Manchester Utd soccer legend Eric Cantona set for debut album

Sacre bleu, football icon Eric Cantona is not giving up on his music dream having confirmed a debut album is coming in March. Perfect Imperfection reflects Cantona’s passionate anti-establishment ideals. The enigmatic star previously compared himself to Van Gogh and told Man Utd fans: “I play in this big circus which is this wonderful world. We have to play with it. They play with us so we have to play with them.”

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C’est chouette, King Eric takes on the charts(Image: )

Man Utd legend Eric Cantona is set to release his first studio album, Perfect Imperfection later this year.

The French footballer, who won four Premier League titles under manager Sir Alex Ferguson, pivoted to music a few years ago and embarked on a sell out UK tour in support of his first EP, I’ll Make My Own Heaven back in 2023 which was visited by many of his ex team mates.

Now King Eric has unveiled details of a full 11-track set which will land March 13, and first single, On Se Love – a tender, intimate ballad that brings Cantona’s unique musical voice to the forefront – is out now.

Some giggled at the idea of Cantona becoming a singer when he first got on stage, but the Gallic star insists it’s no different to kicking a ball.

As enigmatic and intense as he was at Old Trafford Cantona explained: “I always performed and always played. I play football, I play as an actor as a singer now I play with music and words, I’m a kid I just want to play in front of people, to feel this adrenalin this is my job.”

The legendary former athlete has always loved music and for him, it is an extension of his overall work, an extension of his absolute need to express himself, just like theatre, cinema, painting, poetry and photography.

Song titles on the album like Droigts (Rights), We’ll Believe In Ourselves and Avoir Le Choix (To have the Choice) reflect Cantona’s passionate anti-establishment ideals.

There are echoes of other famous chanteurs in Eric’s brooding vocals – the growl of Tom Waits, the jazzy poetry of Serge Gainsbourg and even latter period Bryan Ferry when he whistles.

Nine of the album’s eleven songs were written and composed by Cantona himself, and the other two are collabs with Johan Dalgaard (Johnny Hallyday), and Gaëtan Roussel.

Music has always been major part of his life since he discovered the Doors as a teenager, but it’s Cantona’s parents who are really responsible for his artistic vision.

He explained: “My father is a pointer, 82 years old, he doesn’t sell, because he doesn’t want to, but he’s a very good painter. My mother doesn’t paint or make music but she is artist, she spoke to animals and flowers every day – she is a poet. My father always gives us this sense of observation of the world, ‘ah look at this light, look at this colour’. We have been lucky to have the parents we have my brother and me.”

And Gallic star channels all the greats from every art form telling the Sodarjerker podcast: “I learned the life of Van Gogh, all the people that we think are crazy…society killed him because he is in another world, I love these kind of people.

“I think we have to be brave or crazy enough for a footballer to become an actor or an actor to become singer. I play in this big circus which is this wonderful world. We have to play with it. They play with us so we have to play with them.”

Perfect Imperfection follows the sold-out success of Cantona’s Cantona Sings Eric tour, including a performance at London’s O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire. On stage the former footballer appeared alone, accompanied only by piano and cello. The Daily Star caught his first live performance in London and remarked: “his range is limited but there’s an intensity which is captivating and he’s clearly lost to the music”.

Eric’s debut EP and live album have surpassed one million streams. Perfect Imperfection is now available to pre-order and will be released on digital, CD and vinyl formats.

ALBUM TRACKLIST: 1. Avoir le choix (co-written with Johan Dalgaard)

2. On Se Love

3. Let’s Hope

4. Perfect Imperfection (co-written with Johan Dalgaard)

5. Droigts (composed by Gaëtan Roussel)

6. Les Déchirures

7. We’ll Believe In Ourselves

8. Que Je Travestis

9. We Drive

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10. Of The Sun

11. À La Gorge Des Loups

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