Eric Cantona

Cantona’s first wife was Isabelle Ferrer and they had two children together, Raphael (born in 1988) and Josephine (born in 1995). Presently, he is married to a French actress called Rachida Brakni.

Cantona started playing football for his local team, SO Caillolais. This local team was already famous for producing football stars such as Roger Jouve, Jean Tigana, Christophe Galtier, etc. Initially Cantona played as a goal keeper for this team but later on he started playing upfront. With SO Caillolais, he played more than 200 matches.

In 1983, he played for a professional football club for the first time, named Auxerre. In this team he played as a member of youth team for at least 2 years.

In 1984, he got into national service after putting his football career on the hold. In the same year he was discharged from the national service and was lent to Martigues.

In 1986, he signed his first professional contract with Auxerre. In the course of 2 seasons with Auxerre, Cantona made 68 appearances and scored 21 goals.

In 1987, he was fined for the first time when he punched his own team mate, Bruno Martini, in the face and gave him a black eye. Again next year he earned a 3 month suspension for dangerously tackling on Nantes’ Michel Der Zakarian.

In 1998, he was included in the 100 League Legends.

In 2002, he was made an inaugural inductee of the English Football Hall of Fame.

In 2003, he received the Overseas Player of the Decade Award at the Premier League 10 Seasons Awards.

One of the most famous quotes by Cantona is, “When the seagulls follow the Trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea”.

His grandfather from his mother’s side fought the armies of General Franco in the Spanish Civil War, 1938. He got injured in his liver and then came back to France.

Cantona encouraged people to withdraw their money from banks and shun retail banks during the 2010 protests in France.

In 2012, he supported the campaign for the release of the Palestinian footballer Mohmoud Sarsak.