Éric Cantona is an enduring enigma. No Frenchman in the past 50 years has so successfully captured the British imagination. In scintillating essays that bring to life Cantona’s wild swings between hero and villain, this idiosyncratic catalogue of the footballer’s 82 goals for Manchester United in only five seasons, describing the matches in which each goal was scored and how each one came to pass, is a close-up portrait of an unparalleled artist which revives for the reader some of footballing’s most cherished moments.

Manchester United dominated English football during this period, a run of success which began with their first league title in 26 years during the 1992–3 season. Inspiring younger players such as Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and David Beckham, Cantona was, and remains, an iconic figure, known for his style and effortless grace, his exceptional flair and his unwavering, unapologetic non-conformity.