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The beginnings: french League: FA League: Prize list: Statistics: =>he began in 1987 with a Germany vs France game (2-1) and ended in January 1995 with the Netherlands vs France game (0-1)     |
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SO Les Caillols: Eric grows up with his friends Galtier and Falzon playing in the club "Les Caillols" and attends Marseille's games where Skoblar and Magnusson are shinning. In 1981, he makes a unsuccessfull try in Nice. But, it is in Auxerre that his career will really begin. AJ Auxerre (1981 - 1985): 
He arrives there a bit later, during summer 1981. He is only 16 years old but he already leeds the second team. On November 5th 1983, he begins in D1 (french premier league) and on May 15th 1985 he(it) mark his scores hi first goal in D1. But it is Roger Boli, the other froward, who plays most.Eric, sitting on the bench, falls in love with the sister of his team-mate Bernard Ferrer. But the beautiful Isabelle lives in Aix-en-Provence (south of france, far away from Auxerre) and even if Eric makes everything to hold her (he prevents the train to leave the station!) she has to leave back home. Guy Roux, informed of the love affaire, decides then to send him in south of France. And so, behing 19, he lands in Martigues in D2 (french division one). FC Martigues (1985 - 1986): He settles down with Isabelle and plays his first match on October 13th 1985. Martigues is last of the championship but thanks to Eric, Martigues remains. After a season in D2, Eric returns to Auxerre, stronger and married. AJ Auxerre (1986 - 1988): 
He quickly becomes the leader of a promising team (Boli, Prunier, Ferreri, ...) and obtains a first selection with national teams on August 12th 1987 verse FRG. In spite of the defeat, 1-2, he(it) scores his first international goal. His strong personality and his talent make of him the unruly child of the French football.We still remember his shaved head before a game verse Brest or his murderer "tacling" on Der Zakarian which he been worth 3 months of suspension. After 6 years in Auxerre, he decides to leave to Marseille. Olympique Marseille (1988 - 1989): 
He arrives in July 1988 for the record amount of 22 million of francs and a 400 000 francs monthly salary. He quickly finds himself well and the results are good. But Henri Michel, the french national trainer on that time, "forgets" him for the game verse Czechoslovakia.On August 20th 1988, after a championship game, Eric insults him. He is suspended for any national selection for 1 year. Even if he seems not affected, his performances are rising down. On January 28th 1989, scolded by the supporters during a friendly match verse Torpedo Moscow, he removes his shirt, throws it and leaves proudly the ground. This ends his first contract in Marseille. Girondins Bordeaux (Février 1989 - Juin 1989): 
He lands in Bordeaux on February 15th 1989 where officiates the new trainer Didier Couécou, a man of character as Eric likes them. Bordeaux finishes 13th and Cantona, simply lent by Marseille, finds the transfer market again.Montpellier Hérault SC (1989 - 1990): 
He signs for Monpellier on particularly financial low conditions. He joins his friend Stéphane Paille and forms the fashionable duet of that period. But quarrels rot the team. Paille goes away and Cantona is suspended by his president (Louis Nicollin) for having hit his team-mate Jean Claude Lemoult.The stormy period blown away, Montpelier and Cantona win the French cup. But the European Cup of the following season will be without him. Olympique Marseille (1990 - 1991): Everything starts for best. Franz Beckenbauer is in command of Marseille and Eric confirms finally all his talent (9 goals in 12 games). Unfortunately, on October 28th 1990, he seriously injuries his knee. 3 months later, as he comes back, Raymond Goethals replaces the Kaiser. He is on on the bench as substitute with Tigana, Vercruysse and Stojkovic. His Olympian dream (Marseille = Olympic Marseille) will not come true. Marseille can play and lose its finale of the European Championship Winners, Eric is already on the departure. Nîmes Olympique (Juin 1991 - Février 1992): 
Nîmes buys Eric for 10 million Francs. It is a heart choice with decides Cantona to play for the "Crocodiles". But the results are disappointing in spite of a quality team. On December 7th, Eric explodes against St Etienne. After a decision which he considers inequitable, he takes the ball, throws it in face of the referee and leaves the ground before, even before being sent off.The dream will have lasted only 6 months. Some days later, to the National League, Eric, came to defend himself, offends the members of the disciplinary council. The penalty is doubled and passes at 2 months. Exceeded, Cantona announces his désicion to retire from football! Leeds United (Février 1992 - Novembre 1992): 
His retirement will be be very short because, advised by Michel Platini, he leaves to England. After an attempt with Sheffield Wednesday, he finally signs with Leeds in February 1992. He becomes irresistible and contributes largely to the winning of the title for which Leeds waited since 1974.Eric becomes the new idol of the english football and made sing the now famous "Ooh! Aah! Cantona!" in the Elland Road kop. After an Euro 1992 failed with the french team, Cantona returns to Leeds and wins Charity Shield, scoring 3 times. But the relation with the coach deteriorate itself and he is finally transferred to the worst enemy, Manchester United! Manchester United (Novembre 1992 - Mai 1997): 
It is by United that the magic is definitively going to take place and that the myth Cantona is going to explode! Hard thus to summarize these 5 years of dreams and of "football champagne" (french expression) spent to ManU. We could only retain his 4 championships and his 2 victories in Cup.But it is especially his achievements and his charisma that made of him a real legend in England generally and in Manchester in particular!. He even succeed to make sing the national french hymn in the english stadiums! His suspension for 8 months to his famous karate-kick and his glorious return on September 30th 1995 have contributed to his legend. But after a season in half tint and a disappointment in European Cup, he decides to stop his career in June 1997. We obviously will miss his genius and his goals. But now it is in the acting, on beach-soccer fields or in artistic workshops that we will find Cantona. tanks a million again Eric for all those fabulous magic years! |
