The Frenchman was vital to Manchester United’s revival in the 1990s and is regarded as one of the most iconic players to ever don a Red Devils shirt.

Cantona, who turns a half century today, was a physically powerful forward with a knack for creating and finishing chance.

He began his career with Auxerre, before moving to Martigues, Marseille, Bordeaux, Montpellier, Nimes and Leeds United before finally arriving in Manchester.

Once at the Premier League club, Cantona enjoyed four league titles in five years and two league and FA Cup doubles.

In the No7 shirt, he found the back of the net 64 times in 143 appearances before retiring in 1997.

Following his football career, Cantona became an actor and had a role in several films, while also being an inaugural inductee into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002.

More sports stars born on this day:

1973: Bartolo Colon, Dominican baseball player for MLB’s New York Mets and former AL Cy Young winner (43)

1979: Tracy McGrady, American retired basketball player who was a seven-time All-Star (37).

1989: Yannick Bolasie, a Congolese footballer for Premier League club Crystal Palace (27).

1990: Joey Logano (below), American stock car racing driver who drives the No22 in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (26).