Manchester United legend Cantona is 59 years old, but the Frenchman still maintains his fashion style and still thinks like a philosopher. In an exclusive interview with the Daily Telegraph, Cantona talked about some interesting topics about his life and football.
On being called a philosopher
I was born in 1966, which was a great year for England because that was the day I was born. When seagulls follow trawlers, it's because they expect sardines to be thrown into the sea. The media calls me the greatest philosopher, and I think they are absolutely right.
About the experience of being an actor
As an actor, I once shot a movie in Croatia. I read the script in French, but to play the lead role I had to learn Croatian through phonetic notation. This took me three or four months, and I practiced it every day in front of the bathroom mirror and on airplanes. I became so crazy that my wife almost left me and I swore at the time to never do it again. However, a few years later, I took on another Chinese film.
About tearing up the contract with Nimes and announcing his retirement at the age of 25
At that time, the French national team coach Platini came to my house and said that it was a shame for you to retire at such a young age. Going to England might be an option.
About today's football environment
There are no back tackles in today's football, there is no Vinnie Jones anymore, defenders put their arms behind their backs like penguins, I can score 60 goals a season.
On dissatisfaction with the commercialization of football
Unfortunately, the atmosphere in the stadium is different. I went to Old Trafford to watch Manchester United play Manchester City last season and it felt very quiet there. Manchester United fans prefer to go to away games and be with real fans rather than being surrounded by people who come from all over the world just to go to the souvenir shops.
We must get closer to the essence of football and to ordinary workers. Football is a working class sport and we cannot lose that. If I lived in England I'd rather support a team in the third or fourth tier, I just don't find the passion I used to have. This is not the fault of the fans, but of the club's management and economic system.
On wanting to help rebuild Manchester United but being turned down by Ratcliffe
I had many other passions and projects, but I wanted to put them on hold for two or three years and try to contribute something to the club that had given me everything, but Ratcliffe didn't seem interested. I've done my best so I don't feel guilty anymore. Sir Alex Ferguson created a beautiful style of attacking football that the new owners were supposed to continue, but instead they destroyed it.
About the famous "kick incident" against Crystal Palace fans
After that incident, Sir Alex Ferguson came to Paris and we had dinner together and spent a wonderful night. What coach would do that today? impossible. I would go through fire and water for him.
I really want to kick him (Crystal Palace fans) hard again, he is a hooligan. I enjoyed that moment.
About announcing my retirement at the age of 30
I lost my passion, I needed to feel the fire inside me. When you lose your passion, you won't sacrifice and you won't be able to perform at your highest level.
There are no photos or trophies in my home. I just want to look forward. I don’t want to be a prisoner of the past. I had a great time but I knew I would soon be stuck with it and I needed to move on. It's not always easy, but I try my best.