Fans get kick to see Cantona in the flesh

MORE THAN a decade since he last kicked a ball in the Premiership or a Crystal Palace fan in anger, Eric Cantona’s lustre remains as undimmed as ever.

Famed for his footballing genius with Manchester United on the pitch and his gnomic references to seagulls and trawlers off it, Cantona’s legend has survived his decision to retire prematurely at the age of just 30 in 1997.

The collar was down but the strut was still apparent when Cantona arrived at the Light House Cinema in Dublin yesterday for the Irish premiere of Looking for Eric, a film made by the director Ken Loach, who won the Palme D'Or at Cannes in 2006 for the Irish civil war epic The Wind That Shakes the Barley.

Hundreds of Manchester United fans, some of whom weren’t born by the time Cantona had retired, turned up for the premiere chanting the familiar refrain “Ooh-ah, Cantona” and waving those blue, white and red flags with Cantona’s image in the middle.

“It still a surprise for me, especially the young who weren’t born. Maybe they like me as an actor, no?” said Cantona, wearing a thick beard as befits the image of the footballer turned philosopher. Cantona indulged them all signing autographs and a scooter with his image on it owned by United fanatic Matt Farrell.

He also met former taoiseach and Manchester United fan Bertie Ahern, who recounted at length many of the vital goals Cantona got when he seemed to be carrying Manchester United single-handedly to Premier League titles.

“He’s one of the great heroes, particularly in those seasons when we were just scraping home 1-0 at times. He’s a great character,” said Mr Ahern.

Looking for Eric, the story of a depressed postman who seeks inspiration and life lessons from his former hero, is a gentle send-up of Cantona's god-like status with fans in a film where he plays himself.

“Sometimes we forget that you are just a man,” postman Eric (played by actor Steve Evets) tells Cantona in the movie. “I’m not just a man, I’m Cantona,” he replies.

Scriptwriter Paul Laverty, who praised Cantona’s humility and ability to laugh at himself, coined a few Cantonesque aphorisms such as “he that sows thistles shall reap prickles” that the great man himself was happy to repeat on screen.

“I’m very proud and glad that the project developed this part of myself. I’m not only that, but I’m a bit like that. It’s been a great joy,” Cantona explained.

Loach said Cantona brought the same qualities to the screen as he did to the football pitch. “He acted like he played football – with imagination, flair and spontaneity,” Loach said.