Manchester United icon Eric Cantona has admitted that he would have taken a page out of the playbook of one legendary former player if he had become a manager.
Eric Cantona had a sensational impact in England and became a cult figure at Manchester United after Sir Alex Ferguson signed him in 1992.
The 58-year-old Frenchman left Leeds United for a £1m fee and arrived at Old Trafford, with Cantona having a transformative impact in the dressing room.
One of Manchester United’s legendary No 7s, the eccentric Cantona played a key part in former manager Sir Alex Ferguson hoovering up the silverware in the 1990s.
The United legend lifted four Premier League titles and two FA Cups, including serving as captain of the Red Devils.
Despite his prolific spell at United, Cantona made the shock decision to leave Old Trafford and retire from football at the age of 30 in 1997.
Cantona on manager he admired
Eric Cantona pursued different ventures after his legendary footballing career came to an end, including channelling his passion into acting and music.
The former France international never entered top-level coaching after his time as a player, but he did serve as manager of France’s national beach team.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Cantona admitted that he would have ‘loved’ to have been a manager had the passion for football still been with him.
However, the Manchester United legend claimed that his passions took him elsewhere and he was happy with how things played out.
Cantona revealed that Dutch legend Johan Cruyff would have been the blueprint for him had he become a manager in football.
“Ideally, I would love to be a manager, but to be a manager, thinking about football 24 hours a day, deal with the agent of the players, we deal with the player who is unhappy because he doesn’t play, explain to the other one why he plays, why he doesn’t play and everything,” he said.
“No, I have other passions and I love it. But if I became a manager, I would have become a kind of manager like Johan Cruyff.”
Cantona’s admiration for Cruyff
Johan Cruyff had a revolutionary impact on football as both a player and as a manager, with the Dutchman widely revered for his long-lasting influence.
Following a legendary playing career at club level and on the international stage, Cruyff added to his illustrious legacy during his time as a manager.
The three-time Ballon d’Or winner enjoyed success with both Ajax and Barcelona as a head coach, with Cruyff hoovering up silverware during his time at the Camp Nou.
Cruyff, whose legacy has influenced the likes of Pep Guardiola, led Barcelona to four La Liga titles, a Copa del Rey, a European Cup and a European Cup Winners’ Cup.
Cantona previously said that the legendary Dutchman was his “childhood hero” and called Cruyff the “creator” due to his transformative impact on football.
“I loved the Dutch in the ’70s, they excited me and Cruyff was the best,” he told FourFourTwo magazine in 2006.
“He was my childhood hero; I had a poster of him on my bedroom wall. He was a creator.
“He was at the heart of a revolution with his football. Ajax changed football and he was the leader of it all.
“If he wanted, he could be the best player in any position on the pitch.”