Eric Cantona, Roy Keane inducted into Premier League Hall of Fame

 

Manchester United legends Eric Cantona and Roy Keane were inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame on Tuesday. The duo joined the likes of Alan Shearer and Thierry Henry in the iconic list which was started last month.

Cantona joined Manchester United from Leeds in 1992, under the managerial tenure of Sir Alex Ferguson. He went on to win four Premier League titles in five seasons with the Red Devils.

“I am very happy and very proud, but at the same time I am not surprised,” said Cantona.

“I would’ve been surprised not to be elected. I have been lucky to play in this team, with wonderful players, a wonderful manager and wonderful fans.”

The 54-year-old scored 70 goals in 156 Premier League appearances for Manchester United and went on to announce his retirement in 1997. He had also won the old First Division title with Leeds in the 1991-92 season.

However, the Frenchman had some blots in his otherwise memorable career. He is infamous for launching a “kung-fu” kick at a fan after being sent off in a match against Crystal Palace, in the year 1995. Cantona was handed a nine-month ban from football following that incident as well.

Irish international Roy Keane is another tall figure in Manchester United’s rich legacy. He led the Red Devils to seven seven Premier League titles during his twelve-season stint with the club. But the club and he parted ways in 2005 by mutual consent.

“I feel very lucky to be inducted but I’ve only been inducted because of the players I’ve played with,” Keane said.

Keane and Cantona are just two of the six more players who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame this week. Their selection has been made from a 23-member shortlist, which was made based on the combined number of votes from the public and a Premier League panel.