Man Utd Transfers: Fergie's 10 Greatest Foreign Imports

4. Eric Cantona (France)

eric cantona€˜When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea. Thank you very much€™ Long before Mario Balotelli, there was only one man who could be labelled as the country€™s most eccentric footballer, and that was French striker Eric Cantona. The aforementioned quote, uttered by €˜The King€™, as he is affectionately known by the United faithful, related to his kung-fu kicking of a Crystal Palace fan during a game, arguably his most infamous action, which is what many across the country remember him for. To United fans, however, The King will be eternally remembered as one of the finest strikers to ever grace a football pitch. Though he only came to the club by chance, after Leeds United telephoned about the availability of defender Denis Irwin and Sir Alex Ferguson countered by asking about the availability of Cantona, his influence in four Premier League winning campaigns is unquestionable. Appointed as club captain in his final season in 1996/97, Cantona scored 64 goals in 143 league appearances, and could easily have increased that further were it not for his shock retirement in 1997, aged just 31. Now the manager of the New York Cosmos and an occasional actor, with his best-known role being the highly watchable Looking For Eric, Cantona remains as eccentric as ever, having attempted to run for the French Presidency, amongst other things. Whatever happens, however, his name continues to be chanted around Old Trafford, and long may it stay that way.
Contributor
Contributor

Alex was about to write a short biography, but he got distracted by something shiny instead.