Eric Cantona's most shocking confessions

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Eric Cantona was an iconic footballer, but he is almost as well remembered for what he did off the pitch than for his exploits on it.

Never afraid to speak his mind, Manchester United's star player of the 1990s managed to create a lot of controversy and we'll be taking a look back at some of the most fascinating stories involving the Frenchman.

When he 'retired'

Although Cantona is most famous for how his career panned out in England, his time in France was also full of controversies and disciplinary issues.

The first of those came in 1987, when the hot-head Frenchman had a minor run-in with his Auxerre teammate Bruno Martini.

A year later he was suspended for three months after a rough challenge on Nantes player Michel Der Zakarian.

When Auxerre threatened not to release Cantona for international duty, his suspension was reduced to two months.

Whilst playing for Marseille, he threw a ball at his own fans and insulted them.

He also launched the ball at the head of a referee.

Marseille decided to make an example out of Cantona.

The player was unwilling to admit he was at fault and stood up to the club, announcing his retirement from the game at just 25 years of age.

He later changed his mind, but this moment lives on as one of the most shocking in his career.

When he took matters into his own feet

On January 25, 1995, Cantona committed one of the most violent acts ever seen on a football pitch.

After being sent off and whilst returning to the dressing rooms at Crystal Palace's Selhurst Park, Cantona was insulted by a young fan.

Enraged by what he had heard, Cantona launched himself into the crowd by aiming a dropkick at the head of the unsuspecting fan.

On March 31, the French striker was sentenced to 120 hours of community service and in the proceeding press conference he came out with one of his most famous and enigmatic quotes.

"When seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea," he said.

When he showed Manchester United how not to lose

Cantona set the tone for a Manchester United side that was obsessed with winning and the Frenchman perfectly summed up his attitude to the beautiful game

"I don't play against a particular team, I play against the idea of losing," he said.

When he really retired

At the end of the 1996/97 season, at just 30 years of age, Cantona permanently retired from football.

He decided to end his career whilst he was on the top of his game.

After leaving football, he continued to play beach football, had many cameo appearances in television adverts and even had a leading role in a film called 'Looking for Eric'.

When he joined Common Goal

Apart from the dropkicks and the colourful statements, Cantona also advocates the power of football and footballers in creating a better society.

In 2018, he joined the Common Goal initiative set up by Juan Mata.

"Football should be for the people and this does not have to be a utopian idea," Cantona told The Player's Tribune upon teaming up with Common Goal.

"There is no reason why the major actors in the game today cannot come together and support the social aspect of football."

When he speaks about politics

Cantona doesn't only have big opinions when it comes to football, as the Frenchman has also never been afraid to speak his mind when it comes to society in general.

"The big democracies go to where there are thousands of years of traditions and cultures and they want them to live like they want," he told The Guardian.

"They have their own vision.

"For me that is a kind of terrorism, an economic terrorism.

"And big democracies inside are, in a way, dictatorships because they want to impose their vision.

"It's an economic problem, no?

"It seems we don't use history to understand better today.

"In 1929 you had the crisis and then Italy and Germany and the war.

"It seems there is a repetition.

"See what is happening in the world, how the extreme right wing grew.

"I hope not, but in some countries it is already like this.

"It is the same story, but we don't care.

"It's like we need it.

"Put the counter to zero, start again.

"Millions of people killed, but it doesn't matter.

"Economically we will be at zero, start again."