Preorder, on sale 22nd October 2026. 

King Eric: Portrait of the Artist Who Changed English Football by Wayne Barton

New in paperback with freshly unearthed quotes from Cantona’s media interviews added

Eric Cantona arrived at Old Trafford in 1992 and breathed new life into football’s biggest club, starting an era of unprecedented success at Manchester United. One of France’s most prodigious talents, the charismatic Frenchman never quite found a home in football until he went to Manchester under the guardianship of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Cantona repaid Ferguson’s loyalty in spades, winning four Premier League titles in five years — the only black mark coming after Eric took football from the back pages to the front pages when he attacked a fan who was racially abusing him at Selhurst Park in 1995. Eric returned from a nine- month suspension to lead a new, young Manchester United to their second League and FA Cup double, inspiring talented youngsters such as David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes.

Now, three decades after the Frenchman’s starring role in the historic 1996 Double, ‘King Eric: Portrait of the Artist Who Changed English Football’
takes a meticulous look at that impact on a sporting and a cultural level, both at Manchester United and beyond. Numerous interviews, tireless research and in-depth analysis come together to form the quintessential story of the man who was voted Manchester United’s best ever player by fans.

Away from the field, Cantona was famous for his artistic nature and philosophical pronouncements, with his thoughts on seagulls following trawlers (or journalists following his every move) entering the footballing lexicon. Now respected Manchester United author Wayne Barton re-examines the life and legacy of a unique character who changed the landscape of English football forever.