CANTONA An Evening With Eric Cantona

One of the most influential footballers of all time takes to the stage next year for a handful of selected UK dates.

Eric Cantona is known not just for his skilful footwork and adept acting skills but also his enigmatic comments. He always has something to say - and he never disappoints.

Indeed, his reputation for the bon mot has merely added to the lustre of the man that Manchester United supporters still call The King. (They even have their own Cantona song to regale him with whenever he visits the ground - and still regularly sing it when he doesn’t.)

To expect the evening to revolve round football and the inside stories from the clubs he’s played for will be par for the course. Eric will discuss his favourite players and why, the reason he retired at the peak of his career and what it was about Manchester that he loved. He’ll talk about what it was like making the Ken Loach movie, Looking For Eric.

But Eric Cantona promises to deliver much more. He’ll spill the beans (he’s just not sure yet which ones) and then some. He has lots of stories to tell about his five years at Manchester United with Sir Alex Ferguson and will be looking back at his United career and talking about what the big goals (on screen during the show) meant to him.

Generally considered to be Sir Alex Ferguson’s master signing, Eric Cantona is thought to be the missing link that transformed Manchester United into the best team of the premier league to date. He became the most popular United player of all time and many of his old football friends are expected to attend the shows

It has taken five years for promoters A1 Sporting Speakers to persuade Eric to do the shows but now the star says he feels the time is right.

Promoter Terry Baker of A1 said he was thrilled that Eric was returning to Britain - “Eric’s career has been truly remarkable and we’re delighted we can give fans the opportunity to spend time with the man himself. It will be a unique insight into one of the greatest players the game has ever known.”

With every performance taking the form of an hour’s informal interview each date promises to be informative, revealing and compellingly original – a must for football fans everywhere.