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20 SoccerWeekjune 04 – june 10, 2009 where are they now?Steven Mervis looks at what former Man Utd star Eric Cantona has done since hanging up his bootsCantona:MercurialmasterturnedthespianThe world of football is inhabitedby a number of controversialcharacters withnone more so than EricCantona. Steven Mervis profilesthe masterful playmaker’s life.The mercurial Frenchman capturedthe imagination of ManchesterUnited fans after joining the RedDevils from rivals Leeds in November1992. Cantona’s impact at theclub was almost immediate and inhis first two seasons he helped SirAlex Ferguson’s team to two leaguetitles and an FA Cup success.Although the Paris-born striker isfondly remembered for what he didwith the ball at his feet, his careerwas also littered with incidents thatresulted in his name being splashedacross the back and front pages ofthe country’s newspapers for all thewrong reasons.Cantona’s most infamous momentcame in his second season in Manchester.On 25 January 1995, theFrenchman was given his marchingorders after a rash challengeon Crystal Palace defender RichardShaw.Whilst making his way off the SelhurstPark pitch the striker suddenlylashed out at one of the home fans.In one of the most notorious and violentscenes of the Premier Leagueera, Cantona performed a kung-fustyle kick at one of the Palace supporterswho was giving him abusefollowing his dismissal.The incident was huge newsthroughout the United Kingdom.Many called for Cantona tobe banned for life or to becharged as a criminal forthe offence. He was eventuallysentenced to 120hours of communityservice and bannedfrom football fornine months.C a n t o n a ’ ssuspension wasseen by many as the primaryreason for United relinquishingtheir grasp onthe Premier League titleto Blackburn in the lastfew months of the season.His return coincidedwith Fergie’s ‘kids’ winningthe Premier Leagueand it was he who scoredthe winner in the FA Cup finalagainst Liverpool. A spell ascaptain followed but at theEric Cantona has lost none of his exuberance and still craves being in the limelightCantona: Remains popular❝Cantona’s impact atthe club was almostimmediate and in hisfirst two seasonshe helped Sir AlexFerguson’s team totwo league titles andan FA Cup success❞reasonably young age of 30 he announced,much to the dismay of fansaround the globe, that he was to retirefrom the game.Despite the somewhat abrupt endto his playing career, Cantona hadlittle trouble in keeping himself inthe limelight, albeit in differing capacities.Unlike many former playerswho opt to contribute to the gamethrough business ventures or management,Cantona decided on a completechange in career path. Alwaysknown as a showman in his playingdays, it came as little surprise thenwhen he chose to turn his attentionsto launching an acting career in hishomeland.Since his retirement, Cantona hasappeared in 14 French films, playingpredominately minor roles, where hehas been given freedom to channelhis creativity into the artistry of acting.One of the highlights of his silverscreen career was his brief roleas French ambassador Monsieur deFoix in Elizabeth, a film starring Oscar-winningactress Cate Blanchett.At the turn of the century Cantonawas also featured in many televisionadvertisements worldwide includingan appearance in a British televisionadvert for a new model of theRenault Laguna.However, his most famous workcame in the form of two campaignsto promote Nike football. In the firsthe played the organiser of an undergroundcage football tournament beingplayed out by some of the world’sbest players such as Ruud van Nistelrooy,Thierry Henry and RobertoCarlos.His role in the second Nike campaign,however, was more prominent.The striker was hired forthe apparel company’s ‘JogaBonito’ campaign. Nike’sdrive for the campaignwas to encourage footballersto play the game withflair and respect, and to ridthe game of the play-actingthat has plagued soccer over thelast few years.In the advertisements Cantonaplayed the campaign’s ambassador,explaining the true wayfootball ought to be played,proving that the fly-kickingFrenchman had mellowedsomewhat inhis retirement. Aforay into the musicindustry followedin 2007 when Cantona appearedon art-rock band Dionysos’studio album ‘La mécanique ducœur’ where his voice was used inthe ‘epilogue’.That said, Cantona has not stayedcompletely away from the game.Over the last decade he has beenheavily involved in the French NationalBeach Football team.He captained the team soon afterleaving Manchester, however hisgreatest success came on the sand asa manager.In 2005 Cantona took the Frenchside to the inaugural FIFA BeachSoccer World Cup in Rio De Janeiro.His influence was similar to thatof his playing days with his side becomingWorld Champions beatingoff Portugal in the final. He continuedto manage the side up until 2008,but was unable to recreate the successhe brought in his first year atthe helm.In 2009 Cantona will once againmake an appearance on the bigscreen. He stars as himself in a Britishfilm called Looking For Eric,where the former Red Devils staracts as a ‘spiritual sage’ for an obsessedfan who is dealing with disasterin his own life.The film could be a major successfor Cantona, with the Daily Telegraphtipping the Ken Loach directedpiece as a potential winner of theprestigious Palme d’Or prize at theCannes Film Festival later this year.Eric Cantona has achieved a greatdeal since calling time on his playingcareer at Manchester United.While fame could be just aroundthe corner for the former forward, itis his mesmerising performances onthe pitch and his infamous disciplinaryproblems that will always keephim in the hearts and minds of fansof the game across the globe.Eric CantonaFact file:Date Of Birth: 24 May 1966Place Of Birth: Paris, FranceHeight: 6ft 2in (1.88m)Position: ForwardCareer Matches: 432Career Goals: 161Honours:French League: 1Coupe de France: 2English League: 5FA Cup: 21994 PFA Players’ Player of the Year1996 FWA Footballer of the YearDid you know?Cantona was capped 45 times forFrance and scored 20 goals for LesBleus. However, his nine-month bandue to the kung-fu kick left himunavailable for selection throughmost of 1995. Zinédine Zidane usurpedCantona during this period with coachAimé Jacquet deciding instead tobuild the French team around ‘Zizou’.Cantona did not play for France againand Jacquet’s side, inspired verymuch by Zidane, ended up winning theWorld Cup in 1998.