Manchester United legend Eric Cantona has revealed that he wanted to head the club’s football operations and tried to do so.
In an engaging interview with the Athletic’s Adam Crafton, the Frenchman reveals that he wanted to become United’s ‘President of Football’.
Cantona told Crafton: “I met him [Ed Woodward] a few times.”
But they didn’t accept it. [Cantona’s offer to return to #mufc as “President of Football”] But they didn’t want me to be the president of the club! They didn’t want me! And the fans should know that I went and traveled to Manchester to give them a chance to succeed for decades to come. And they didn’t want it.”
However, the 56-year-old did not hold back in his unsuccessful bid to become a major figure at Old Trafford.
He insisted that, even if it wasn’t him personally, the Red Devils needed to secure the services of a person who understood football and would lead such matters at the club.
He reiterated in his interview the vitality of someone ‘who knows about football’.
Cantona spoke at length about former United executive vice president Woodward, a man whose reputation was sullied in the eyes of many within the fan base.
He praised Woodward for excelling in marketing, but pointed out his limitations from a sporting standpoint, an issue that continued to be raised by fans for many years, but fell on deaf ears.
On the general structure that should govern a United club caliberCantona suggested that there should be a president who is the boss of everything.
Below the president, there should be a president of marketing and a president of soccer who would have different roles and responsibilities.
Once again, he threw his hat into the ring, in an impassioned plea for the role of football chairman. He endorsed himself to succeed in said capacity, saying that he would put everything on hold for five years to concentrate on his duties.
