🎥 Eric Cantona joined Manchester United 26 years ago today | OneFootball

They’ve had some pretty good players down the years.

But ask most Manchester United fans of a certain vintage and they’ll tell you without skipping a beat: Eric Cantona was the greatest of the Alex Ferguson era.

On this day in 1992 the club’s fortunes changes forever when a call from Leeds boss Howard Wilkinson asking whether United would be up for selling Denis Irwin, somehow morphed into the Red Devils buying the enigmatic Frenchman.

Three Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and one PFA Player of the Year award later, King Eric would go down in history as perhaps the divisions”s best ever signing.

Here’s our pick of his best ever moments.

The Kung-Fu Kick

We couldn’t do a piece on Eric Cantona moments without including this.

Drawing 1-1 away at Crystal Palace, the Frenchman had been kicked all over Selhurst Park by Richard Shaw and in the second half retaliated to another robust challenge.

Referee Alan Wilkie showed Cantona a red card – his fourth for United – and in the ensuing melee the United man flung himself into the crowd to kick a fan.

The “When the seagulls…” press conference

After going to court for what one magistrate described as “the most common assault case in English legal history”, Cantona learned he would do 120 hours community service for the kung-fu kick and be banned from football for six months.

And when asked for his response, Cantona replied in typically Gallic fashion.

That chip v Sunderland

Let’s get back to some moments on the pitch, shall we?

Arguably Cantona’s most famous goal for United. The turn. The pass. The chip. The celebration.

Absolutely iconic.

The Cup final winner

A game more famous now for the white Armani suits Liverpool wore, Cantona netted a sensational winner with just five minutes remaining to give United their third FA Cup in six years.

The greatest moment

We’ll leave Eric Cantona”s best ever Manchester United moment to the man himself.