Top 10 Cantona Moments

Sky Sports.com

home+

Today on Sky Sports.com

Tribunal explained

Explaining how Thursday's Tribunal will be run, who is in charge, and how a final verdict will be reached.

Pressure game

Arsenal fans may be happy with talk of bigger transfer budgets, but what of Arsene Wenger?

The Transfer Centre

All the latest transfer news brought to you by Sky Sports News.

Golden moment

It's 50 years since Henry Cooper floored Cassius Clay with 'Enry's 'Ammer. We recall a famous night.

Paper Talk

Follow the latest from the written press with the best gossip and speculation from the papers.

Football+

Quick Links

Leagues & Competitions

Teams

Find your team

On Sky Sports

Experts

Don't Miss

Cricket

Rugby U

Rugby L

Golf

Boxing

Tennis

Cycling

Racing

More+

Sport Sections

Sky Bet

Scores

Opinion

Video

Radio

TV+

QUICK LINKS

SKY SPORTS SHOWS

More+

FUN & GAMES

SERVICES & INFORMATION

FEATURES

Other sites

Top Tens

Top Tens home
Top 10 Cantona Moments

Rate It:

Currently 3.89/5 Stars
1
2
3
4
5

Twenty years ago this week, history was to be made in English football. Manchester United legend Eric Cantona was captured by Sir Alex Ferguson as he made the switch across the Pennines to the Reds from arch rivals Leeds United.

What was to follow was incredible; Cantona was the shining star of a very successful United team, helping them win 6 trophies during his 5 year spell at Old Trafford. Cantona's name is still sung to this day by United's hoards of fans following his prolific exploits.

The Frenchman scored over eighty goals for the club, but he also created many moments of controversy too, with one in particular standing out as one of the most memorable moments in English football history.

His famous kung-fu kick is among ten memorable Cantona moments Sky Sports has selected during his career in England.

Honours with Leeds United

Cantona had a short spell at Leeds United, just the year in fact, during which time he managed to help them win the old Division 1 title and the Charity Shield. Although he made only a few appearances for the Whites, he was instrumental in their success mainly through his eye for an assist. He also scored a hat-trick in a Charity shield victory over Liverpool. Cantona appeared on the victory parade in the city centre and said 'I don't know why, but I love you' to the Leeds fans.

Signing for Manchester United

Shortly after declaring his love for the Leeds fans, Cantona did the unthinkable in their eyes; he made the move across the Pennines to fierce rivals Manchester United. The move came about through an enquiry Leeds' managing director Bill Fotherby made about the possible signing of Denis Irwin from United. Talks broke down and the possibility of Sir Alex signing Cantona from Leeds began to materialise. The rest as they say is history. Cantona signed for £1.2million before the start of the rebranded Premier League season.

Cantona's first United goal

Saturday 19th December 1992, Stamford Bridge, Chelsea 1-1 Manchester United - this was the game Cantona registered his first goal for United; it took the Frenchman until almost Christmas to find his scoring boots in the Premier League. The strike secured a draw for United in London to keep them within reach of table-toppers Norwich City, who they had beaten in their previous fixture 1-0. This was to prove the catalyst for a flurry of United goals for Cantona.

FA Cup Final 1994: Manchester United 4-0 Chelsea

Manchester United faced Chelsea in the 1994 FA Cup final in front of 79,634 fans packed into the old Wembley Stadium. Cantona scored the first two in the game to ensure United lifted the cup. Both of his goals came from the penalty spot in the 60th and 66th minute. Mark Hughes and Brian McClair completed the scoring as Chelsea suffered a second half hammering.

PFA Player of the Year 1994

Following the Frenchman's fantastic run of form since joining from Leeds, Cantona became the first ever foreign football player to win the PFA Player of the Year Award. Cantona scored 25 goals during the season he won the award, helping United secure a domestic double as they won the Premier League and FA Cup under Ferguson.

Infamous assault on a fan

During a 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace, Cantona was sent off after blatantly kicking defender Richard Shaw. According to Cantona, a Palace supporter was spewing racial remarks and threw a missile at the Frenchman as he made his way to the tunnel. Cantona sprinted towards the fan and launched a kung-fu style kick. He was given 120 hours of community service after appearing in court. He was also banned from football for eight months and fined two weeks' wages. Without Cantona's brilliance, United conceded the league to Blackburn during this season.

Manchester United 2-2 Liverpool 1995

The chance Cantona had to redeem himself, in front of the fans he let down so badly eight months prior to this game against United's arch rivals Liverpool. It was his first game back following a sustained suspension from action for the attack on a fan. Cantona walked out to an expectant crowd, all of whom had eagerly awaited his comeback. A large number of United fans held up the French flag to welcome their favourite player back. Cantona didn't disappoint as he scored a second-half penalty in a 2-2 draw.

Manchester United 5-0 Sunderland 1995

In the 80th minute Cantona created an iconic image that is sure to live long in the memory of every United fan. He picked the ball up just inside the opposition's half, beat three Sunderland players and made an exchange of passes with a team mate. He then looked up and chipped the ball beyond the goalkeeper. If the goal wasn't amazing enough, the Frenchman's celebration definitely was. Cantona stuck his chest out, arms aloft and took the cheers in with such calm and composure as he would a five-yard tap in.

FA Cup Final 1996: Manchester United 1-0 Liverpool

Cantona wore the captain's armband and scored the only goal of the game to earn United the FA Cup yet again. His superb volley confirmed his status as one of the club's legendary figures in a season United again clinched the double.

Best Ever United Player Award

Before a league game against Charlton Athletic in 2001, Cantona was rewarded for his exploits as Ferguson presented him with the 'Best Ever United Player' award, as voted for by United fans. Cantona posed for photos with Sir Alex and waved to the fans of a capacity crowd at Old Trafford.