The Premier League Hall of Fame now has more French representatives than Britons.
Launched a month ago, the pantheon of the English championship dedicated to the players who "magnified" it since its creation in 1992, welcomed Eric Cantona on Tuesday, following the result of a vote submitted to Internet users.
By winning popular membership at the expense of 22 other former Premier League glories such as David Beckham, Didier Drogba, Steven Gerrard and other Patrick Vieira, the native of Marseille thus joins the two initial members of the Hall of Fame, namely Thierry Henry and Alan Shearer.
"The others are all wonderful ... Me, I am exceptional!"
Eric Cantona
"I am very happy and proud but at the same time, I am not surprised, reacted Cantona, on the site of the Premier League.
There are almost 30 players who could have been chosen.
Me, it's different.
If you have to pick one, it's me.
The others are all wonderful ... Me, I am exceptional! ”
Author of 70 goals and 56 assists in 156 matches between 1992 and 1997, the year he decided to hang up his boots, "King Eric" has remained in the annals of the championship and of Manchester United, where he helped bring back the title of champion after 26 years of famine in his first season at Old Trafford, in 1993, before wearing the captain's armband.
Roy Keane named in turn
A true icon of the Mancunian club and the English championship, the man who left Leeds to join rival United marked the history of English football with his bursts and ... kick to a supporter of Crystal Palace, January 25, 1995. An overflow which had earned him nine months of suspension.
“Playing in England was a dream for everyone, playing in the Premier League is the holy grail,” realizes the Frenchman.
I had the chance to evolve in this team, with exceptional players, a manager and supporters. ”
"Just a genius"
Relive Eric Cantona's finest #PL moments as former players explain why they picked him for the # PLHallOfFamepic.twitter.com / y1jR0LACWs
- Premier League (@premierleague) May 18, 2021
Alan Shearer, one of the two original Hall of Fame members, remembers a special player.
“He was different, he was an icon.
He was arrogant, in a good way.
And when you have your abilities, you have more than the right to be arrogant. ”
After Cantona, his former partner Roy Keane (former captain of MU where he remained between 1993 and 2005) was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
This week, four other players will be named to join this prestigious list.
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