Manchester United icon Eric Cantona has been inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame – and characteristically admitted he was not surprised to receive the honour.
The ex-United forward becomes just the third ex-player to be inducted, joining Alan Shearer and Thierry Henry, following his glittering career in England which saw him score 70 goals in 156 Premier League appearances and claim four league titles.
Speaking on his induction, the talismanic Frenchman said in true Cantona-style: ‘I am very happy and very proud, but at the same time I am not surprised. I would’ve been surprised if I had not been elected.
‘I think maybe there are nearly 30 players who could’ve been elected. Me, it’s different. If you have to elect one, it’s me.
‘But the other ones are all great. Me? I’m exceptional.’
Cantona was a huge fan favourite at United, earning him the nickname ‘King Eric,’ and was widely seen as one of the most mesmerizing talents to ever grace the English game.
During his trophy-laden five-year spell at Old Trafford, he won four league titles, two FA Cups and five Community Shields as well as a Player of the Year for the 1993-94 season.
Cantona was described as someone who had the ‘X-factor’, was ‘fearless’ and ‘dragged Manchester United to the Premier League title’ by his ex team-mates and fellow professionals in a video announcing his induction, while Steve Bruce said he had ‘never seen anyone have the impact that Cantona had at United’.
Sir Alex Ferguson signed Cantona from Leeds in 1992 to solve their goal-scoring troubles and the Frenchman played an inspirational role to fire the club to their first league championship in 26 years in his first season.
Cantona also provided a number of memorable moments throughout his five years at United, including some controversial ones too.
His attempt to kick a Crystal Palace fan after being sent off during a match in 1995 remains one of the most infamous incidents in Premier League history and earned him an eight-month ban from football.
But when Cantona was at his imperious best on the pitch, he was irrepressible and is best remembered for producing moments of magic; from his nonchalant chip against Sunderland to the thunderbolt free-kick against Arsenal and his brilliant performance at Maine Road in 1993 to lead United to a 3-2 comeback win against their arch rivals.
The 54-year-old, who retired in 1997, was voted in by fans and is set to be joined by a fourth inductee into the Premier League Hall of Fame on Tuesday, with many more expected to receive the honour in the coming months and years.
A shortlist was announced last month before fans had to whittle it down to six nominees with the likes of Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira all in the discussion.
Upon hearing about his induction, Cantona said: ‘I play football, I love football, I dream about football when I was a kid. Of course to play in England it was a dream.
‘It’s a dream of everybody, to play in the Premier League. And I’ve been lucky to play in this team with wonderful players and a wonderful manager and wonderful fans, because we won and we really enjoyed it. And it was the football I dream about.
‘Manchester United is a club that want to win things, but in a good way. It was like this in the time of Matt Busby. This is identity of this club, the philosophy of this club.’
The enigmatic Frenchman has received recognition for his achievements before, having been named the inaugural player to enter the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002.
Since hanging up his boots, he has largely stayed away from football, instead taking up a career in cinema and has acted in a number of French films and plays.
He did however represent France’s national beach soccer team for nine years between 1997 and 2006 and managed them up until 2011 before serving a brief stint as New York Cosmos’ Director of Soccer.
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