THE KING’S SPEECH

Today marks the 30th anniversary since Eric Cantona arrived at Manchester United from Leeds.

The Frenchman was snapped up by Sir Alex Ferguson, in arguably his greatest ever transfer swoop, and spent five years at the club, winning the Double twice and four Premier League titles.

Speaking to the club’s website, Cantona said: “The time I had in Manchester was a great time for me.

“I will always look back on it with family and friends and it was a kind of education for me, you know. What I am today is because of my parents, my family, my best friends and because of the time I had in Manchester with everybody.

“With the players, with everyone who worked for the club, with Sir Alex and with the fans… everyone. I feel that the human being I am today is because of all the great experiences I have had in my life and the time I had in Manchester were maybe the best years of my life.

“It was so wonderful, so intense and so great.

“Fortunately today I do things that I am passionate about because it’s very, very difficult when you stop your career.

“But I have all these wonderful and unbelievable memories of my time in Manchester that I will never forget.”