Cantona scored 82 goals in 185 appearances for the Old Trafford outfit between 1992 and 1997, winning four Premier League titles and two FA Cups along the way.

The 43-year-old is currently coach of the French beach soccer national team, but has set his sights on a much more high-profile job in the future.

"I will guide probably the strongest team in the world," he said.

"I don't know how many years will go by before that happens but on the Manchester United bench my name is already written down.

"I'm not saying (Sir Alex) Ferguson will leave. I hope he will have eternal life with the Reds, I truly hope so.

"But for me the only alternative (to that of Manchester United) is guiding the England national team.

"I like (England coach) Fabio Capello as a man and as a motivator.He transmits positive values.

"He is tough, precise and puts a lot of emphasis on attention to details. It's what was needed.

"But I can assure you that sooner or later you will see me guiding England because I have made history at Manchester United and I am number one."

In the more immediate future, Cantona's former club's focus is very much on retaining the Champions League trophy in Wednesday's final against Barcelona in Rome.

The Frenchman will miss the Eternal City showpiece as 'Looking for Eric' - a film about Cantona's life, directed by Ken Loach - is being screened in Paris on the night of the big game.

"The players are in top form," said Cantona in an interview to Gazzetta dello Sport.

"This team is the strongest that Ferguson has had and the credit is all his.

"He is able to bring out the best of each player and makes them develop one by one to get 100% out of them.

"He should be an example for each coach."

Cantona knows Barcelona have a lot of individual talent but reckons United's team as a whole is superior to Pep Guardiola's Spanish champions.

"They have (Samuel) Eto'o, (Lionel) Messi and (Thierry) Henry, who score a lot," he said. "But you need to look at the whole picture.

"In this (United's) group there is a lot of altruism, generosity between players, solidity and balance in a matured group.

"We have a great defence and in the latter stages of the season we have achieved much more solidity and awareness of the strength of the team."