By Tom Degun at the Global Sports Forum Barcelona in Barcelona
March 8 – Manchester United legend Eric Cantona (pictured) has predicted that the United States can win the World Cup in 20 years by building on the system he is introducing at New York Cosmos, where he is Director of Soccer.
The 45-year-old from Marseille in France is widely regarded as one of the best players in the history of the Premier League having left Manchester United in 1997 with a glittering array of honours including four Premier League titles, two League Cups and two FA Cups in five years.
Cantona joined the revived New York Cosmos as Director of Soccer in January 2011 and now believes the country can go on to World Cup success in 20 years via a development scheme based on the one introduced by Dutchman Johan Cruyff at FC Barcelona in the early 1990s.
“Football in that country is just starting,” said Cantona here at the Global Sports Forum Barcelona.
“I’ve seen nine-year-old players who are mini geniuses and so with all the coaches and input being done, that country will win a World Cup within the next 20 years.
“We’re trying to coach and give players a philosophy – at first we’ll buy players – but then we’ll try to get the youngsters to the level that Premier League clubs are buying them for their players.
“Like Cruyff at Barcelona we are training them in a certain way, to love football – and teaching them to win of course.
“There’s a lot of work to be done.
“If the US team got to a quarter-final or semi-final we’d be very proud.
“This is what Barcelona did.
“I think a Catalan team could win a World Cup.”
Cantona though, did open tentatively the door to a return to Old Trafford.
“Cosmos is a comprehensive club,” he said.
“No, hang on, it’s a mythical club established in the 70s, not just a FC.
“That’s why I went there.
“Obviously in time I could find myself in a different club.
“It’s a great and different club because of its history.”
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