I’ll never forget that spring morning in 1997 sitting on the wet grass at the old Manchester United training center.  Jay Hoffman had called time on our Under-20 session and only myself and Chad McCarty stayed to watch Man U’s full team train, knowing full well we’d have to walk our asses back to The Swallow Hotel.

Both Chad and I knew there was no way either of us could look ourselves in the face if we’d stayed on the bus after seeing Ole Gunner Solskjaer roll up in his brand new gold Jeep Grand Cherokee with Becks, Scholesy and Gary Neville jumping out.

So we sat up with our backs against the building watching Brian Kidd put our heroes through their steps as Fergie watched on.  Agility for warm-ups, passing drills, small side possession with emphasis on closing down space quickly and ending with short goal games.

Afterwards it was Eric Cantona and David Beckham working on set pieces and free kicks for about an hour.  They had the wall set up and would change the angles after every 8-10 free kicks, but after every single one you’d see Cantona explaining ideas with the young Beckham.

In between their switching off, Cantona would juggle  and while it doesn’t sound that interesting, it was how he was juggle that was impressive.

Cantona would start by flicking it up off the ground and hitting it with the outside of his right foot up and over his head to the outside of his left, back up and over to his right, back up and over to his left.  Over and over and over and over again.  Let’s put it this way, I lost count at 60 without dropping it and I started counting after he’d already been going for a bit.

It was a day that has stuck with me ever since and a picture in my mind that’s brought to the forefront every time I hear the name Eric Cantona, who’s still the King of England.

image via Telegraph