Sport

Eric Cantona becomes latest co-owner of FC United

'Eric the King' is now a co-owner of the fan-formed phoenix club.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 7th April 2025

Former French footballer and Man United legend Eric Cantona has become the latest co-owner of local non-league club FC United of Manchester.

The 58-year-old ex-Leeds United forward and Red Devil retired from the sport in 1997 at the age of 30 before going on to be involved in acting, art, music and more in the nearly three decades since.

He even released his debut EP and played live at two much-loved Manchester venues – more than fitting of his own iconic status.

Cantona does still dip his toe back in the pool every now and again, being spotted at the Manchester derby on Sunday, but before that put some extra shine on the Northern Premier League side’s 1-1 draw against Mickleover on Saturday by becoming an official FC United member and co-owner.

Writing in the caption on social media, ‘Eric the King’ said: “Proud new member of FC United with the whole Cantona family. Join FC United of Manchester, it’s just 25 pounds.

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As you can see in the short clip, the enigmatic jack-of-all-trades went on to say, “The Cantona family, we are all members of United FC.

“All the people from all around the world should be members of [FC] United because it’s a great club.”

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He added that despite still being a relatively young team, they have a “great history”, as well as expressing a level of admiration for their core principles.

For anyone still not up to speed two decades on, FC United is the spiritual phoenix club of Manchester United, founded back in 2005 by those supporters who were against the initial leveraged buyout by the Glazer family.

Their home at Broadhurst Park in Moston was also the site of the latest ‘Glazers Out’ protest, as both fan bases still naturally overlap quite heavily. Safe to say pre-takeover figures like Cantona, who has been vocal on many contemporary issues threatening the sport, is still plenty popular among their fans.

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This isn’t the first time the man behind the infamous kung-fu kick in 1995 has shown his support for the non-league outfit, having raffled shirts and signed films to help raise funds in the past.

He also gave an interview in an official matchday programme back in 2021 and will now be helping increase the club’s reputation and wider profile in the years to come.

Although he now lives in Lisbon these days, he is still a semi-regular visitor to Greater Manchester, having frequented his former home on numerous occasions during a collaborative exhibition with local artist Michael Browne.

If it wasn’t already abundantly clear, he still holds this city firmly in his heart.

Man United legend Eric Cantona stuns Manchester artists with surprise visit to GRIT Studios
His passion for art is arguably even stronger than his feelings for football – at least the modern game, anyway.

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Featured Images — FC United (screenshot via X)/TNT Sports (screenshot via YouTube)

Sport

Pep Guardiola says Manchester United fans should be ‘ashamed’ after ‘sick’ chant

Danny Jones Danny Jones Pep Guardiola says Man United fans should be ashamed of Phil Foden mum chant

Man City manager Pep Guardiola has condemned the Man United fans who began what has been described as a ‘sick’ chant during this weekend’s Manchester derby.

It was a forgettable outing for both sides of the city after a game where a lack of quality in the final third ultimately led to a bore draw at Old Trafford.

The result may not have been how Kevin De Bruyne would have wanted his final derby day to pan out, but it ended up being an even more disappointing day for Phil Foden after he was directly targeted with a chant about his mother.

Speaking in the post-match press conference, having already made a point of consoling him on the pitch after the full-time whistle, Guardiola said it displayed “a lack of class” from the home support.

Although the Catalan coach added the caveat that “it’s not United, it’s the people [instead]” and does happen all over the world, he still questioned the need to draw family members into chanting.

Described by many online as abuse, he went on to state that those involved “should be ashamed” and simply showed a lapse in “integrity” from those who continued well into the second half.

Foden himself could be seen reacting to the chants during the game, giving the crowd a sarcastic thumbs up and then swinging his arm upwards as if to ask for them to keep it up.

It would have no doubt stirred plenty of motivation in the 24-year-old Stopfordian, but he was ultimately subbed off just before the hour mark to a further chorus of jeers and looked to be somewhat limping down the tunnel after all was said and done – again, with the chants about his mum continuing.

Striker Troy Deeney told talkSPORT that it is merely “part of the game, unfortunately”, and United legend Gary Neville still criticised both sides for being too friendly both before and after what is supposed to be a fierce rivalry.

Is he right?

Though an arm around the shoulder from Pep in the immediate aftermath served as a touching gesture and consolation for Foden following a difficult evening, the England international has so far refused to comment on the treatment from the opposition supporters afterwards.

If anything, his subsequent post on social media was a standard but defiant one, simply writing: “We keep going.”

Despite struggling to hit the same heights he did last season and has shown in spells over recent years, former City defender Micah Richards still believes we’ll see a “better” Phil Foden when team talisman De Bruyne leaves at the end of the season.

You can watch the highlights from the game down below.

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Featured Images — BeanymanSports/Sky Sports (screenshots via YouTube)

Sport

Kevin De Bruyne confirms he is leaving Manchester City

Danny Jones Danny Jones Kevin De Bruyne leaving Man City

One of the Premier League’s best-ever players and a true Manchester City legend, Kevin De Bruyne, has confirmed he will soon be leaving the club.

Announced in a series of emotional social media posts on Friday, 4 April, the brilliant Belgian footballer will be calling time on his career at the Etihad Stadium come the end of this season.

Having spent a decade in the iconic blue of Man City, De Bruyne will undoubtedly go down as one of their all-time greats, having helped them to their first Champions League trophy during the Treble-winning year and a record four consecutive Premier League titles – of which he’s won six in total.

English football won’t be the same without him.

As you can see in the lengthy message shared on his social media, ‘King Kev’ informed City supporters that this current campaign will be his last in their colours, writing: “Every story comes to an end, but this has definitely been the best chapter.”

The 33-year-old, who has suffered from increasing injury problems over the last couple of years, goes on to say that “Nothing about this is easy to write, but as football players we all know this day eventually come. That day is here – and you deserve to hear it from me first.”

In what is clearly a heartfelt and just as difficult a post for him to write as it is for fans to hear, he added: Football led me to all of you – and this city […] This will always be our HOME.”

Blues all over Greater Manchester and beyond will be heartbroken, but many won’t be completely shocked given his in-and-out

It’s a sad day to be a Cityzen, no doubt.

Speaking in the pre-match press conference ahead of the Manchester derby, manager Pep Guardiola said: “In the Premier League, he is one of the greatest midfielders in this country and top of the Club. Great, if not the greatest.

Although his talent will never come into question, it’s no secret that he’s struggled to stay fit and be as prolific a creator in Guardiola‘s side – though this is largely in contrast to his ridiculously high levels and just how much of a talisman he has been over the past 10 years.

Starting just 19 matches this season, he’s still managed to score four goals and register seven assists, but a recurring hamstring problem has seen game time limited.

Regardless, when he’s at his best, there’s no question about it: he’s the best player in the Premier League, and the club have promised to pay fitting tributes to their generational number 17.

With 106 goals to his name in 413 appearances – the first midfielder since Colin Bell to reach over a century – across all competitions for City, not to mention 118 assists in the Premier League alone, he’s been one of the most creative and, frankly, ingenious players on the planet for more than a decade.

Whether you’re a Blue, a Red or otherwise, no one can deny the joy of watching him play football. Thanks for the memories, KdB.

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Featured Images — Brad Tutterow (via Flickr)/soccer.ru (via WikiCommons) Kevin De Bruyne (via X)

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