Eric Cantona paid the ultimate tribute to Manchester United’s long-standing receptionist Kath Phipps after she passed away at the age of 85.
The 58-year-old Frenchman created an enduring legacy at Old Trafford after his sensational spell at Manchester United during the 1990s.
One of the iconic United No 7s, Eric Cantona was a larger-than-life figure at the Red Devils and the French former forward had a transformative impact at the club.
Sir Alex Ferguson brought the United legend to Old Trafford in 1992 after signing him from Leeds United in 1992 for a £1m transfer fee.
During his time under Sir Alex Ferguson, Cantona lifted four Premier League titles and two FA Cups before his sudden retirement from football in 1997.
Cantona reacts to Phipps’ death with tribute
Manchester United confirmed on Thursday that Kath Phipps had died and tributes have been pouring in for the beloved Red Devils figure.
Phipps had been at Old Trafford for over 55 years and had crossed paths with legendary former United managers Sir Matt Busby and Sir Alex Ferguson.
The long-standing United receptionist was a beloved figure and the likes of Marcus Rashford and Wayne Rooney have reacted to Phipps’ passing.
Eric Cantona took to his Instagram account and the legendary former United No 7 said that it was “sad for us all” after the news emerged around Phipps.
Posting a picture of himself hugging Phipps, the former France forward called the iconic United figure a “mother” to everyone she crossed paths with at the club.
“Such a sad for us all and it feels like the club we know as gone forever today,” Cantona wrote to his 1.4m followers.
“Rest in peace my dear Kath. You are like a mother for us all.”
Man Utd react to Phipps’ passing
Phipps marked her 55th anniversary at United in 2023 and she told the club in an interview that she looked “forward to coming in and having a smile on my face.”
The death of the United employee was met with a flood of responses from Red Devils players both past and present, including David de Gea and Harry Maguire.
United paid tribute to Phipps and called her a “one-woman institution,” with the Red Devils adding that they “can’t imagine the place without her.”
Speaking on their official website, United said: “A childhood United fan from Irlam, Kath became the Reds’ switchboard operator in September 1968, shortly after the Reds’ first European Cup success, and was soon forging friendships with Sir Matt Busby, Jimmy Murphy and United’s star-studded squad, spending countless hours with Ballon d’Or winners George Best, Bobby Charlton and Denis Law as they signed autographs to send to their fans.”
The Red Devils added: “Kath was a one-woman institution, whose memory will be cherished by everyone at the club who had the privilege of knowing her.
“She said last year: ‘I can’t imagine doing anything else.’ Well, we can’t imagine the place without her.”
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/pahgqbf