soccer star  Eric Cantona (qv). It was rumored that both stars  Christopher Eccleston (qv) and Angus Deayton (qv) actually  wanted the producers to cast Cantona in a small French role in the  film following his retirement from football in 1997 because: 1.  Cantona began to study acting during his infamous 9 month ban in  1995. 2. Eccleston and Deayton were Manchester United fans  themselves.