Graeme Souness: The Man Who Passed on Eric Cantona
Graeme Souness, a legendary player at Anfield who later became manager of Liverpool from 1991 to 1994, recently revealed a surprising story about rejecting a certain French player who would go on to become a Manchester United legend. Souness had the opportunity to sign Eric Cantona while he was in charge of Liverpool, but he turned down the chance due to Cantona being labeled as a ‘problem boy.’
The story goes back to a UEFA Cup match against Auxerre, where Liverpool lost 2-0 but managed to turn things around with a 3-0 victory in the return leg. It was after this game that Michel Platini, a legend of French football, approached Souness with a proposition. Platini recommended Cantona to Souness, describing him as a perfect fit for Liverpool despite his troubled reputation in France.
However, Souness, who was dealing with other challenges at the time, decided to pass on the opportunity to sign Cantona. Little did he know that Cantona would later move to England and join Leeds United in 1992 before making a historic transfer to Manchester United later that year. Cantona went on to score 82 goals in 185 games for the Red Devils, winning four Premier League titles and two FA Cups.
Reflecting on his decision, Souness admitted that he had never heard of Cantona at the time and was focused on managing his team amidst other issues. Despite missing out on signing the French striker, Souness’s legacy at Liverpool remains intact, and he continues to be remembered as a key figure in the club’s history.
The story of Graeme Souness passing on Eric Cantona serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of football and how one decision can change the course of a player’s career. While Cantona found success at Manchester United, Liverpool fans can only wonder what could have been if he had donned the famous red jersey at Anfield.