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Eric Cantona at 50: Highs and lows of his 5 seasons with Manchester United

Yahoo Sport looks back at the Old Trafford career of Eric Cantona

Eric Cantona at 50: Highs and lows of his 5 seasons with Manchester United

Manchester United legend Eric Cantona turns 50 on Tuesday May 24.

He was voted as the greatest player in the history of the club by fans, ahead of greats like George Best, Bobby Charlton and Duncan Edwards.

But whether you agree with that or not, the engimatic Frenchman played a huge role in establishing United as a Premier League force, winning four titles and two FA Cups - and creating a million headlines.

Yahoo Sport looks at the impact he made at Old Trafford year-by-year.

1992

November 27

HIGH: Signs for Manchester United from Leeds for £1.2m.

December 6

HIGH: Makes United debut in 2-1 win over Manchester City.

December 19

HIGH: Scores first United goal in 1-1 draw at Chelsea.

December 26

HIGH: Scores second goal as United come back from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 at Sheffield Wednesday.

1993

February 8

LOW: Spat at a Leeds fan on his return to Elland Road. Fined £1,000 by FA.

May

HIGH: United win Premier League, becomes first player to win back-to-back titles with different clubs.

[ERIC CANTONA'S MANCHESTER UNITED CAREER IN PICTURES]

November 3

LOW: Sent off as United knocked out of the Champions League by Galatasaray in Istanbul.

March 27

LOW: Beaten in League Cup final by Aston Villa.

March

LOW: Sent off in successive Premier League games, against Swindon and Arsenal, and receives a five-match ban.

Eric Cantona scores his side's first penalty as Chelsea goalkeeper Dmitri Kharine dives the wrong way in the 1994 FA Cup Final
Eric Cantona scores his side's first penalty as Chelsea goalkeeper Dmitri Kharine dives the wrong way in the 1994 FA Cup Final

May

HIGH: United retain the Premier League.

May 14

HIGH: Scores twice in 4-0 FA Cup final victory over Chelsea.

May

HIGH: Voted PFA Player of the Year, first foreign player to win the award.

1995

January 25

LOW: Sent off at Crystal Palace for kicking Richard Shaw. Reacting to taunts of a Palace fan, Matthew Simmons, Cantona launched a 'kung-fu' style kick into the crowd, followed by a series of punches.
Receives a two-week prison sentence after being found guilty of assault. This was reduced to 120 hours of community service on appeal.
United banned Cantona for four months, with the suspension later increased to eight by the FA. He was also fined two weeks' wages.

August 8

LOW: Hands in transfer request but after a Paris meeting with Sir Alex Ferguson declares his intention to remain at Old Trafford.

October 1

HIGH: Scores against Liverpool in first game back after suspension.

1996

March 4

HIGH: Scores only goal at Newcastle, part of a sequence in which he finds the in six successive matches.

May 5

HIGH: United beat Middlesbrough to regain title.

May 11

HIGH: Scores only goal as Reds beat Liverpool at Wembley to win the FA Cup and complete a second double in three years.

Eric Cantona as Manchester United lose to Dortmund  
Eric Cantona as Manchester United lose to Dortmund  



May

HIGH: Named FWA player of the year.

July

HIGH: Appointed permanent captain.

1997

April 12

HIGH: Scores final goal as a United player in a 3-2 win at Blackburn.

April 23

LOW: Beaten by Borussia Dortmund in Champions League semi-final.

May 

HIGH: Wins fourth Premier League in five seasons with United.

May 11

LOW: Plays his final game for United, a 2-0 win against West Ham.

May 17

LOW: Announces retirement at the age of 30, the day after playing in a testimonial for David Busst.

Cantona stats

Appearances: 175

Goals: 79

Honours

Premier League: 1992-93, 93-94, 95-96, 96-97

FA Cup: 1993-94, 95-96.