Former Leeds United manager Howard Wilkinson’s decision to sell Eric Cantona to Manchester United is now regarded as one of the great transfer follies.
Eric Cantona went on to cement his name as one of the all-time greats at Old Trafford. However, he was a firm favourite at Elland Road before his departure.
The enigmatic Frenchman joined Leeds from Nimes for a fee of £100,000 in 1992, as the Whites challenged for the title under legendary manager Howard Wilkinson.
However, Cantona and the famously strict former Leeds United manager never quite clicked, with their styles clashing at times.
Wilkinson eventually elected to allow Cantona to leave, joining Leeds’ arch-rivals Manchester United for a cut-price fee of just £1.5 million.
Cantona played his last game for Leeds on this day (10th November) in 1992, enduring a miserable night as Leeds crashed out of the League Cup against Watford.
Eric Cantona endures ‘miserable night’ in final Leeds United appearance
When Leeds arrived at Vicarage Road on an autumnal night in 1992, no one at the ground knew that the League Cup tie would be Cantona’s last appearance for Leeds.
However, Cantona had a difficult night as Leeds slipped to a 2-1 defeat, part of a challenging season which saw them slump to a 17th-place finish as defending First Division champions.
The Watford Free Observer delighted in what they described as a “miserable night” for the Frenchman, as Cantona missed several chances to score.
In the 17th minute, Cantona found himself in acres of space, running through on goal unopposed. “Earlier in the season, Cantona would have picked up Strachan’s ball, strolled past Perry Suckling, slotted the ball home and still have had time to sink a café au lait before the Watford defence caught up,” the Free Observer wrote.
“But on Tuesday the Hornets were snapping at his heels, Perry Suckling stood up well and Cantona shot straight at him from the edge of the box.”
The Daily Telegraph went on to report that Cantona missed a second-half header which, “appeared to shake Leeds’ confidence,” as they soon fell 2-0 behind.
A late Gary McAllister goal offered Leeds some hope, but they could not find an equaliser as their League Cup hopes, and Cantona’s Leeds career, came to an abrupt end.
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Howard Wilkinson’s decision to sell Eric Cantona to Manchester United proved disastrous
Before November was finished, Cantona was no longer a Leeds United player after his relationship with Wilkinson fell apart irreparably.
Cantona was dropped for Leeds’ next game against Arsenal, with the Daily Express reporting that his relationship with Wilkinson then completely broke down when the Frenchman failed to report for treatment, after declaring he had a groin strain.
Speaking to the Daily Express after Cantona’s departure was announced, a bullish Wilkinson declared: “During my time at Leeds, there have been some players who have left the club and the wisdom of their departure has been questioned. But I would suggest subsequent events have supported my decision.”
Sadly for Leeds and Wilkinson, four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, three Charity Shields and one FAW Footballer of the Year award suggest that Wilkinson may have got that decision wrong.
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