You need nerves of steel to join one of your former club's rivals and win them over, and that's what Eric Cantona did when he swapped Leeds United for Man United in 1992. Cantona's time at Old Trafford was marred with controversy, which, in hindsight, should have been expected considering he had punched a team-mate, took out an opposing player, smashed a referee with a football and labelled each member of the French Football disciplinary body 'idiots' during his stint in France before moving to England. And when he did arrive in the Premier League, he was soon walloped with an eight month suspension for losing his rag and launching into a sensational karate kick on a Crystal Palace fan. Yet despite playing for our fierce rivals Leeds, and despite assaulting a supporter, Cantona has still retained his 'King' status and we still sing his name, which is a real measure of the man.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
