LONG LIVE KING CANTONA!

In a year when yet more foreigners arrived in the Premiership, Manchester United said adieu to the most successful import of them all.

Five years after he had arrived on our shores, Eric Cantona set sail for France in his trawler with his haul of five championship and two FA Cup medals.

Cantona quit at the top after his performances, by his own high standards, were beginning to slip to the levels of mere mortals.

When he arrived from Leeds in a £1.2million deal in November 1992, he proved to be the catalyst that fired United to their first championship in 26 years.

The following season he was the inspiration behind their first Double success.

But in January 1995, came his infamous Kung-Fu attack on fan Matthew Simmons at Selhurst Park and he was banned until the end of September.

United finished runners-up in the league and the FA Cup that season and many believe they would have done the Double again had Cantona not been suspended.

He scored in his comeback against Liverpool at Old Trafford and his knack of netting vital goals at crucial times steered United to their second Double success.

Last season he helped United win their fourth title in five seasons and chairman Martin Edwards has no doubts about his contribution to the club's success.

``It's no coincidence that shortly after Eric's arrival we won the league for the first time in 26 years and have subsequently completed two Doubles - it was a magical time,'' he said.

For manager Alex Ferguson, Cantona was one of the best players he had worked with.

``Eric has had a huge impact on the development of our young players,'' he said.

``He has been a model professional in the way he conducted himself and he has been a joy to manage.''

Sir Bobby Charlton, himself a legend at Old Trafford, feels he brought real class to the side.

``Eric has gone now and we are very sorry that he has,'' he said.

``We can never thank him enough for what he did when he was here. He gave Manchester United something that had been missing for a long time - star quality.

``We were delighted to have him here and we still wish him well in the future.''