Got a TV Licence?

You need one to watch live TV on any channel or device, and BBC programmes on iPlayer. It’s the law.

Find out more
I don’t have a TV Licence.

Live Reporting

Tom Rostance

All times stated are UK

Get involved

  1. Post update

    Thanks for your company and all of your comments tonight, it seems that even 20 years on Eric Cantona remains a divisive figure.

    We will be back with the magic of the FA Cup on Friday evening, live from the Abbey Stadium. See you there.

  2. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Daily Telegraph sports journalist and United fan Jim White on BBC Radio 5 live

    "Gosh, couldn't United do with someone like Eric Cantona now!"

  3. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Commentator Jon Champion

    "What you can't do is ignore him or his contribution. That is his gift to English football. Love or hate him, you cannot ignore him."

  4. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    You have voted Sergio Aguero's title-winning goal for Manchester City as the Premier League's most memorable moment, with Eric Cantona's kung-fu kick in second place.

    Thanks very much for your votes.

  5. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Daily Telegraph sports journalist and United fan Jim White on BBC Radio 5 live

    "Remorse was not at the top of his agenda. He is an actor now by profession and he was one when he played football. He did something no one else did."

  6. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Eric Cantona is still sung about at Old Trafford of course, 20 years on. The current crop of United players are live on the BBC on Friday night, up against Cambridge United in the FA Cup. Join us for that one.

  7. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Commentator Jon Champion

    On Cantona not wanting to talk about the past: "Cantona once said, 'Memories are nothing. I have 45 French caps and we got two shirts a game - that is 90 shirts. I have none now'."

  8. Join the debate at #KungFuCantona

    Get involved

    Eric Cantona

    michael fenn: The reason we still talk about Eric is because he was one of the few to transcend his sport. A true legend

  9. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Eric Cantona chose to retire from football at the age of 30. As the studio guests point out, he never produced his best in Europe, with Manchester United finally winning the Champions League in 1999.

  10. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Commentator Jon Champion

    "He was a catalyst for so much. When he came back he was a captain sensible figure. There was a feeling he had matured but it was definitely, a slightly different Cantona. His legacy was conditioned by the two seasons after it rather than by that incident if he had retired then."

  11. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Daily Telegraph sports journalist and United fan Jim White on BBC Radio 5 live

    "Eric Cantona was important in bringing through the next generation. There was a log jam of talent and Ferguson wanted to get Scholes, Beckham and the two Nevilles into team. Cantona was the shepherd for that team."

  12. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Des Lynam

    A lot of mentions of watching the action unfold on that night's Sportsnight with Des Lynam.

    Here's a clip for you to reminisce.

  13. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Cantona in 1997

    After returning from his suspension Eric Cantona won two more titles with Manchester United, and a second FA Cup.

    Cantona had won four league titles in five years with United (six in seven years including those won with Marseille and Leeds United), the exception being the 1994-95 season - which he had missed the second half of through suspension.

  14. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Daily Telegraph sports journalist and United fan Jim White on BBC Radio 5 live

    "If you look at footballers now there isn't anyone of similar stature. Tennis player Jon McEnroe was the closest in terms of a sense of perceived missjustice."

  15. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Commentator Jon Champion

    "It was one of Ferguson's finest hours that he swept aside public opinion that Cantona had to go."

  16. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Daily Telegraph sports journalist and United fan Jim White on BBC Radio 5 live

    "Alex Ferguson needed Eric Cantona because he was going to dismantle the team that had won the Double. He needed Cantona to keep the side together. There were clandestine meetings in Parisian restaurants, but he did it. He kept him."

  17. Join the debate at #KungFuCantona

    Get involved

    Pallister on Cantona

    Kirsten: How good was he? One of the greatest players the Premier League has seen. Phenomenally good, phenomenal influence on a team

    Steve: Saw the kick in my hotel room in Calcutta. The room service boy who brought me my meal stood open-mouthed as we watched it.

    becky trif: I remember smuggling a radio into science class to listen to his punishment!!

    Was this the Premier League's most dramatic moment? Remember you can vote on this page. Or you can get in touch at #kungfucantona or on the BBC Sport Facebook page or BBC Sport's Google+ area.

    You can also text us on 81111 in the UK only - don't forget to say who you are and where you are texting from.

  18. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Daily Telegraph sports journalist and United fan Jim White on BBC Radio 5 live

    "There was interest from Inter Milan. Their director was at Selhurst Park and they were going to put a bid in, even before the attack. The feeling was we'd seen the last of Eric Cantona. It would have been a huge loss for United. He was the beating heart on and off it."

  19. Cantona's return

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Eric Cantona celebrates scoring against Liverpool in his first game back from his ban
    Image caption: Cantona made a triumphant return against Liverpool and subsequently led United to the Double

    1 October 1995: Cantona returns against Liverpool at Old Trafford, setting up a goal for Nicky Butt inside two minutes, and then scoring an equalising penalty in a 2-2 draw. He scores 13 more league goals, including the winner in five 1-0 victories, as United overhaul a 12-point deficit on Newcastle to regain the league title. Cantona also contributes five goals to United's FA Cup campaign, including the winner over Liverpool in the final, as they complete the Double.

    Watkins: "Obviously it was a very unsettling time for him and he was out of the game for such a long time. But I think he came back stronger than ever. He was such an influence at the club."

    Pallister: "He had his mind set that he wasn't going to return to English football because of the way he was treated. He thought it was unfair. But the manager was obviously very persuasive. He came back the same player, the same genius."

  20. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    In an interview from 1995 Sir Alex Ferguson says he believes that his side would have won the title in 1995 had Eric Cantona not attacked Crystal Palace fan Matthew Simmons.

  21. Keeping Cantona

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Eric Cantona did coaching sessions for children during the week at United's old training ground at The Cliff. But under the terms of his ban he was not allowed to play in any organised matches. United attempted to schedule a series of training games against local teams to keep Cantona involved, but were censured in a letter from the FA once the matches became public knowledge. Deeply frustrated, Cantona informed United he was moving back to France.

    Sir Alex Ferguson: "The next morning I contacted Eric's advisor and told him I was ready to fly to Paris. We met at a restaurant in which Eric was waiting for us with [his agent] Jean-Jacques Bertrand and a secretary. There was no-one else in the place and the owner had put the ferme [closed] sign on the door. Eric was delighted to see me and to hear what I had to say… I believe he wanted me to put an arm round him and convince him that everything would be all right."

  22. Join the debate at #KungFuCantona

    Get involved

    Cornerhouse

    Axis Design: Cantona spent a lot of his ban at Cornerhouse watching art house films - saw him there a lot

  23. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Commentor Jon Champion

    "We are not saying it was a great moment, it was an infamous moment. Twenty years on we will never forget it, and fans will never forget it either. There have been lasting effects too. It could not happen now."

    "There is now better stewarding, CCTV while fans are more self-regulatory now. There has been positives out of it. Players are also escorted off the pitch, too"

  24. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Daily Telegraph sports journalist and United fan Jim White on BBC Radio 5 live

    "We are not celebrating it, we are marking it. It stood out culturally as well as sporting-wise. The story around it is worth remembering.

    "It was an act of violence, it was shocking because it broke the invisible wall between participant and spectator."

  25. Post update

    Most dramatic moment?

    Don't forget that you can vote for the Premier League's most dramatic moment on the right-hand side of this page or on the 'vote' tab on your mobile.

  26. Text us on 81111

    Matt in Salisbury: I was sat in the pub car park late arriving for a darts match. I couldn't get away from the radio and nearly missed my game of singles. Incredible night. I think we lost the game though!

  27. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Daily Telegraph sports journalist and United fan Jim White on BBC Radio 5 live

    "He had heard what had been said to him dozens of time. Current players get it 20 times worse on Twitter. But he said he didn't react to the words, but the moment."

  28. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    BBC Radio 5 live

    The BBC radio 5 live special is on until 21:00 GMT.

    The panel discuss the nature of provocation on the football pitch and why some players react when they do. Zinedine Zidane of course ended his final game with a headbutt in the 2006 World Cup final.

  29. Blackburn the beneficiaries

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Alan Shearer

    Manchester United were two points behind leaders Blackburn before their game at Crystal Palace - and it was Rovers who would go on to win their first title since the outbreak of World War One.

    Would Alan Shearer have a league winning-medal now if Eric Cantona had kept a lid on his temper?

  30. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Eric Cantona

    In the days now of terribly dull quotes from footballers, Eric Cantona's news conference remains legendary.

  31. Qu'est que c'est seagull?

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    After an appeal Cantona is sentenced to 120 hours of community service instead. United then hold a news conference where the striker utters his famous quote.

    Seagull

    Club director and solicitor Maurice Watkins: "Eric wasn't too keen but he said 'OK, but I would like to say something'. Then we started drafting what he was going to say. He was scribbling on a bit of paper and he asked me 'what is the name of that big ship that catches fish'. I said 'that's a trawler Eric'. 'And the big bird that flies over the sea?'. 'A seagull'. Then he wrote it out and we had the famous saying.

    "I think I knew what he was getting at, as did quite a lot of other people once they had analysed it. But he didn't want me to explain it. He was quite adamant about that. He said 'I am going to say this but I don't want you to explain what I mean'. So, off he went."

  32. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Jon Champion calls the incident 'the beginning of the soap opera'.

  33. Join the debate at #KungFuCantona

    Get involved

    Christopher Freeman: I remember shouting & celebrating so much, I woke up the kids. He was sent off the weekend before too.

    DarkStrangerOnGreen: I remember being 10 yrs old and begging to stay up for MOTD to watch. We all tried to replicate it at school the next day!

  34. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    How big a story was this 20 years ago? The Sun ran 12 pages on it on the Friday...

  35. Text us on 81111

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    John from Sevenoaks: I was at the game, I was on the other side of the pitch, I remember thinking that it was a fight between the players, it was not until I was driving home and turned on the radio, that I had any idea what had occurred.

  36. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Daily Telegraph journalist and United fan Jim White on BBC Radio 5 live

    "I went to the court house and there was a sense of expectation. It was interesting how Eric Cantona held himself. It is not surprising his second career was as an actor.

    "He sensed it was a drama and he was at the centre of it. There was an aura about him that extended beyond the football pitch."

  37. In the dock

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    23 March 1995: Cantona faces assault charges at East Croydon Magistrates Court and pleads guilty. The magistrate tells him: "You are a high-profile figure. The only appropriate sentence is two weeks' imprisonment, forthwith."

    Eric Cantona arrives at East Croydon magistrates court with Ned Kelly (with moustache) alongside him
    Image caption: Cantona arrives at East Croydon magistrates court with Ned Kelly (with moustache) alongside him

    Club director and solicitor Maurice Watkins: "You could have heard a pin drop when the sentence was imposed. Then, as you can imagine, it was mayhem. Everybody was stunned. Even the prosecuting lawyer was very surprised at the decision of the bench because it ran counter to all the sentencing guidelines. One minute Eric was a free man, the next minute he was taken down to the cells. He was in the cells for three and a half hours."

    Former United head of security 'Ned' Kelly: "I think Eric was in a bit of shock. We all were. I followed him down the stairs with the prison wardens and we went in and sat down together in the cell. One of the old police officers said 'don't have the food in here; I'll go and get you something from down the road'. So I gave him some money and he went down to McDonald's and got some Big Macs and French fries so we ate that and had a good laugh about it.

    "I gave Eric my phone and he called his wife, and Marseille to tell his family. Then he said, 'I can't be bothered with this, I might be better if I just serve this 14 days and get it over and done with'. I said 'no way, wait until Maurice gets back'."

  38. Join the debate at #KungFuCantona

    Get involved

    Des Lynam

    Andrew Dolan: Remember watching TV highlights that night. You knew it was something serious when Des Lynam put his glasses on!

    David Allison: Listened on the way back from Salford to Harrogate on a school trip which took 13 hours due to snow. Never forget that night!

  39. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    What sort of fine would a player be looking at for a similar offence today? Luis Suarez was fined £40,000 by the Football Association after being found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra in 2011.

  40. The punishment is decided

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Sir Alex Ferguson and members of the United board - chief executive Martin Edwards, chairman of the PLC board Sir Roland Smith and director and solicitor Maurice Watkins - meet at the Alderley Edge Hotel that evening to determine the club's response.

    Ferguson: "We were unanimous that it had to be powerful enough to protect Manchester United's reputation and we agreed that we should impose a four-month suspension on Eric, which would rule him out for the rest of the season."

    United also fine Cantona £20,000. The FA subsequently summon him to a disciplinary hearing and extend the ban to nine months, until the end of September, and fine the player a further £10,000.

    Watkins: "I think the club acted properly in the way they handled it. Eric accepted the punishment we decided to impose. As you can imagine, there were all kinds of suggestions that the club should terminate his contract and all the rest of it. But the club felt that they had to stand by their player. That is why we were disappointed when, subsequently, the FA decided to heap on a greater punishment."

  41. Text us on 81111

    Mount Mulanje

    Alan the Somerset Wigan fan: My now wife and I had just climbed mt Mulanje in Malawi and heard about the Cantona kick on BBC World Service. It was major news there too!

  42. Get him on the bus

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Former United head of security 'Ned' Kelly: "We let everyone else go out to the coach then me and Eric came out together at the end. There were fans outside baying for blood but I was quite confident I could deal with it and you've got to remember Eric was 6ft 2in and from a rough area of Marseille - he could look after himself.

    "We were getting reports Manchester Airport was packed with press but we made contact with security who told the driver where to go. We got Eric into the car on the tarmac and drove him to the car park, where he got into his own car and drove home."

  43. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Former Manchester United defender Gary Pallister: "Eric was always the number one target for supporters around the country. It wasn't just players who tried to wind him up but fans felt as though they could do it as well.

    "Some of the abuse he got was terrible. Eventually it took its toll on him I think and it all came to a head that night. He was such a hate figure because he was such a good player."

  44. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Telegraph journalist and United fan Jim White on BBC Radio 5 live

    "One thing about the sending off, Alex Ferguson was really disappointed. Cantona looked to him and he completely blanked him. Ferguson thought it was an unprofessional thing to do. Particularly as his half-time team talk five minutes earlier was 'don't get provoked'."

    Reminds me of a similar story between Jose Mourinho and Mario Balotelli at Inter...

  45. Champion's team sheet

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Team Sheet

    Check this out - here's Jon Champion's team sheet from the night in question. Remarkable. Never has a simple 'S. Off 48' not quite told the full story.

  46. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Commentator Jon Champion

    "I got close enough to Sir Alex get the hairdryer. There was no way he (Alex Ferguson) was going on air to do interview. There was no way he had gathered the full enormity of what had happened. The attitude was "move along there is nothing to see here."

  47. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Eric Cantona was treated differently by Sir Alex Ferguson, it seems. Good man-management or blatant favouritism?

  48. The Hairdryer

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    David May

    An equaliser from Palace defender Gareth Southgate denies 10-man United victory. The away dressing room is ablaze with recriminations.

    United defender David May: "The manager is ripping heads off everyone... Big Pete (Schmeichel), Big Pally, myself, Sharpey, Paul Ince. He had a go at me for their equaliser. He said, 'who the hell was marking Gareth Southgate?'. I said 'Eric'. He turned round and said 'Eric, I am disappointed in you. You can't be doing those things'. I thought 'Is that it? Is that it?!' Any other player would have been given the hairdryer. I just got the hairdryer off the gaffer for not marking someone I shouldn't have been marking."

    Gary Pallister: "Eric was very subdued. He just sat quietly in the corner. He didn't really say anything. I think he understood the magnitude of what had happened. Everybody was trying to come to terms with how we were going to deal with it."

  49. Join the debate at #KungFuCantona

    Get involved

    Jeremy Stevens: 20 years ago. Unbelievable. I had a thumping head on the evening in question, having spent 3 hours on A Level Politics work!

    Let us know what you were doing on that dramatic night. Get in touch at #kungfucantona or on the BBC Sport Facebook page or BBC Sport's Google+ area.

    You can also text us on 81111 in the UK only - don't forget to say who you are and where you are texting from.

  50. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    An interesting aside from the 1994-95 season was that Crystal Palace went down that year with 48 points!

  51. In the dressing room

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Former United head of security 'Ned' Kelly: "Eric Cantona was sitting on the bench next to his stuff, very quiet, shirt off, thinking about what has gone on. It was dead silent, you could have cut the atmosphere with a knife. Sometimes you step back and realise you don't say anything."

  52. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Telegraph journalist and United fan Jim White on BBC Radio 5 live

    "At the time being in the fans' section none of us really knew what had happened until we went to the pub and watched the highlights on television.

    "If it happened now the prime minister would have an official statement on twitter in three minutes."

  53. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Commentator Jon Champion

    5 live graphic

    "My eyes stayed on Eric Cantona as he walked off the pitch. For 99.5 per cent of players you were safe not watching them, but he was the 0.5 percent. You knew in stress situations something might happen."

  54. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Telegraph journalist and Manchester United fan Jim White says he was at the opposite end of Selhurst Park to the incident and the away fans couldn't really see what was going on.

    They were in for a shock when they got the radio on in the car...

  55. Join the debate at #KungFuCantona

    Get involved

    Matthew Jones: Greatest ever foreign Premier League player? Cantona has got to be up there

    Dickson: He's a Man Utd legend - no doubt he brought the glory days to Man Utd. I strongly believe without him Sir Alex Ferguson might have been sacked

    Cantona and Ferguson
  56. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    It's very interesting hearing the original commentary back from Jon Champion from that night on 25 January 1995. As Eric Cantona jumped into the crowd, the first thing you hear is co-commentator Mark Bright saying "Oh my God!"

    Jon Champion has still got his team-sheet from that night, and has it with him in the studio tonight. Remarkable. His loft must be full to the rafters.

  57. The view from the terraces

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Eric Cantona

    Palace supporter Cathy Churchman: "All of a sudden he turned and looked back; I thought he was looking at me. I had no idea where this other guy [Simmons] had suddenly appeared from. There was this look on Cantona's face. His eyes were seething. You just knew at that point he was going to do something silly."

    Former United head of security 'Ned' Kelly: "This chap just came straight down the gangway and started screaming abuse at Eric. He was okay when the guy was effing and jeffing at him but I think he called his mother a 'French whore' and that was the turning point. The next thing I know Eric is over the barrier giving him a kung-fu kick and punches are flying."

    Churchman: "All hell broke loose as he jumped over the barrier. I can remember falling into my 15-year-old son and Eric's boot just brushing past my coat. Everyone looked at each other saying 'oh my God, what just happened' It was all over in seconds."

  58. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Daily Telegraph reporter Jim White, who was at the game that night, sums up the impact Eric Cantona had at Old Trafford.

    "It was an unexpected move when United signed Eric Cantona. Before the days of the January transfer window, he arrived in November and seemed to turn a team which hadn't quite managed to get to the top into a team of serial winners.

    "United fans liked to identify themselves through Cantona. You could pretend he was whatever you wanted him to be."

  59. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Commentator Jon Champion, who was at the game that night: "Eric Cantona was just about the top player in the nascent years of the premier League and he was a target. Opponents would try to wind him up and he played on the edge. That night he was pushed and pulled and he eventually just snapped.

    "We were open mouthed. We couldn't believe what we were seeing 20 yards in front of us. He had exploded and what followed is still vivid in many peoples' memories even two decades on.

    "The sheer violence and the raw nature of his response was amazing. There was a feeling that night that we had seen the last of Cantona in English football."

  60. Cantona sees red

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    In the 48th minute, Palace defender Richard Shaw comes into contact with Eric Cantona as he chases a punt from keeper Peter Schmeichel and the Frenchman retaliates with a petulant kick.

    Eric Cantona

    He is red carded and walks off down the side of the pitch, with United kitman Norman Davies escorting him towards the dressing rooms.

  61. Le Red mist

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Life wasn't all sunshine and rainbows for Eric Cantona at Manchester United.

    He had a history of disciplinary problems going back to his career in France - nothing major, punching a team-mate in the face, a three-month ban for a shocking tackle - and was well known for having 'a short fuse.'

    He was sent-off three times in the 1993-94 season and was soon to lose it again on the winter's night at Selhurst Park.

  62. UP AND RUNNING

    BBC Radio 5 live

    After a delay for the news - tune in now on BBC radio 5 live.

  63. Join the debate at #KungFuCantona

    Get involved

    Bruce Lee

    Sir Alex's Head: Cantona was better than Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Chuck Norris put Together - though don't let a Seagull near him

  64. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Luis Suarez bite

    In terms of off-the ball incidents Luis Suarez's bite(s) are probably the closest we have come to Eric Cantona's kung-fu kick in recent memory.

    In the age of social media and 24-hour news, how would a similar incident play out now? And would the sanctions be greater?

  65. Sign him up

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Eric Cantona
  66. TUNE IN NOW

    BBC Radio 5 live

    Our coverage on BBC Radio 5 live is just about to start. Tune in.

  67. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    That's right Paddy - before joining Leeds Cantona had a trial with Sheffield Wednesday, but manager Trevor Francis wanted another week to make up his mind and Cantona joined the men at Elland Road instead.

    Like Decca Records not signing the Beatles...

  68. Join the debate at #KungFuCantona

    Get involved

    Paddy Kenworthy: All this Cantona coverage reminds me how close Sheffield Wednesday were to signing him, and how stupid we were to let him go #SWFC

    Rammy: Twenty years ago it snowed like mad all day. Stuck on Manchester road all night listening to the radio !!!!

    Ray Hall: Cantona was the catalyst that kicked off one of the greatest periods of Man United's history, wish we had him now

    Get in touch at #kungfucantona pop on to the BBC Sport Facebook page or BBC Sport's Google+ area.

    You can also text us on 81111 in the UK only - don't forget to say who you are and where you are texting from.

  69. Best Cantona goal?

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Eric Cantona

    The chip against Sunderland, winners against Newcastle and Liverpool, walking through the Spurs defence single-handed - Eric Cantona scored some belters in England, no doubt about that.

    My personal favourite was this effort in the FA Cup against Wimbledon. Horrible kit, wonderful touch to control a dipping ball and then boom - into the corner.

    What's your favourite?

    Get in touch at #kungfucantona pop on to the BBC Sport Facebook page or BBC Sport's Google+ area.

    You can also text us on 81111 in the UK only - don't forget to say who you are and where you are texting from.

  70. Taking titles

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Eric Cantona

    But once Eric had found his feet, United soon powered to the top of the table and won the inaugural Premier League title in May 1993 by 10 points.

    A year later he led them to a double, adding the FA Cup with a 4-0 hiding of Chelsea at Wembley. Cantona scored two penalties.

    After league wins with Leeds in 1992 and Marseille in 1991 it was four title wins in a row for the enigmatic number seven.

    He was also named PFA player of the year. The best in the business?

  71. Cantona the catalyst

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Eric Cantona

    If you are a football fan aged 20 or under, trying to imagine Manchester United going 26 years without winning the league title is not an easy task.

    Under Sir Alex Ferguson the men from Old Trafford were eventually a dominant force. But when Eric Cantona took the M62 from Elland Road to join Ferguson's side in 1992 the title had been an elusive mistress for an entire generation.

    His impact was immediate. When Cantona scored his first United goal in December 1992 the club were below Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa and Norwich in the table.

    Yes - Blackburn, Villa and Norwich.

  72. Mid-90s nostalgia

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Noel Gallagher

    The year of 1995 was a great time to be alive in many ways.

    Oasis and Blur battled for the attentions of the CD-buying public and inspired me to take up the guitar, Toy Story, Dumb and Dumber and Die Hard with a Vengeance were keeping the cinemas ticking over, the average pint of bitter was on sale in your local pub (which was still a pub) for £1.47, and we had strikers like Eric Cantona, Sir Les Ferdinand, Alan Shearer, Robbie Fowler and Stan Collymore to enjoy every week.

    Celine Dion

    On the other hand Celine Dion and Robson & Jerome were selling millions of albums, the Krypton Factor AND Bullseye were both cancelled and there was no such thing (in my house, anyway) as the internet, on-demand TV, mobile phones, laptops, tablets, 24-hour shopping, digital radio...

    What on earth did we all do with our time? Speak to each other?

    Toy Story
  73. Join the debate at #kungfucantona

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Eric Cantona

    The Premier League's JFK moment. A footballing snapshot of moon landing proportions.

    Where were you when you learned of Eric Cantona's kung-fu kick? How shocked were you? Did you grow up idolising the Frenchman?

    Or could you not stand him? How good was he as a player? Where does he rank on your all-time list?

    Was he punished enough? Or should more have been done?

    So much to say - and here is the place to say it.

    Get in touch at #kungfucantona, pop on to the BBC Sport Facebook page or BBC Sport's Google+ area.

    You can also text us on 81111 in the UK only - don't forget to say who you are and where you are texting from.

  74. Ou est Cantona?

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Eric Cantona

    Who was Eric Cantona in January 1995?

    At the age of 28, Cantona was arguably the best player in the Premier League. He had joined Manchester United from champions Leeds in 1992 for £1.2m, in one of football's finest bargains of living memory.

    A striker for whom the word 'maverick' was invented, Cantona was a constant mystery on the pitch. Built like a targetman but possessing the touch of a painter, he had vision and awareness which marked him out from your average English forward of the day.

    He could also score a goal or two...

  75. Have your say

    Most dramatic moment?

    Martin Keown and Ruud van Nistelrooy

    What was the Premier League's most dramatic moment?

    You can vote on this page for your choice of the number one moment in the 22 years of the Premier League. Which will it be?

    Steven Gerrard's slip against Chelsea

    Ferguson and Kidd's halfway line celebrations in 1993

    Collymore scores late in 4-3 win over Newcastle

    Keown taunts Van Nistelrooy after penalty miss

    Paolo Di Canio pushes over referee Paul Alcock

  76. Have your say

    Most dramatic moment?

    Serio Aguero's title-winning goal for Manchester City

    What was the Premier League's most dramatic moment?

    You can vote on this page for your choice of the number one moment in the 22 years of the Premier League. Which will it be?

    David Beckham scores from halfway line

    Kevin Keegan 'I'd love it' rant

    Eric Cantona's kung-fu kick

    Sergio Aguero's last-minute goal wins title

    Luis Suarez bites Branislav Ivanovic

  77. Coming up on 5 live

    BBC Radio 5 live

    Tonight's 5 live special gets under way at 19:30 GMT as Mike Ingham and guests examine the incident, the fall out, and discuss Eric Cantona - the man and the player.

    The show features interviews with:

    The Crystal Palace manager at the time, Alan Smith.

    Manchester lawyer and director Maurice Watkins, who was tasked with defending Cantona.

    Former United defender Gary Pallister, who was on the pitch.

    Ned Kelly, former head of Manchester United security who spent time alone with Cantona following the sending off.

    And some of the fans from the famous picture of the kick itself.

    Unmissable. You can listen to the show right here.

  78. Post update

    Cantona's Kung-fu chaos

    Believe it or not, it is 20 years since Manchester United forward Eric Cantona lost his cool in one of the most memorable and shocking moments in Premier League history.

    The Frenchman had just been sent-off for kicking out at Crystal Palace defender Richard Shaw when he launched himself into the stands and attacked spectator Matthew Simmons.

    Why did he do it? How good was he in his day? How significant was that moment in the title race that year? Should he have been punished further? What do you remember about that night at Selhurst Park?

    In this page, and on a BBC radio 5 live special from 19:30 GMT, we shall attempt to answer some of those questions. Stay tuned.

  79. Everybody was kung-fu fighting

    Cast your mind back to Wednesday, 25 January 1995.

    Manchester United legend Matt Busby had just died, future pop sensation Harry Styles was just about to be born, John Major was Prime Minister and the bizarre Swedish barndance-techno of "Cotton Eye Joe" by Rednex was number one in the charts.

    Eric Cantona

    It's no wonder that Eric Cantona had had enough. Remember this?