Cantona the legend. Cantona the enigma. Cantona the King.

Eric Cantona was with Manchester United for only five years, yet his legacy and influence remain timeless. During this period, he became the first foreign player to be voted as the best player by sports journalists, was named player of the century by the team's fans, and was voted as the most iconic player of the Premier League in its first decade. The Frenchman enchanted both football enthusiasts and those who knew nothing about the sport – an exceptionally popular player who displayed great talent on the field but remains almost unknown off it.

Claude Bolly met Cantona at the early stages of his career in France, when he was teammates with the Bolly brothers. They shared an apartment, common passions for music, literature, art, and, of course, football. In 1992, Cantona moved to Manchester, where Bolly was studying at the university. They spent almost all their free time together, and Bolly attended nearly every one of Cantona's matches at Old Trafford, getting acquainted with Alex Ferguson, Sir Bobby Charlton, George Best, David Beckham, Roy Keane, and others.

Bolly was there after the infamous kung-fu kick and during the legal proceedings, to hear Cantona's thoughts about his teammates, how the team was managed, his relationship with the manager, his hopes, and fears. They roamed the streets of Manchester, enjoyed the music and culture of the '90s, even learned to play the trumpet together, and remain close friends to this day. In The King and I, Bolly offers us a unique insight into Cantona as a footballer, a friend, and a person.

Pages: 288, Publication Year: 0512, Dimensions: 15.3x15.3cm