Cantona to open Reds clinic in HK
Former French star Eric Cantona will make a rare appearance in Hong Kong on Monday as he helps open a new Manchester United soccer school here - the first of its kind in Asia.
Cantona, who has never played in Hong Kong despite Manchester United touring Asia in 1997, will be a special guest at the press conference to be held at the Hong Kong Football Club.
The controversial Frenchman is considered one of the all-time greats of Manchester United, but the striker has not been far away from controversy. Recently he told a Portuguese TV station: 'I am French but I was supporting England I was sad Portugal won - for me that should have been the final.'
It is understood that Cantona still nurses a grudge after he was kicked off the French team after scoring 19 goals in 45 games.
'It's my country but I don't want to know about France - I was born there but I feel English. [The French] are arrogant and selfish,' he said.
Cantona ended his footballing career at Manchester United where he won four Premiership titles in five years, including two league and cup doubles. He joined Leeds United on his arrival in England in 1992 before making a controversial move to Old Trafford.
The Frenchman was named in the top 50 European players of the past 50 years and was named by Pele as one of the top 100 living players in the world.
United manager Alex Ferguson considered him the best player he had the pleasure of working with. However, Cantona earned worldwide condemnation over his kung fu-style attack on a fan in 1995 after being sent off by the referee.
United suspended the striker for four months and fined him GBP20,000 and FA added another five months and a GBP10,000 fine.
Cantona's fiery temper has got him into trouble before. In 1987, he punched his own goalkeeper at Auxerre in the French League, leaving the goalkeeper with a black eye. He was also suspended by Marseille for kicking a ball into the crowd and throwing his shirt at the referee after being substituted.
