THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ERIC CANTONA

1966 Born Paris 24 May, but raised in Marseille.

1983 Makes professional debut for Auxerre.

1985 Loaned to Martigues.

1987 Receives heavy fine for punching his team's goalkeeper, Bruno Martini, giving him a black eye. Wins first international cap for France against West Germany.

1988 Playing for Auxerre, he is suspended for three months for a dangerous tackle on a Nantes player, Michel Der Zakarian.

Playing for Marseille, he calls French national coach Henri Michel a "bag of shit". Banned from the national team for one year.

1989 Throws his jersey at Marseille coach Gerard Gili after hurling shirt at referee on being substituted in a charity match against Torpedo Moscow. Club owner Bernard Tapie later tells him he will never play for Marseille again and he is transferred to Montpellier.

Playing for Montpellier, he hits team-mate Jean-Claude Lemoult on head with a boot in a dressing-room row after losing to Lille. Suspended for two matches by the club.

1991 Playing for Nimes, he throws the ball at the referee after objecting to his decision and walks off pitch without being shown a red card. Attacks an opponent in the dressing-rooms.

After being suspended for two months by the French federation, he vows never to play again and then makes a surprise move to Leeds United after rejecting a trial at Sheffield Wednesday.

1993 Fined £1,000 by Football Association for spitting at a Leeds fan in his first game at Elland Road with Manchester United. Wins Premiership medal with the Old Trafford club.

Sent off in United's European Cup defeat by Galatasaray in Turkey for accusing the referee of cheating, scuffles with Turkish police and banned for four European games. Was also involved in ugly confrontation with Turkish police after dismissal.

1994 Named Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year - the first foreigner to win the award. Banned for five games after being sent off twice in four days - once for stamping on Swindon's John Moncur, then for two bookable offences againstArsenal - but wins third consecutive championship and scores twice in FA Cup final, both penalties, as United win Double.

Arrested and handcuffed by security guards at World Cup semi-final between Brazil and Sweden in Los Angeles after a dispute with an official over accreditation, but is later released.

An advertisement for sportswear manufacturer Nike which exploits Cantona's "bad-boy" image is banned from British television by advertising watchdogs because of the Frenchman's use of bad language. Sent off in pre-season tournament against Rangers, he issuspended for three games.