Cantona07
18-01-2000, 02:29:AM
England: News
Monday, January 17, 11:28pm London Time
Cantona in the running for star role Down Under
By John Greechan
Manchester United legend Eric Cantona could return to competitive football - with
audacious Australian side Sydney Olympic.
The Aussie league leaders have made contact with Cantona's agents and are
confident of landing the man just named United's player of the century. The
French forward, now 33, is living in Barcelona and has been working on his film
and television career since his shock retirement in the summer of 1997.
But he has stayed fit, even playing for two months last year with the tiny Saint
Pierroise team on Reunion Island in the Pacific, and he may consider a short-term
contract aimed at boosting the profile of the game Down Under.
Coach Branko Culina signed former Liverpool striker Ian Rush on a similar deal
before Christmas and would love to have Cantona in place for the Australian Final
Series - a play-off among the top six clubs - just prior to the Olympics.
Culina, whose team draw regular crowds of 10,000, said: 'We've made contact
with Eric's representatives and they told us he would be interested.
'They've told us to put it all down on paper. We've done that and we're just awaiting
a response. We're very hopeful.
'The two ideal times to get him would be either just before or just after the
Olympics, when soccer is going to get a big show.
'We would love to sign him for the Final Series. It would be like Vasco da Gama
signing Romario and Edmundo for the World Club Championships.
'Ian Rush was only with us for a couple of weeks but the interest generated was
enormous. Eric would be an even bigger hit.' Cantona fended off competition from
George Best to win the title of United's top player of the 20th Century in a poll of
fans on the club's website.
More than 24,000 voted and Cantona, who won two Doubles during his Old
Trafford years, outpointed his Northern Irish rival by 49 per cent to 37.
Monday, January 17, 11:28pm London Time
Cantona in the running for star role Down Under
By John Greechan
Manchester United legend Eric Cantona could return to competitive football - with
audacious Australian side Sydney Olympic.
The Aussie league leaders have made contact with Cantona's agents and are
confident of landing the man just named United's player of the century. The
French forward, now 33, is living in Barcelona and has been working on his film
and television career since his shock retirement in the summer of 1997.
But he has stayed fit, even playing for two months last year with the tiny Saint
Pierroise team on Reunion Island in the Pacific, and he may consider a short-term
contract aimed at boosting the profile of the game Down Under.
Coach Branko Culina signed former Liverpool striker Ian Rush on a similar deal
before Christmas and would love to have Cantona in place for the Australian Final
Series - a play-off among the top six clubs - just prior to the Olympics.
Culina, whose team draw regular crowds of 10,000, said: 'We've made contact
with Eric's representatives and they told us he would be interested.
'They've told us to put it all down on paper. We've done that and we're just awaiting
a response. We're very hopeful.
'The two ideal times to get him would be either just before or just after the
Olympics, when soccer is going to get a big show.
'We would love to sign him for the Final Series. It would be like Vasco da Gama
signing Romario and Edmundo for the World Club Championships.
'Ian Rush was only with us for a couple of weeks but the interest generated was
enormous. Eric would be an even bigger hit.' Cantona fended off competition from
George Best to win the title of United's top player of the 20th Century in a poll of
fans on the club's website.
More than 24,000 voted and Cantona, who won two Doubles during his Old
Trafford years, outpointed his Northern Irish rival by 49 per cent to 37.