whom are official patrons of the longest running annual charity football event.

Cantona reiterates United interest

Linus — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:53:39 +0000

Eric Cantona has once again highlighted to the Manchester United board that he is waiting in the wings should Alex Ferguson decide to retire.

It is not the first time Cantona has stated his intention to coach United and he told French TV station Canal+: “I don’t know if I am right, but as a coach I have convictions.

“I would like to coach Manchester United. I claim I have to work with great players. Have a look at (Diego) Maradona.

“As a club coach he got two wins in 25 matches. As Argentina coach, there is a big difference and the results have changed.”

Cantona fears for United

Linus — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 07:23:46 +0000

Eric Cantona has expressed concern over the destabilising effect of United eventually losing the most successful manager in their history.

“I can understand why the fans are concerned,” said the former United player.

“The philosophy of the club will never change while Alex Ferguson is at the club. After he leaves . . . that’s what makes me worry.

“Ferguson is so strong, so popular, he can control everything. For the moment nothing has changed there — apart from in an economic way.

“I’m worried about the future. I hope that things will not change.”

Cantona also pledged his support for FC United, the club founded by disaffected supporters who bitterly fought against the Glazer takeover.

“They have a great idea,” said Cantona. “I hope they will become a great club and win the European Cup in 50 years’ time.

“Every club has to be created at one point. Now I am interested in the people who create clubs. Which type of people created Manchester United or Manchester City?”

Speculation is rife that Manchester United have already sounded out Inter Milan manager Jose Mourinho as a replacement for Ferguson when Mourinho’s contract with Inter expires in 2011.

Cantona: I should have been English

Linus — Sun, 18 Dec 2005 14:45:29 +0000

Eric Cantona has declared how he wished he was English and that Malcolm Glazer was ‘propping up a bar somewhere’.

“I should have been born English,” Cantona said. “When I hear God Save the Queen it can make me cry. Much more than I cry when I hear La Marseillaise. I think Thierry Henry is a bit like me – he understands the English mentality. He gets it.”

Though Cantona admires Henry, he refused to answer questions about his country’s chances in next summer’s World Cup. He was happy to instead praise Brazil and belittle key members of the France side that won the 1998 finals without him, the captain Didier Deschamps and centre-back Marcel Desailly.

“Ronaldinho is the kind of player who makes kids dream. Kids aren’t going to walk around with Deschamps or Desailly on the back of their shirts, are they? If there were only players like Deschamps and Desailly around, there would be about 10 people who’d bother to take up professional football and they’d be their cousins and nephews.”

Cantona backed Sir Alex Ferguson to turn Manchester United around, saying. “He’s a monument. All big clubs go through difficult spells, but Manchester United will be back. Alex Ferguson has been through tough times before and knows what it takes to come through. Give him time and maybe he’ll be European champion again.”

Cantona is unimpressed that Ferguson’s fate is in the hands of an American millionaire in his first season in charge. “Glazer is a guy who looks more like he should be propping up a bar somewhere, or perhaps a bar owner. I just hope he has the humility to let other people make the decisions. People who know about football.”