Cantona delivers epic speech with UEFA award

The club icon, who scored 82 goals in 185 Reds appearances between 1992 and 1997, was presented with the accolade by UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin at the Champions League group-stage draw in Monte Carlo.

Dressed in a flat cap and a red shirt, the Old Trafford hero began by quoting Shakespeare's King Lear and stunned the crowd with his typically brilliant speech.

"As flies to wanton boys we are for the gods, they kill us for their sport," said Cantona.

"Soon the science will not only be able to slow down the ageing of the cells, soon the science will fix the cells to the state and so we will become eternal.

"Only accidents, crimes, wars, will still kill us but unfortunately, crimes, wars, will multiply.

"I love football. Thank you."

Along with the nine trophies Eric won during his time at Old Trafford, the footballing icon represented Auxerre, Marseille and Nîmes among others in his native France, and Leeds United in England, with whom he also won the domestic title in 1992. During his career, he dazzled crowds with his unique talent and style, while his undoubted charisma won him respect wherever he played.

Since retiring in 1997 at the age of just 30, the Marseille-born forward has turned his hand to acting and beach soccer. However, it is his commitment to charitable causes which has won him praise from both inside and outside the footballing world.

Cantona, like Ceferin, is a committed supporter of the Common Goal initiative, which funds high-impact football charities worldwide. The pair both contribute one per cent of their annual salary to the project, which was co-founded by Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata.

Previous winners of the UEFA President’s Award include former players such as Alfredo Di Stéfano, Sir Bobby Charlton, Eusébio, Raymond Kopa, Johan Cruyff, Francesco Totti and David Beckham. 

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