Being met off the plane by Jean Tigana, fellow-product of the Caillols junior team in Marseille.Low points The club lose faith in him for missing training. Cantona puts his absence down to the sudden death of his pet dog Balrine.The world on Eric "You must be on your guard against his acts of truancy" - Didier Couecou, assistant to Bordeaux president Eric on the world "I don't have any regrets about what I did. He who has regrets cannot look at himself in the mirror."737 235.0 50Montpellier 1989-90Record 33 matches, 10 goals High points Has a run of five goals in three matches for France. Helps Montpellier to victory in the French Cup.Low points After a match at Lille, with Montpellier struggling in the league, Cantona gets into a fight with team-mate Jean-Claude Lemoult, throwing his boots in his face. Montpellier suspend him.The world on Eric "To condemn a person for the sole reason that he is different bears but one name: intolerance" - L'Equipe Eric on the world "You need a particular talent only to want to please.

I don't have this talent."737 235.0 50Marseille 1990-91Record 18 matches, 8 goals High points Back in favour with Marseille ("They had been forced to appreciate me"), Cantona scores seven goals in opening 12 games of season.Then injured for three months.Low points Arrival, during his absence with injury, of new manager - Raymond Goethals, who takes over from Franz Beckenbauer. Cantona does not hit it off with Goethals and is on his way again - to Nimes.The world on Eric "He dares to say things that sometimes people don't care to say" - Gerard Houillier, manager of France Eric on the world "I would never have any respect for Goethals, because he never had any respect for his players."737 235.0 50Nimes 1991-92Record 17 matches, 2 goals High points Leaving.Low points Banned for three games for throwing the ball in a referee's face. Suspended for two months after attacking an opponent and announces his retirement. On French version of Spitting Image, showing himself red cards.The world on Eric "You can't be judged like any other player.

Behind you is a trail of sulphur" - Jacques Riolaci, president of the disciplinary commission Cantona was sent before Eric on the world "Idiot Idiot. Idiot" - Cantona to each member of the disciplinary committee 737 235.0 50Leeds Utd 1992Record 15 matches, 3 goals HIGH points The two flicks and right-foot volley with which he scored against Chelsea. Became cult figure with fans who he told "Why I love you, I don't know why, but I love you", words which became used in a pop song. The single failed in the charts but sold well in Yorkshire.Low points Fined £1,000 by the FA for spitting at a supporter. Dropped for game at QPR in October, reacts with a fit of pique and, rather than watch the game, returns to France. Fall-out with Howard Wilkinson, the Leeds manager, soon follows: sold to Manchester United for £1.2m.The world on Eric "His comments were rather strange and incoherent in my opinion" - Howard Wilkinson Eric on the world "Leeds will always have a place in my heart, for it is there that I recaptured my taste for football."737 235.0 50Manchester Utd 1992- Record 43 matches, 21 goals HIGH points League championship of 1993, the Double of 1994 (two goals in FA Cup final). Player of the Year, 1994, the first foreigner to win the award.

Wins adoration of United fans like no player has since George Best.Low points Sent off against Galatasaray in the European Cup, in a pre-season friendly, and three times in the Premiership Only one of them is followed by an assault on a spectator. Left his mark on the World Cup when expelled from the Rose Bowl press box for throwing a punch at an official.The world on Eric "I think if he is here today, tremendous. But if he is gone tomorrow, we just say, `Good luck, Eric, thanks for playing for us'" - Alex Ferguson Eric on the world "I cannot leave, because I cannot live without Manchester United.". Newcastle United 3 Kitson 41, 46, 72 Swansea City 0THE MEMORY of Andy Cole is already fading fast on Tyneside. Paul Kitson's sparkling hat-trick which, on another day, might have been five or six, had all the hallmarks of a natural goal-poacher and his sprightly awareness inside the box was simply too much for the Second Division side to handle.The Newcastle fans are beginning to appreciate that Kitson differs from Cole in his capacity to create space outside the area. Swansea played into his hands by defending deeply, allowing Kitson time and space to collect and distribute the ball before attacking the box.Yet the pattern of the tie could have been very different had Swansea profited from their early pressure. It was the classic Cup scenario with the Premiership side needing a scare to spark them into life.Perhaps that fright came too early for Swansea - when Martin Hayes, the former Arsenal and Celtic player, was played clean through after just 30 seconds.

His tame shot dribbled into Pavel Srnicek's arms but the Newcastle goalkeeper was tested again minutes later by a header by Steve Torpey.The native North-easterner John Cornforth orchestrated the Swansea midfield, and his supply to the winger John Hodge troubled the full-back Robbie Elliott. The visitors' imposing defence held firm initially but gradually the home side's nerves began to ebb and their customary slick attacking play became more evident. Swansea found themselves often hurriedly forced to seek the respite of Torpey.A Kitson volley flashed wide, Keith Gillespie dazzled intermittently and the first goal came when Peter Beardsley drove a flat cross from wide on the right, Kitson beating the advancing Roger Freestone to glance his header into an empty goal.Srnicek parried superbly seconds before the interval which was used by Kevin Keegan to deliver some home truths, feeling a one-goal lead flattered his men.This became evident as Swansea were stunned again in the early seconds of the second half when Kitson bravely beat a despairing defender to head home a Marc Hottiger cross. That goal effectively killed the game, but the best was to come from Kitson and Newcastle.Beardsley, who had been strangely silent in the first 45 minutes, suddenly sprang to life but wasted Kitson's freedom in his effort to conjure up the spectacular. However, Swansea were beginning to realise that their dreams were not to materialise and tetchy bickering greeted more wayward passing.Cornforth drifted out of the game and, as a direct result, so too did Hayes and Hodge on the flanks.