--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Eric Cantona is a great player, but he's…" description: "\"Eric Cantona is a great player, but he's not as good as Ryan Giggs\" — Johan Cruijff" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd5/johan-cruijff-9968_cantona_eric-cantona-is-a-great-player-but-he-s_2543527.jpg" --- # Eric Cantona is a great player, but he's not as good as… ![“Eric Cantona is a great player, but he's not as good as Ryan Giggs” quote by Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd5/johan-cruijff-9968_cantona_eric-cantona-is-a-great-player-but-he-s_2543527.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd5/johan-cruijff-9968_cantona_eric-cantona-is-a-great-player-but-he-s_2543527.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd5/johan-cruijff-9968_cantona_eric-cantona-is-a-great-player-but-he-s_2543527.jpg) > “Eric Cantona is a great player, but he's not as good as Ryan Giggs” [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A talented player may be eclipsed by another’s consistency and impact over time. **In simple terms:** Great players can be outshone by others. Key Takeaway Recognize that skill alone isn’t enough for lasting greatness. Themes sports comparison legacy talent consistency Mood reflective analytical Type observational critical When to use this quote - team selection - career evaluation - fan discussions Key Concepts football performance historical context Questions to Reflect On - How do we measure greatness beyond talent? - What factors sustain a player’s legacy? A Different Perspective Talent alone doesn’t guarantee superiority without sustained achievement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Giggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giggs/) ## Related quotes > [I think about the great players with whom I have shared a pitch: Eric Cantona, Zinedine Zidane, Pirlo, Xavi, Cristiano Ronaldo - and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-scholes/i-think-about-the-great-players-with-whom-i-have-shared-a-pitch-eric/) [Paul Scholes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-scholes/) > [He was a quiet man, Eric Cantona, but he was a man of few words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-beckham/he-was-a-quiet-man-eric-cantona-but-he-was-a-man-of-few-words/) [David Beckham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-beckham/) > [Cantona's expression speaking the whole French dictionary without saying a word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-davies/cantona-s-expression-speaking-the-whole-french-dictionary-without/) [Barry Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-davies/) > [If ever there was one player, anywhere in the world, that was made for Manchester United, it was Cantona. He swaggered in, stuck his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/if-ever-there-was-one-player-anywhere-in-the-world-that-was-made-for/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [“Eric likes to do what he likes, when he likes, because he likes it - and then fuck off. We'd all want a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-wilkinson/eric-likes-to-do-what-he-likes-when-he-likes-because-he-likes-it-and/) [Howard Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-wilkinson/) > [Watching people like my dad, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham and Eric Cantona every day in training was incredible. I saw how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kasper-schmeichel/watching-people-like-my-dad-paul-scholes-ryan-giggs-david-beckham-and/) [Kasper Schmeichel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kasper-schmeichel/) > [In my years at United, I witnessed some signings who, over their careers, transformed the fortunes of the team. From Eric Cantona, when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-scholes/in-my-years-at-united-i-witnessed-some-signings-who-over-their/) [Paul Scholes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-scholes/) > [I remember seeing Eric Cantona play for Manchester United. The way he used to control games was special to watch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronaldinho/i-remember-seeing-eric-cantona-play-for-manchester-united-the-way-he/) [Ronaldinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronaldinho/) > [Premier League players have always been heroes to youngsters. They will mimic their movements, copy their celebrations, pop their collar up like Eric Cantona…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sutton/premier-league-players-have-always-been-heroes-to-youngsters-they/) [Chris Sutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sutton/) > [You can't save from a brilliant penalty taker and Eric Cantona was the best. His technique was so good it was a joke. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james/you-can-t-save-from-a-brilliant-penalty-taker-and-eric-cantona-was/) [David James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james/) > [Eric Cantona used to stare at the goalkeeper when taking penalties. He'd wait for his opponent's knee to give away in the direction he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sutton/eric-cantona-used-to-stare-at-the-goalkeeper-when-taking-penalties-he/) [Chris Sutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sutton/) > [Eric Cantona is a giggler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-loach/eric-cantona-is-a-giggler/) [Ken Loach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-loach/) > [The magistrate who originally sentenced Eric Cantona to prison said that millions of young people saw him as a role model and tried to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-enfield/the-magistrate-who-originally-sentenced-eric-cantona-to-prison-said/) [Harry Enfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-enfield/) > [When I was a kid and my dad was playing for Man United, I used to stand behind the goal watching Eric Cantona, David…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kasper-schmeichel/when-i-was-a-kid-and-my-dad-was-playing-for-man-united-i-used-to/) [Kasper Schmeichel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kasper-schmeichel/) > [There's no way Ryan Giggs is another George Best. He's another Ryan Giggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-law/there-s-no-way-ryan-giggs-is-another-george-best-he-s-another-ryan/) [Denis Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-law/) ## More by Johan Cruijff > [If you play on possession, you don't have to defend, because there's only one ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/if-you-play-on-possession-you-don-t-have-to-defend-because-there-s/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) > [Playing football is very simple, but playing simple football is the hardest thing there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/playing-football-is-very-simple-but-playing-simple-football-is-the/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) > [In my teams, the goalie is the first attacker, and the striker the first defender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/in-my-teams-the-goalie-is-the-first-attacker-and-the-striker-the/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) > [Football is simple, you're either on time, or you're too late. If you're too late then you have to leave earlier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/football-is-simple-you-re-either-on-time-or-you-re-too-late-if-you-re/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) > [Choose the best player for every position, and you'll end up not with a strong XI, but with 11 strong 1's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/choose-the-best-player-for-every-position-and-you-ll-end-up-not-with/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) > [Actually I never make a mistake, because it takes a huge effort for me to make a mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/actually-i-never-make-a-mistake-because-it-takes-a-huge-effort-for-me/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) > [Italians can't win the game against you, but you can lose the game against the Italians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/italians-can-t-win-the-game-against-you-but-you-can-lose-the-game/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) > [Someone who has juggled the ball in the air during a game, after which four defenders of the opponent get the time to run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/someone-who-has-juggled-the-ball-in-the-air-during-a-game-after-which/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) > [YOU NEED BOTH QUALITY AND RESULTS. RESULTS WITHOUT QUALITY IS BORING; QUALITY WITHOUT RESULTS IS MEANINGLESS.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/you-need-both-quality-and-results-results-without-quality-is-boring/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) > [A counter-attack can only arise when you make a mistake. That's why there are rules. A horizontal pass? Prohibited. In my line-up there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/a-counter-attack-can-only-arise-when-you-make-a-mistake-that-s-why/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) > [Every trainer talks about movement, about running a lot. I say don't run so much. Football is a game you play with your brain.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/every-trainer-talks-about-movement-about-running-a-lot-i-say-don-t/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) > [It is better to fail with your own vision than to fail with another man's vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/it-is-better-to-fail-with-your-own-vision-than-to-fail-with-another/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) > [If my forward arrives in a one vs one situation, I always say: 'let him work it out.' Then my players say: But we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/if-my-forward-arrives-in-a-one-vs-one-situation-i-always-say-let-him/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) > [After you've won something, you're no longer 100 percent, but 90 percent. It's like a bottle of carbonated water where the cap is removed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/after-you-ve-won-something-you-re-no-longer-100-percent-but-90/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) > [Football is about making mistakes. Who makes the most, loses the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/football-is-about-making-mistakes-who-makes-the-most-loses-the-game/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) [Explore all 69 Johan Cruijff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) ## More Cantona quotes > [“Eric likes to do what he likes, when he likes, because he likes it - and then fuck off. We'd all want a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-wilkinson/eric-likes-to-do-what-he-likes-when-he-likes-because-he-likes-it-and/) [Howard Wilkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-wilkinson/) > [Cantona's expression speaking the whole French dictionary without saying a word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-davies/cantona-s-expression-speaking-the-whole-french-dictionary-without/) [Barry Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-davies/) > [He was a quiet man, Eric Cantona, but he was a man of few words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-beckham/he-was-a-quiet-man-eric-cantona-but-he-was-a-man-of-few-words/) [David Beckham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-beckham/) > [I think about the great players with whom I have shared a pitch: Eric Cantona, Zinedine Zidane, Pirlo, Xavi, Cristiano Ronaldo - and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-scholes/i-think-about-the-great-players-with-whom-i-have-shared-a-pitch-eric/) [Paul Scholes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-scholes/) > [If ever there was one player, anywhere in the world, that was made for Manchester United, it was Cantona. He swaggered in, stuck his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/if-ever-there-was-one-player-anywhere-in-the-world-that-was-made-for/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) Browse all 6 Cantona quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Eric Cantona is a great player, but he's not as good as Ryan Giggs", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Johan Cruijff" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/eric-cantona-is-a-great-player-but-he-s-not-as-good-as-ryan-giggs/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cantona" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/eric-cantona-is-a-great-player-but-he-s-not-as-good-as-ryan-giggs/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd5/johan-cruijff-9968_cantona_eric-cantona-is-a-great-player-but-he-s_2543527.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd5/johan-cruijff-9968_cantona_eric-cantona-is-a-great-player-but-he-s_2543527.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd5/johan-cruijff-9968_cantona_eric-cantona-is-a-great-player-but-he-s_2543527.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Eric Cantona is a great player, but he's not as good as Ryan Giggs” — Johan Cruijff", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Johan Cruijff", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Eric Cantona is a great player,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/eric-cantona-is-a-great-player-but-he-s-not-as-good-as-ryan-giggs/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/eric-cantona-is-a-great-player-but-he-s-not-as-good-as-ryan-giggs/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```