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| Nationality: | England | | Birthday: | 1981-11-8 | | Biorhythm Today: |  | | Height: | 176cm | | Weight: | 73kg | | Club: | Tampa Bay Rowdies | | Club Shirt NO.: | 26 | | Position: | Midfielder | | Join Date: | 2016-5-9 | | Former Club(s): | Coventry | | Once Club(s): | Coventry,Aston Villa,West Ham United,Liverpool,Lille OSC,Chelsea FC |
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Joe Cole is a technically gifted midfielder with a penchant for the sublime.
He arrived at Anfield on a free transfer in the summer of 2010 determined to add to the three Barclays Premier League titles, two FA Cups and two League Cups that he won during seven years with Chelsea.
Signed by Roy Hodgson, the England international endured a mixed debut season on Merseyside before being loaned out to Lille for the whole of 2011-12 by Kenny Dalglish.
However, he is back at Liverpool for the 2012-13 season under Brendan Rodgers, with whom he worked at Stamford Bridge. Regarded as a teenage prodigy, Cole rose to stardom as the playmaker in the West Ham U18 side that stormed to the 1999 FA Youth Cup. His superb vision and ability to beat opponents stood him out as one for the future and it was no surprise to see him make his senior Hammers bow at the age of just 17.
By 21 he had been installed as the West Ham captain, but despite a series of eye-catching displays that saw him land the club's Player of the Year award, he could not save them from relegation to the Championship in 2003. Without the prospect of top-flight football, a big-money transfer was inevitable and the move across London to rivals Chelsea was seen as a positive one.
Indeed, the arrival of Champions League winning coach Jose Mourinho the following season instilled a new mentality into the Blues squad and Cole began to showcase his undoubted talent on the biggest of stages. Winning goals both home and away against Liverpool were seen as key moments in the Londoners' march to a first ever Premier League crown, form that led to him making the left-side of the England midfield his own.
Playing with the swagger of champions, Chelsea began the 2005-06 campaign in a similar vein and, after establishing himself as a regular starter in the first XI, Cole capped a fine season with a strike in a 3-0 triumph over Manchester United that sealed back-to-back titles. It saw him take his place in England's World Cup squad full of confidence, a fact exemplified by his sensational volley in the 2-2 draw with Sweden in the group stage.
However, a pre-season injury would hinder his progress in 2006-07 and he would later suffer a stress fracture to his foot, leading to an operation that ruled him out until the final stages of the season. Cole did return in time to start in the FA Cup final success over Manchester United, although his lack of match fitness saw him replaced at half-time.
Injuries meant the playmaker would struggle to hit the heights of previous years during the campaigns that followed, though there were occasional moments he would never forget, notably a back heel to open the scoring in a 2-1 win at Manchester United that was effectively seen as the 2009-10 title decider.
This would prove to be his last great moment in a Chelsea shirt as it was revealed he would leave the club as a free agent while he was on England duty at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. On July 19, 2010, after weeks of speculation, it was announced he would join Liverpool on a four-year contract. Cole made his competitive debut in front of the Kop on August 5, impressing in an attacking role behind striker David Ngog.
His league bow was less enjoyable, however, after he received a straight red card just before half-time for a challenge on Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny. Injuries would disrupt Cole's attempts to settle into the Liverpool team and new boss Dalglish opted to accept a loan offer which would take him to French side Lille for 2011-12.
The likable forward scored nine goals in 42 appearances across the English Channel before returning to Merseyside. |
West Ham 'Hammer of the Year' (1): 2003
Premier League Player of the Month (1): March 2005
PFA Team of the Year (1): 2006
Man of the Match, England vs Sweden, 2006 FIFA World Cup
Chelsea Player of the Year (1): 2008 |
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