Manchester United great Eric Cantona has become the third player inducted into the Premier League’s Hall of Fame.
The league’s all-time leading goalscorer, Alan Shearer, and Arsenal legend Thierry Henry were announced as the inaugural inductees last month.
Cantona now joins them as the first of a further six players as voted for by fans from a shortlist of 23.
Regarded as one of English football’s most influential imports, Cantona scored 70 goals in 156 Premier League appearances for Leeds United and Man United, and won the title four times in five seasons under Sir Alex Ferguson.
The exception was the 1994/95 season, when Cantona missed the title run-in after being banned for infamously ‘kung-fu’ kicking a fan during a match against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Cantona inherited the Man United captaincy following Steve Bruce’s departure in 1996 and led the side to the 1996/97 championship before retiring from football at the age of just 30.
Commenting on his induction, the talismanic Frenchman said: “I am very happy and very proud, but at the same time I am not surprised.”
