Eric Cantona Was Even Better Than You Think

The very best of Eric Cantona for Manchester United - the Frenchman's influence on their rise to the top of the Premier League has been unmatched by any other player. It's not surprising that he was affectionately nicknamed "The King" by the fans - the nickname that before that belonged only to the great Denis Law.
Sorry for the weird effects on some of the clips, FA is pretty brutal with its copyright protection.

[@wakstar1]

Wonderful video. I was lucky enough to see most of this live. I loved Eric. One of the best first touches of any player. Vision, passing range and creativity to unlock defences and also a massive bull of a centre forward too with a shot like a rocket and every type of finish in the book. Phenomenal player. World class.

[@MrAdammargerison]

Eric Cantona for me is the greatest foreign player ever to play in uk football, he actually changed the game in england, teams after cantona started to play with a creative centre forward ie zola, bergkamp etc, his skill level was sublime, what a lot of the videos on Cantona don't show as well is what he actually did defensively, he would literally clear balls off the line , we would be playing and he would pop up at full back lol, didnt get involved in the overall game that much but when he did it was pure magic, King Cantona in my own opinion the greatest ti ever play on these shores

[@EmElesOner]

He was French but his heart was English and I'm telling you that from a Frenchman

[@loganandchaseserver260]

He paved the way for your berkamp, Zola etc

[@loganandchaseserver260]

💯

[@loganandchaseserver260]

He made the premier League

[@optiondezzo1513]

He was a box to box forward. Amazing player.

[@AndrewH82]

Imagine the confidence he gave to the players around him. Pure class with perfect touch and weight of pass. A true legend and showman.

[@mcooper2505]

I get goose bumps watching him , Eric was incredible.❤️❤️

[@nicolasmorin4071]

Playing for Manchester changed him into a legend. He was meant to play for Manchester.

[@andrewjack31]

156 appearances, 70 goals and 56 assists. I think that says it all tbh.

[@Black_Blow_Fly]

Eric was the best ever, definitely the GOAT. ❤🖤🤍

[@sunnytoor1902]

Eric is the reason why I supported Man utd as a kid. Thank you for the great memories in my childhood. The iconic No.7 shirt will forever be his!! Long live the King!

[@peterwitton5497]

Never be any one like him

[@Quinceps]

Same here!

[@chomusic]

He was better with his chest than most players are with their feet.

[@rayshowtv2350]

I'm a United fan and I always cry watching these videos. They are never the same again.

[@xavierharding8938]

But they have Maguire

[@MrPaulc222]

@@xavierharding8938 We have Maguire's brother. We had Pogba's brother briefly too (we being Crawley Town) :)

[@lea-rw5cb]

Just money money money now............ khanchelkis what a player

[@markkosmider2144]

Footballing genius is the only was to describe Cantona. His situational awareness was second to none.

[@-The-Darkside]

The only player to make me cry, the day he retired. What a bummer of a day that was.

[@user-qj7ki7vf2r]

My all time favorite footballer. You could not take your eyes off of him. His passing was sublime.

[@redblacktichy7713]

His big missfortune was that his weakest performance was his most important match against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League semi final 1997.

[@calcalb]

@@redblacktichy7713but he still made a dead list pass to Nicky butt who failed to score in a 1 on 1 against the goalkeeper

[@redblacktichy7713]

@@calcalb yes, but even Cantona missed some opportunities

[@im.tellingyou]

​@@redblacktichy7713Cantona retired in 1997 😂

[@redblacktichy7713]

@@im.tellingyou yes, right, Borussia vs MU semifinal was in 1997

[@MrPaulc222]

That very last goal was iconic for me, as everything about it encapsulated the man. He was an artist, but not just as a footballer, and his response after scoring that goal was the air of a man who was entitled to score such goals.

[@peterturnbull9133]

Eric played in a team of world class players ….but he stood out. Love his attitude and genius he provided to the game. I have followed United since 1968 …but he is one of 3 standout players …..thank you Eric!!

[@MrMatt44000]

Who are the other 2?

[@markkosmider2144]

​@@MrMatt44000Was going to ask the same question!

[@ibrahims9871]

Must be Best and Ronaldo.

[@PhilipKerry]

@@ibrahims9871 Nope Best and Bobby Charlton

[@ianh1263]

One of THE best players of all time. He was a fiery character but he wouldn't have been as good if he wasn't. He owned the pitch. One of my very favourite players. Skill, a football brain LEGEND.

[@PYPN]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@johnarch6876]

Agree about his capabilities and trendsetting, but not the best....maybe the first foreign star. With all due respect, his arrogance cost him his national career.

[@ianh1263]

@@johnarch6876 It was his arrogance that made him so much better than those who tow the line. Fergie let him play. No need for too many instructions.

[@markkosmider2144]

​@@ianh1263with skill like his he could afford to be arrogant. Although, his arrogance could be mistaken for supreme confidence in his own abilities.

[@ianh1263]

I loved watching him play.@@markkosmider2144

[@WallieTheRed]

As a young United fan at the time there really was nothing better than Cantona. He was an absolute genius and tough with it. My first true hero. Long live the king 👑. Now time has gone on its amazing how many of our rival fans both Scouse and city all say they thought he was great. I like when a footballer can be that enigmatic that everyone remembers him so fondly. I think nostalgia plays a part as he wasn't just an icon for us reds, all the kids back then wanted to be Cantona in the playground regardless of who they supported. Great video, makes me feel so proud but with dull ache of remembering my youth. The 90's were good to us

[@KingKong-ee8hc]

Cantona is the best footballer I’ve ever seen play in the premier league this guy was a genius. A big thank you to ur production team for putting this class video together it was a joy to watch. Long live the 👑

[@markawhughes]

I fully agree! When the seagulls follow the trawler……

[@giuseppe397]

Shearer?

[@redblacktichy7713]

​@@giuseppe397 Shearer was not so good in combination. He was a fantastic striker, but Cantona had a creative force as well.

[@tweedlio2763]

You not watched much football then no?

[@winningbigly6666]

Henry is by far the best player to play in the Premier League. Ronaldo had about 3 seasons where he was almost unplayable but Henry did it consistently for longer. Cantona is definitely up there being one of the best to ever play in the PL but don’t think he can go ahead of Henry or Ronaldo

[@peterherrington3300]

Wonderful touch & vision , would be worth a fortune in the modern game

[@darrenneil4533]

One of the greatest players ever!

[@thewosostories]

Iconic player, absolute genius!

[@jdig1984]

They were magic days growing up watching this team and Eric was the icing on the cake

[@mlh4711]

I'm a life-long City fan but loved watching that man play. He glavanised that Utd team and gave them something very special.

[@dkainer]

You are a humble man. As a Man united fan, I loved watching Kun play for you guys. Respect ✊

[@iamspartacus6713]

@@dkainer as a man utd fan i hated kun...

[@rajalingamkandasamy1044]

Imagine having Denis Irwin in the team. Simply unbelievable

[@shorty30uk]

People forget how good he was, left the game far too early, Le God ⚽️🙏🏾 The 🐐 🙌🏾

[@simonrichards6739]

He had a better touch with his chest than most players have with their feet!

[@khalidhussein5346]

That pass through to solskjaer against west ham is still one of my favourite ever moments from him. Absolute eye of the needle stuff.

[@eclipse7436]

No his best pass was into the fan that thought they abuse him, shame he didn't get his face

[@shameempeer9507]

Cantona is no doubt the most intelligent and talented player who ever played in England and till today nobody can match his enormous talent, he also coached the 92 generation.

[@sjt275]

If I could go back in time to my playing days I would model myself on cantona the way he used his whole body to control the first touch ..chest ,knees thighs a genius !

[@bennysea5278]

the GOAT for me personally!! this man single handed made this world interesting and exciting for me around 9years old when he signed for United he would get a place in any top team today his style of play is timeless

[@magasinetsundhed8728]

Best Cantona video I have watched. Thank you for a great video

[@datNERO17]

Absolute undisputed number 1 at flick passes. Be it with heels, either side of the boot, shoulder, chest, head, whatever. His sublime touch was and still is unmatched in that category.

[@Bill-Butcher]

One of the legends of my childhood, great player Cantona was... Thanks for sharing 👍

[@gezatherton1071]

Forever my idol. This brought so many happy childhood memories back!

[@PedroPorridge]

Eric Cantona king of Old Trafford

[@TheIkaraCult]

Never forget that amazing billboard from my childhood - "1966 was a great year for English football. Eric was born"

[@antoinev9733]

wrong ! because I was born Note : Eric was fired from the french squad , i was not .... and then?? ... we became world champion ;)

[@alexcrompton9509]

It was one of the great adverts. A close second was when we commandeered the coke logo and changed it to enjoyed cantona

[@rajalingamkandasamy1044]

simply put sheer genius

[@sammystate21]

Thank you for making this without music. Just Commentary, crowd noise and Cantona. Fantastic 👍🏽

[@rizandro]

This kind of video gives you a feeling of the excitement the fans would have had knowing he could do anything, anytime.

[@MrMatt44000]

I had no idea he was such an assist genius also and so good with his chest, head, control. All this alongside him being a ferocious striker comparable to Ibrahimovic in his prime. United fans must have felt like they were in a dream when he was playing

[@johnlee2230]

Such a brilliant team player, & considering how great individually he was that's a great compliment. The best.

[@FilthyMind1]

Stunning footballer

[@MichelleGill-js2jb]

Eric was the turning point for United's progress.❤️

[@Bigballon]

Thank you for bring out such wonderful memory, Eric the King is my best MU player.

[@reallymakesyouthink]

You could see the impact he had on Scholes aswell. People talk about that young team that won the league but they'd not have done it without Cantona.

[@mrfrisky6501]

The king of the Premier league and always will be - hus presence alone made him a superstar

[@davewalmash6849]

This is great footage, thanks for showing us the true legend that he was. 6:00 had that have gone in he would have been a cemented Man UTD bicycle kick legend alongside Garnacho and Rooney.

[@obscurelines]

Crazy to think a team had Cantona, Giggs, Beckham, Schols in one attack (and Cole I suppose).

[@rakesh928]

ole as well

[@mynamenapresh7853]

Eric is a creator he creates space and i think inesta molded his game around Eric's style of play

[@darrenmcclellan9869]

Not only was English football changed forever, football the world over was changed. This man changed the view of foreign transfer market hands down.

[@stiofandundealgan1280]

Canto a ouvert les portes du championnat anglais aux joueurs français, qui peuvent lui dire merci ! A Manchester, il fut génial et sa contribution au club a été énorme voire magique !

[@antoinev9733]

Didier Six au moins avant lui ;)

[@loganandchaseserver260]

He's always said that that pass to Irwin was the best goal he ever scored

[@DaveElcock]

I forgot how unselfish this dude was.

[@mrironlunglungzielungzietv6697]

He's movement and forward play were unmatched legends read the game before things happen and he's that good

[@mikemoores1631]

The Newcastle goal when we got smashed away ,and beat them ,absolute childhood memory 😊,had to be Cantona, also the goal v the scousers on his comeback for kicking that yob ,quality!!!

[@colingram8785]

I've never forgot that goal around 5:24, absolutely sensational skill and technique. He had all the flair in the world....and wasn't afraid to show it. Amazing player :)

[@alishour5519]

If your talking about goals watch stevie g goals against utd villa Middlesborough etc those are goals that Cantona can't even score in his dreams

[@loicalex]

I'm also a hockey fan and Canto reminds of a Wayne Gretzky as a playmaker with his one touch passing game. We call it "ice vision" to create offensive scoring chances out of nowhere.

[@paulliddon]

At his best. Which was more often than not he was the best ever. He done things everyone else dreamed of

[@asfixia9141]

might be the most underrated player ever

[@VJ592]

Zidane vs Cantona for the most stylish player of all time almost like they both on a movie set rather than a football pitch.

[@venners77]

Berbatov also.

[@chuka6625]

@@venners77You wouldn’t say this if you really watch Berbatov week in week out. He had a classy touch but he was really frustrating to watch at times! Even Fergie got sick of him.

[@mrbc1848vu]

Great video - how quickly one forgets how good he was......and this video didn't show how much fight/toughness he had to compliment his creativity and goal scoring. Those were the #ManUtd days of power. They were fun to watch.

[@IrishPride7]

Favourite player of all time my hero growing up in the 90s as a kid. I miss the old Premier League vibes.

[@Delboy591]

I miss this guy

[@drewmandley1981]

what a player that man was!!!

[@yaradenel-dr5100]

Genius player ever

[@enjoiaj]

god the gulf between the players we used to have and what we have now...jesus

[@cleberrobertomourabenincas879]

MAGNIFIQUE!!!

[@kimbirch1202]

Those were the days.

[@amosb1452]

He really was sublime!

[@olukayodeadegoke433]

He was an athlete artist who paints beautiful impressions on football tuff. His aura onnthe pitch is mesmerising to opponents and inspiring to his teammates.

[@garethdownes]

I miss him

[@messoussiahmed9910]

the king thanks to england from france for your loving he was my kid hero and before england his career was over !

[@jeanemmanuelrenel9190]

Very underrated unfortunately, never heard of him. I came here thanks to someone who posted a video of him on IG… man!!! This guy got lots of skills and very on target when ever he shot the ball ⚽️, I wish I could see him playing!

[@messoussiahmed9910]

his personality is behond your imagination in sport he maybe unique he is a good actor too I recomand you to make some research about the king

[@DonnyRP]

Underrated? And never heard of him??? Wow

[@metallewd3472]

Hahaha THE KING underrated lolz.

[@smon4164]

I remember the excitement from when I got the Cantona sticker in my 96-97 premier league sticker book.

[@alexsudar1921]

Cantona was unbelievable player ❤❤❤

[@yondus]

That last goal is just the perfect summary of Cantona

[@mujthiru3223]

If I could have any player in history to slot into the current United team I'd pick Cantona. My favourite player, and for his name to be chanted on the terraces 30 years later, means that he's still the favourite player of a lot of United fans Also was a champion every full season he played in England 91-92 Leeds 92-93 Man Utd 93-94 Man Utd (94-95 banned from Jan-end of season and missed out on the title by 1 point) 95-96 Man Utd 96-97 Man Utd

[@MrPaulc222]

Yes, it's sometimes hard to believe it's nudging 30 years since THAT incident at Crystal Palace.

[@ianhinds3480]

United were frightening!

[@Stu-SB]

Oooh ahhh CANTONA. Man that brings back memories !

[@kevvynolan8753]

Cantona and Scholes, class of their own...

[@allstarwatt7246]

👍

[@Pat14922]

That bloody flick! First time i saw him do it, I thought "lucky", then he did it gain. I thought Fergie would have him, but no, he did it all the time. Just him. I was awesome. And because no one else was doing it, it always surprised defender.

[@tris421]

So underrated these days. He's absolutely nailed into a greatest prem 11.

[@nihilistlivesmatter]

In front of Henry, Ronaldo, Rooney, Suarez, Aguero, Kane, Haaland, Bergkamp & Hazard?

[@tris421]

@@nihilistlivesmatter In front of them all except Henry. The only debates there for an all-time 11 are between Rooney and Shearer and for me he easily tops them. Ronaldo was a winger in the prem. You can argue that Suarez is the most talented of them all but he had more impact at Barca and did fuck all in the prem. Cantona was far more impactful than Bergkamp while both being at the time the most aesthetically pleasing players in the prem. Hazard is not even close. Aguero great player, a better goalscorer but not a leader or as good an all-around player as Cantona (very different EC was more of a 10). Haaland has played 1 season. Man won the prem being the best player on the team in EVERY FULL SEASON he played in the prem. He was the catalyst that transformed United into the most dominant and successful English team of all time. He was the face of the prem for 5 years. Kids do not understand.

[@nihilistlivesmatter]

@@tris421 I disagree,,, he was the best player in the league at a when it was a poor league & MU were flat track bullies. Rooney was often pushed out to the LW so Ronaldo could play up top...he may have started as a winger but he grew into more Eric was a good player...& you're right did almost singlehandely at timess turm MU into a trophy winning outfit....like Drogba for chelsea But he was not world class...He wouldn't make the bench for on all time XI For me you can't look past Henry Suarez & Ronaldo with Rooney not far behind

[@jamiecottrill7316]

Cantona was pure class & would have gave any team he played for that extra special thing that all the best teams need. Not a bad player either 💪

[@waynewm9112]

those assists are so underrated

[@PedroPorridge]

“Now what’s he going to do...there is your answer” 😂😂😂

[@stephen3511]

Crazy to think Man Utd have had such high calibre players over the decades. Compared to the current crop.

[@abhishekkaushik8868]

Unbelievable back heel passes... Most of the time defenders clueless about the ball movements and directions of passes. But credit goes to fellow players who reads the passes precisely... credit also goes to practice sessions...and Sir Alex

[@MarkKanaster-ev6pq]

He’s the reason I’ve been a Manchester United supporter for 30 years

[@Edgel-in6bs]

Was Eric the greatest player of all time? No. Is he my favourite footballer of all time and did he change how I view the game? 100%

[@zeljkohorvat7672]

So good, so great

[@paulcuff8845]

Long live the king. What a player

[@dinomahmutovic3649]

love this channel. deserves way more subs

[@signoguns8501]

He was the master of the little touch. All he needed was a tiny touch of the ball and he could could carve open the defence for a team mate. A little flick or a head or a chest and that was it, they were off. The man was a legitimate genius.

[@stu1964]

He was my hero along with Bobby Charlton.. Eric and Bobby the greatest players united have ever seen

[@davidsmith6355]

He was so good at ball control and the next move... I always said his greatest skill was angling his body correctly so that the first touch was always perfect so he could always shoot (& often score) or set up a move seamlessly. Simple stuff in a way but he really had that vision and touch that elevated him above the others in the day. And of course he had a great shot and eye for goal. He really catalysed Man U's success.

[@chokrizihi439]

King Éric ❤

[@tonykent6678]

Eric really was special. From a gooner.

[@davidsmith6355]

That's great to hear, and you have your fair share of great players I admired over the years too 🙂

[@TheBcr77]

A great football player and an even greater man.

[@slap-u-silly7529]

Mental control, volleys and passing.

[@reytayfredo]

The King

[@sylvaincompagnon]

Eric was a king, a man and a spirit....I often watch videos and I' m always fascinated...it seems so easy. Jojo from France