Eric has been in one way or another in dozens of movies and television shows plus quite a few

documentaries: he has released a single, played a role on stage, makes wine, travels the world, and participates in music videos, television commercials and many other things that catch his eye at whatever point in life he finds himself in.

There are many great wonderful players that I would have zero interest in sitting down for dinner with (I would say most of them) but it has been a lifelong dream to share a meal with Eric, and just talk about whatever random topic he decides is interesting that way. Life is about connection, about finding your tribe, your people, because we (well, the lucky ones at least) have our people from day one. We just call them family. But at some point, we need to go out there and find our OWN people, and

create memories, share stories, laugh and cry, smile and scream with. And although I’ve never met him (still hoping I will one day) I am sure Eric is one of my people. He just happens to be a fucking legend!

Manchester United is one of the biggest clubs on Earth. Undisputed fact. And they have fielded many of the great ones, from Sir Bobby Charlton to George Best, Rooney to Scholes, Beckham to Giggs, Denis Law to Cristiano Ronaldo, Mark Hughes or van Nistelrooy and many many others, and several of them have a perfectly good claim to the Old Trafford throne. I fully understand that principle and can make that case for quite a few of them, but there is one problem - I don’t believe in the case for any of them. Maybe George Best, because to me,

and it’s not because of football reasons or X and Y on the pitch, it’s all about vibes for me. That throne belongs to Eric. I’m pretty sure he doesn’t even want it. Not even sure he is aware that throne exists or cares for it. And that’s why it belongs to him. Eric didn’t set out to conquer Old Trafford, he set out to be whatever Eric he wanted to be, and he was the best at doing just that. We all want our teams, our players and managers to be themselves, to show emotion, to show passion, so no wonder United supporters and I fell in love with him. He was pure passion. He was that Old Trafford roar before it sounded loud and clear. We follow football and fall in love with it because of many reasons, a lot of them intangible, irrational or even idiotic, but character and soul are two of them, who

My generation grew up watching and loving football and almost all of us, regardless of club allegiances, at some point, playing with our friends, raised the collar of our shirt. It was a sign something amazing just happened or was about to happen. He did it back in 1993, 31

years ago, and it’s still a moment in world football, a special thing amongst us football lovers. That was Eric. A special something. The best ever something. I don’t think even he could tell us what exactly he is and that’s ok. We know who he is and was. A raving lunatic, a true genius, a fiery bull, a lightning bolt.

We should consider ourselves lucky, because we fell in love with a game that has offered us many legendary moments and characters. Players and managers who decided to be excellent their own way. I wouldn’t want it any other way, because a goal will make me happy, but character will stay with me forever. It’s how I separate the great ones from those who inhabit that special place between the pitch and the Gods.

By now, you’re probably wondering why I always mention him by his first name and there is a simple reason; you all know who I’m talking about. Even though the name on the back of his shirt was not Eric. Isn’t that the best sign of someone’s magnitude? We all know who he is even if it’s not his most common name.

Oh, did you think I forgot about the kick? I didn’t. But, I ask you – how many players do you reckon would ‘survive’ from doing something like that? Exactly. Even at his worst, Eric made sure he was special.