5 Best Foreign Strikers to Have Played In the Premier League

3 Eric Cantona:

Eric Cantona

Much of Manchester United’s incredible success in the Premier League is often credited to the influence that Eric Cantona had over the team during the early years.

Like how Bergkamp was probably the one who changed the tide at Arsenal, Cantona had a similar sort of enigmatic presence that propelled United to four Premier League titles during his stay there. Cantona was initially seen as a troublesome young footballer, who did not suit to the standards of many English clubs.

Sir Alex Ferguson played a gamble by luring Cantona from Leeds United for then British record transfer fee. There was a radical change in training sessions after Cantona arrived at United.

After the mandatory session, Cantona would practice free-kicks on his own, and this work-ethic inspired the likes of Neville brothers and Ryan Giggs who had just started their careers at that point in time. Cantona was different to the usual strikers of that period.

He was someone who used to play between the lines, rather than leading the forward line. His passing acumen was somewhat unmatched, and he played the dual role of playmaker-striker to excellence during that period.

Though he was banned for nine months for his kung fu kick incident, Cantona scored a goal on his return against arch rivals Liverpool. Even statistics do justice to the exceptional talent that he possessed, as the Frenchman scored 70 goals in 156 appearances.

In addition, he even assisted 56 goals. He was probably the most important figure of United’s team during the time when they won four Premiership titles in five seasons between 1992 and 1997.