Manchester United legend Eric Cantona has been selected as the recipient of the 2019 UEFA President’s Award.
Cantona will join an illustrious list of previous winners, including Eusebio, Alfredo Di Stefano and Paolo Maldini, and becomes the third former United star to receive the honour after Sir Bobby Charlton and David Beckham, who was presented with the award in 2018.
UEFA said the award ‘recognises outstanding achievements, professional excellence and exemplary personal qualities.’
And UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, who selected Cantona for the award, paid a glowing tribute to the 53-year-old.
“This award not only recognises his career as a player of the highest calibre, but also honours him for the person he is – a man who refuses compromise, who stands up for his values, who speaks his mind and in particular puts his heart and his soul into supporting the causes he believes in,” Ceferin said.
Cantona will be presented with the award in Monaco on Thursday, where the Champions League group stage draw is due to take place.
The Frenchman arrived at Old Trafford in 1992 from Leeds United and was credited with turning the fortunes of United around.
He scored 82 goals in 182 games and helped the club win the Premier League in his first season, which was also the club’s first title for 26 years. In fact, United only failed to win the league in one of Cantona’s five seasons at the club, before his shock retirement at the age of 30 in 1997.
It's an illustrious list Cantona is joining when he collects his UEFA award
1998: Jacques Delors (European Commission, France)
1999: No award
2000: Guy Roux (France)
2001: Juan Santisteban (Spain)
2002: Sir Bobby Robson (England)
2003: Paolo Maldini (Italy)
2004: Ernie Walker (Scotland)
2005: Frank Rijkaard (Netherlands)
2006: Wilfried Straub (Germany)
2007: Alfredo Di Stéfano (Spain)
2008: Sir Bobby Charlton (England)
2009: Eusébio (Portugal)
2010: Raymond Kopa (France)
2011: Gianni Rivera (Italy)
2012: Franz Beckenbauer (Germany)
2013: Johan Cruyff (Netherlands)
2014: Josef Masopust (Czech Republic)
2015: No award
2016: No award
2017: Francesco Totti (Italy)
2018: David Beckham (England)
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