Cantona Reveals New Goal: French Presidency

Former Manchester United striker Eric Cantona has plans to run for French president - but he faces a tough contest.

The retired footballer, who needs to persuade 500 elected officials to back his bid in order to run, has reportedly sent a letter to mayors across France asking for their support and describing himself as "an engaged citizen".

The 45-year-old former Manchester United striker is pledging to represent "the millions of families who have been forgotten", according to a copy of the letter printed by French daily newspaper Liberation.

"I am a committed citizen," Cantona writes.

"This commitment obliges me to speak up, more seriously than usual, but also with a keen sense of my responsibility, at a time when our country is faced with difficult choices for its future."

Cantona faces a tough contest if he genuinely wants to compete in the race, which begins with a first round in late April.

The two biggest vote-winners will go through to a decisive second round in early May. Socialist candidate Francois Hollande is currently leading President Nicolas Sarkozy in the polls.

Cantona has attempted to draw attention to social inequality before. In 2010 he called on French savers to bring down the banks by withdrawing all their money. Hardly anyone did.

He has also tried his hand at acting, playing a cameo role in the 2009 British film Looking For Eric.

No stranger to controversy on the pitch, he was convicted of assault in 1995 and suspended from playing for four months after launching a "kung fu" kick on a spectator after being sent off while playing for United.