Yes, Eric Cantona can

The former Manchester United player lives life on his terms and enjoys it – whether it is on a football pitch, in front of cameras or running for presidential elections.

epa03055173 (FILE) A file picture dated 18 May 2009 shows former French soccer player Eric Cantona attending the photocall for the film 'Looking for Eric' running in competition during the 62nd edition of the Cannes film festival in Cannes, France. Former Manchester United forward Eric Cantona revealed plans to run for the French presidential elections and is trying to gather 500 signatures needed to do so, French media reports stated on 10 January 2012.  EPA/GUILLAUME HORCAJUELO *** Local Caption *** 00000402484268 03055173.jpg
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How would you feel if you saw on television that someone you used to work with was planning to become president of their country?

Surprised, maybe, but then maybe you didn't work with Eric Cantona like me.

I saw his stunt this week and thought, 'That's Eric'. He's his own man and always has been.

Nobody had a clue what he was going to do next, from jumping in the crowd to kick a fan, to retiring from football at the peak of his fame.

Most of the United team lived in big houses in south Manchester, Cantona lived in a rented three bedroomed semi-detached house in an area none of us had heard of.

Cantona is from Marseille and is not afraid to fight against what he sees as injustice. He grew up in a cave.

Read that last sentence again. A cave. So it is not surprising that poor housing has always been close to his heart and that was his publicity gimmick when he announced he was running for president this week.

Cantona was a mass of contradictions.

He was usually a quiet, private man, on the outside of the dressing room looking in. Yet he was a happy man, always looking to socialise, always polite and friendly.

He was not aloof, nor arrogant. He pretended that he could not speak English when it suited, but spoke it near perfectly at other times.

David May, our teammate, used to adopt a French accent and say: "Today you iz speak Engleesh. Eric? Or no speak Engleesh today?"

Cantona would smile at that one. He loved the crack in the dressing room and did not mind somebody having a joke at his expense.

The same May was completely in awe of him, however.

He used to share a room with Cantona and felt like he was in the company of the king.

May was frightened of snoring and felt it was rude to keep the light on when the king decided it was time to sleep.

If Cantona wanted to sleep at eight, then May slept at eight without any complaints.

We all respected Cantona because of his ability as a footballer. He was probably the best in England at the time, with an aura that only grew over the years.

When he had finished his ban for the kung fu kick at a fan in 1995, he was one of the most famous men in the country.

That meant opponents afforded him more respect in England, an extra yard that allowed him space to exploit.

He did not get the same respect in Europe and was less effective.

Everyone was very fond of Cantona and happy for him to be the club captain, a role he took on with enthusiasm when it came to organising social events.

We used to have a team get together when things were not running smoothly and heads needed to be banged together.

Cantona would be the first one there.

If there was a dress code then he ignored it. At one club function we all turned up dressed like penguins in suits. Eric arrived in a cream jacket with red trainers.

We thought Sir Alex Ferguson, the manager, would go crazy at him. Instead he told him that he looked wonderful.

One rule for us, one for Eric! Nobody objected.

Nobody shouted at Cantona on the field either. We let him work his magic and it was a privilege to play with him. Nobody, that is, except for Roy Keane.

I think Keane decided he'd had enough of the reverence and he would treat Cantona the same as he treated everyone else - by moaning at them if they gave the ball away.

On the rare occasion that Cantona misplaced the ball, he had Keane shouting down his ear. He didn't seem to mind because it showed Keane's absolute will to win.

Cantona had a reputation for losing his temper and we had all seen the television images where he clashed with officials, opponents and fans, but I only saw him lose his temper with a teammate once.

Peter Schmeichel, our goalkeeper, slid into him in training. Cantona was not happy, lofted up his 6ft 2ins, barrel-chested frame and pointed his index finger at the big Dane. "You!" he said. "Why always you? Why? Why?"

Schmeichel did not reply. He would not normally shirk confrontation, but I think he decided that he would not slide in on Cantona again.

Cantona may not become French president, but he has got people talking about an issue close to his heart.

I have no idea what he will do next and I expect the unexpected.

It seems to be that he is enjoying life, whether it's playing beach soccer or acting, working for the New York Cosmos or causing a stir in French politics.

I don't think you can knock anyone for that.

Andrew Cole's column is written with the assistance of European football correspondent Andy Mitten