1981年5月,坎通纳加入欧塞尔队,1982年入选法国青年队。在1983年首次随队出场后,坎通纳于1984年在法国军队中服役一年。1986/87赛季,他回到欧塞尔队,成为职业球员。他在欧塞尔队的表现同时引起了21岁以下青年队和国家队主帅的关注。1987年8月12日对西德队的一役中,坎通纳首次代表法国国家队参赛,并攻人一球,但法国队以1:2落败。1988年,他帮助法国21岁以下青年队夺得欧洲青年锦标赛冠军。1988年6月,坎通纳以230万英镑的价格转会到马赛队,创下了当时的法国球员转会纪录。1989年1月,他在对莫斯科鱼雷队的友谊赛中,困不满被换下场而 In May 1981, Cantona joined Auxerre in 1982, the French youth team. After his first team appearance in 1983, Cantona served in the French army for a year in 1984. 1986/87 season, he returned to Auxerre team, become a professional player. His performance at Auxerre has also drawn the attention of youth under 21 and national team manager. In a battle against the German team on August 12, 1987, Cantona first represented the French national team and scored a goal, but the French team lost 1: 2. In 1988, he helped France’s under-21 youth team win the European Youth Championships. In June 1988, Cantona moved to Marseille at a price of £ 2.3 million, setting a record for the transfer of French players at the time. In January 1989, he was replaced in a friendly match against the Moscow Torpedo