Manchester United legend Eric Cantona and iconic former Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson both felt strongly about one thing they experienced in football.
Sir Alex Ferguson brought Eric Cantona to Old Trafford in 1992 after Manchester United landed the Frenchman for a £1m transfer fee from rivals Leeds United.
One of United’s legendary No 7s, Cantona had a sensational impact at the Premier League club and the French former forward was a key figure for Ferguson.
Ferguson widely admired Cantona and the 58-year-old United legend lifted four Premier League titles and two FA Cups during his time at Old Trafford.
Cantona was a larger-than-life figure at the Red Devils and the former United superstar netted 82 times and registered 62 assists in 185 matches.
Despite his incredible playing spell at Old Trafford in the 1990s, Cantona stunned the world in 1997 when he announced his shock retirement at the age of 30.
Following his exit from United, Cantona actively pursued other ventures outside of football like his music career and continued his acting work in films.
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Photo by Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images
Photo by Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images
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Sir Alex Ferguson previously hit out at the idea that referees would hand down preferential treatment to Manchester United during his time at Old Trafford.
The 83-year-old legendary ex-United manager was well-known for being a strong personality around referees and didn’t hold back his feelings towards match officials.
Speaking in a quick-fire interview with the Metro, Eric Cantona opened up about his dislike for referees and recalled one memory from his time at boyhood club Caillols.
The former France and United forward was deeply critical of when a referee “blew his whistle” against him in the dying stages of a match and it cost his side big time.
“When I was 10 years old, we had a very good team,” Cantona said in 2014, as per ESPN.
“We won the cup in the regions then we played the final for championships and we were the favourites because we were the best.”
Cantona added: “We were 1-0 down. In the last minute of the game, I went past two players and I got to the goal, and the referee blew his whistle… why? Because my boot wasn’t tied – and we lost!
“So, I remember this game like it was yesterday. It was a crazy decision. I think my relationship with referees started with this game!”
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Sir Alex Ferguson took a no-nonsense approach to referees much like Man Utd icon Eric Cantona
Following Ferguson’s retirement from management in 2013, ex-Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp suggested that the United legend struck fear in the hearts of referees.
“A lot of officials would be in awe of him and afraid to upset him,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Sportsweek in 2013, as per BBC Sport.
“There was such an aura about him because he is a winner.”
Harry Redknapp added: “I never had any doubts about that. If there was a bit of time to be added, they would make sure they got it right because they did not want to upset him.
“Especially young referees, and even one or two of the older ones, were a little bit afraid to upset him.”
Ferguson bowed out of Old Trafford as Red Devils manager after United lifted their last Premier League title in the 2012-13 campaign.