2) Eric Cantona
Arguably the first truly impressive foreign import into the Premier League, Eric Cantona was something really special even before he signed on the dotted line for the Red Devils from Leeds United, but the few years he spent there were surely his most marvelous.
A different sort, Cantona exuded a special aura of je ne sais quoi whenever he took to the field. Whether it was the way he flicked his collar up, played with an air of superiority or scored some wickedly extraordinary goals, he had the complete package of surreal awesomeness tied up in a neat little red, white and blue bow. He was something else – and he knew it, too.
Joining in November 1992, it didn’t take him very long to have an impact as he acquired a penchant for scoring some really important goals, as well as playing a vital role in securing their first-ever league and cup double in 1994. In all, he amassed nine major honours with the club, scoring 82 goals in the process of his enigmatic displays as he wowed spectators who, whether a fan or not, often couldn’t help but applaud his genius.
It was a stroke of genius to bring him on board because Le Roi provided them with the necessary flair to conjure magic at key moments and although his time was brief enough, it set the tone for their long-standing, majestic march to become the best club in the country.
