Cantona: Would love United role
Maybe in the future, in a few years' time when (Sir Alex) Ferguson retires, yeah, why not? I'd love to (manage Manchester United)
Eric Cantona
Quotes of the week
Eric Cantona admits he would 'love' the opportunity to manage Manchester United in a few years' time.
The Frenchman established himself as a United legend during four-and-a-half years at Old Trafford in the 1990s.
He won four Premier League titles during his time with the Red Devils and was the catalyst behind the club's domestic domination.
Cantona retired in 1997 and has since taken up acting, but concedes he would enjoy the chance to replace Sir Alex Ferguson as United boss.
"Today I do exciting things and I am proving many things," Cantona told Sky Sports News.
"Today I can enjoy it even more, but maybe in the future, in a few years' time when Ferguson retires, yeah, why not? I'd love to."
When asked if there were any other clubs he would be willing to manage, Cantona replied: "No, Manchester United...or the England national team."
Cantona was one of the first overseas players to make a major impact in the Premier League, but is concerned about the current foreign influence in the English game.
He added: "I think it's important to have a minimum of English or British players in the squad and to still work on the young players.
"For the national team, it's very bad.
"To have the best chance to win things, you must have as much as possible with English players to have a big choice and work hard on young players."
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 7th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Bolton |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Portsmouth |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Burnley |
| 15:00 | Tottenham vs Sunderland |
| 17:30 | Wolverhampton vs Arsenal |
| Sunday 8th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Hull vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Everton |
| 15:00 | Wigan vs Fulham |
| 16:00 | Chelsea vs Man Utd |
| Monday 9th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Liverpool vs Birmingham |
| Saturday 21st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Liverpool vs Man City |
| 15:00 | Birmingham vs Fulham |
| 15:00 | Burnley vs Aston Villa |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Wolverhampton |
| 15:00 | Hull vs West Ham |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Arsenal |
| 17:30 | Man Utd vs Everton |
| Sunday 22nd November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Bolton vs Blackburn |
| 15:00 | Tottenham vs Wigan |
| 16:00 | Stoke vs Portsmouth |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Wednesday 4th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| West Ham 2 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Sunday 1st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Birmingham 0 - 0 Man City | |
| Saturday 31st October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 2 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Sunderland 2 - 2 West Ham | |
| Portsmouth 4 - 0 Wigan | |
| Bolton 0 - 4 Chelsea | |
| Stoke 2 - 2 Wolverhampton | |
| Fulham 3 - 1 Liverpool | |
| Burnley 2 - 0 Hull | |
| Everton 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Arsenal 3 - 0 Tottenham | |
| Sunday 25th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| West Ham 2 - 2 Arsenal | |
| Man City 2 - 2 Fulham | |
| Liverpool 2 - 0 Man Utd | |
| Bolton 3 - 2 Everton | |
| Saturday 24th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Chelsea 5 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Tottenham 0 - 1 Stoke | |
| Birmingham 2 - 1 Sunderland | |
| Hull 0 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Burnley 1 - 3 Wigan | |
Liverpool should stand by beleaguered boss Rafa Benitez, says Reds legend John Adridge.
Back Nikolai Valuev, Didier Drogba and Jonny Wilkinson this weekend, says Ed Chamberlin.
Everton were again outclassed by Benfica as David Moyes' side went down 2-0 at Goodison Park in the Europa League.
Fulham's battling performance went without reward as the nine men crashed to a 2-1 defeat by Roma in Europa League E.
Celtic's chances of qualification in the Europa League were dealt a blow after a 0-0 draw against Hamburg.
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez insists he is in no rush for star duo Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard to have operations.
Celtic manager Tony Mowbray has not given up of reaching the next stage of the Europa League.
Comments (16)
Alex Winter says...
I'd love to see Cantona as a Man Utd manager. He's French, he's an actor and he would just end up getting loads of touchline bans for slapping the officials. That combined with the fact he'd be terrible, well its just something that shouldn't be stopped. This is great news for Arsenal + Chelsea fans.
Posted 20:55 10th June 2008
Mr Heathy (Manchester United fan) says...
bill smith, call KING ERIC a plank once more,and i will give you a chinese burn................LEGEND.
Posted 19:35 10th June 2008
Steve Lloyd (Manchester United fan) says...
GET REAL! Totally unproven as a manager, and great players don't often make good coaches. Keane, Coppel, Robson, Ince, Strachan, Bruce...... only Hughesy looks anything above the premiership average. Loyalty is nice, but this club should only get the best, and can only have the best if it is to maintain it's current domination. Same reason that Giggs should now leave. What a dreadful season.
Posted 16:50 10th June 2008
Adeil Hussain (Manchester United fan) says...
I'm a bit 2 minded about this one, would Cantona make as good a manager as he was a player?! He has the attitude, charisma and ability to make the players believe in him and his ideas, on the other hand however he doesn't have any managerial experience. Maybe if he was to join the club over the next 3 years or so in a coaching capacity and as an understudy to Sir Alex, pick up a few tricks and than get the chance.
Posted 13:42 10th June 2008
Henry Gunnery (Manchester United fan) says...
Well Cantona is a legend but you have to ask would it be a good idea to see him in the hot seat? No, probably not, a great footballer but probably not a great manager!
Posted 12:28 10th June 2008
Peter Weddell (Manchester United fan) says...
Best news any United fan could ever receive at the minute, other than Ronaldo staying. If this happened it would be a dream come true, only Keane of Fergie's former diciples could be as good as King Eric.
Posted 12:17 10th June 2008
James Byford (West Ham United fan) says...
For me Cantona is the greatest player of my life time. Just his prescence on the pitch was always enough to boy the United team up. So I cannot see why he wouldn't be able to take that aura he carry's with him to the sidelines. I'm positive that he would demand the respect from his players that is needed to manage a top club. I now just hope that Fergie takes him under his wing, and passes on his knowledge, because he is such a character that i'm sure football fans on the whole would love to see him back in some capacity. (maybe with the exeption of one Crystal Palace fan.)
Posted 11:53 10th June 2008
Craig Bolton (Manchester United fan) says...
An absolute living legend!......... Eric would command complete respect from his players and staff. He learnt from the best in Sir Alex, and has been brought up on Uniteds attacking style and flair. Who better to continue the legacy than Fergie's original catalyst!
Posted 11:52 10th June 2008
Craig Sharpe (Manchester United fan) says...
I would love to see Cantona be our next manager cos he has that cutting edge and desire like fergie and no one would try messing bout with him either. He would keep United as the best in Europe and carry us on to greater things. He'd become an even more deserved Legend of United. Oooh Aahhh Cantona!
Posted 11:24 10th June 2008
Rishi Lad (Manchester United fan) says...
I think this would be a good option. Either Carlos or Cantona would be a good manager. They have both had influence from Sir Alex Ferguson and they both have the passion for the game. Plus cantona training techniques would help the new players alot (e.g. nani, anderson, park, etc etc.) I think there should be five british players in the 16 players that get named every game, that way foreigners wont rule. But the question is does not abroad players help the english team especially with their technical ability?
Posted 11:24 10th June 2008
Helen Cawdrey (Manchester United fan) says...
Brilliant, he's a legend as a player and could easily be a legend as manager!!! id love it!! xxx
Posted 11:21 10th June 2008
Richie Flannery (utd) (Manchester United fan) says...
Eric, give us a break - I know you're a legend but you can't possibly think you can have the UTD manager job. You don't even manage a team, unless you count beach football. I love you to bits, but the management trawler is not for you.
Posted 11:14 10th June 2008
Naisen Berraies (Manchester United fan) says...
Long Live KING Eric!!!!! I dont know about his credentials for being manager but i'd love him back at the club!!! True Legend!!!!!
Posted 11:10 10th June 2008
Bill Smith (Manchester United fan) says...
What a plank.... Does he think you can just apply like it's a supermarket job...? Does he have any experience...? Are Utd really going to appoint someone with no coaching background when they could probably appoint any manager on this earth...!!
Posted 10:30 10th June 2008
Arif Bandali (Manchester United fan) says...
Well he would be an excellent replacement for UTD. I hope he is working on his coaching badges. I dont think he would walk striaght, maybe he could work as No2 for SAF, and then slowly get into that no1 position. I think he would be an awesome manager, and well respected.
Posted 09:54 10th June 2008
Robert Newton (Reading fan) says...
I can't see this happening with no prior managerial experience. It would be great to see the legend back in the game though.
Posted 09:38 10th June 2008