Recently, Manchester United legendary star visited the club UTD Podcast radio program, talking about his career, joining the show business after retiring and his most classic "seagull" quote.
- Debuted as a goalkeeper
If Marseille's side hadn't been so star-studded at the time, parts of the Manchester United trophy showroom might still be vacant. This is because Eric (Cantona) originally worked as a goalkeeper for the football team in his hometown, after which he felt that the sense of participation in the game was too low, so he decided to play as a striker instead.
"The team I was on was so strong, I was looking forward to the weekend every day, we could win 6-0 or 7-0 every time, but I couldn't touch the ball the whole time. I thought, if I played up front, maybe I would have more chances to touch the ball, and my story began. ”
- Never regret it
In January 1995, Cantona staged a kung fu soccer at Crystal Palace Selhurst Park (flying legs kicked at Crystal Palace fans who were outspoken about him), and was subsequently banned for nine months. In the long and vivid history of football, this is undoubtedly one of the most classic plots. To this day, looking back, the Manchester United king says he does not regret doing so.
"Would I still do this if it all happened again?" Yes, of course it will, because this has made me what I am now, and I feel very happy. I am who I am because of all these experiences in my life, both good and bad. I'm a very optimistic person, and when something bad happens, I tell myself, 'Don't always think about how good it would be if it doesn't happen, you have to accept these things that you wouldn't want to accept because it will make you better'. ”
- That famous quote
At his first press conference after his ban, Cantona uttered the classic phrase that rivaled the king's magic on the field— "Seagulls flew with trawlers because they thought sardines would be thrown into the sea." （When the seagulls follow the trawler, it is because they think the sardines will be thrown into the sea.）”。 What's even more surprising, though, is that this quote wasn't conceived in advance, but was entirely An improvisation by Cantona.
"I wasn't prepared to say that because I wasn't going to say anything at the press conference. Why do I have to attend the press conference? Those media outlets have been denigrating me for weeks! But Maurice Watkins, the club's lawyer at the time, told me I had to say something. I refused, but he told me I had to do it. Then I said something that didn't make much sense to me, but they were all trying to decipher it. It was so cool that I could have said something else like ' I like this barn' or 'A chicken behind a barbed wire won't fly over my head'. ”
Why suddenly choose to retire
At the end of the 1996–97 season, Cantona announced his retirement. He was only 30 years old at the time, had just helped Manchester United win the league title for five years, and the sudden decision to say goodbye to the green field shocked many people.
"I chose to retire because I lost my passion, it was as simple as that. I've always said this, and I said in an interview with the French media at the age of 22 that I would retire when I lost my passion for the game. That's when I lost my passion, so I retired. But it also took me a while to make this decision, and you'll struggle with your own ideas because you still love football. ”
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After hanging up his boots, Eric officially entered the film industry (in 1995, in the film "Happiness is in the Ranch" directed by French director Etienne Chatillier, the banned Cantona was given a cameo role to complete his silver screen debut), and he has appeared in more than 25 films so far. Although many of his contemporaries, such as Winnie Jones and Frank Lebeuw, have also begun to appear in film and television, Cantona may have been the most successful star in the transition to the screen, all starting with a TV commercial in 1996.
"I started out just starring in some TV commercials and then I found myself really enjoying being in front of the camera. I've been very lucky because I've been in a lot of great ads, and I'm just as lucky that I've chosen them myself. As Robert De Niro said, a person's talent is embedded in his choices. That time, Nike ads kicked off my participation in quality ads that were special and involved with a lot of different players. I've been lucky enough to work with some great directors, to be in commercials and to experience the revolution in the industry, and I really enjoy it. ”
(Akita)