Joseph John "Joe" Cole (born 8 November 1981) is an English footballer who plays for Liverpool, and the England national team. He started his career with West Ham United where he played more than 100 games during five years, until he left for Chelsea in 2003. He won a number of trophies with Chelsea, including three Premier League titles and two FA Cups before leaving on a free transfer in July 2010 to join Liverpool.

Biography

Cole was born in Paddington, London and lived there until he moved to Camden at the age of six. He was educated at St. Mary's Primary School, Bryanston Square in Marylebone along with brother Nicky and sister Charly, He also attended Haverstock School (Now Haverstock Business & Enterprise College) in Chalk Farm, Camden and St. Aloysius RC College in North London.[1]

Club career

West Ham United

A child prodigy who received national media attention as a schoolboy, he famously scored 7 of the 8 goals the England youth team scored against Spain in one match. Cole is a product of the famed West Ham United youth system. He was long touted as the hottest prospect in English football with Manchester United reportedly offering to pay £10 million for his services as a 16-year-old.[2] Playing in a mould similar to former England favourite Paul Gascoigne, he quickly progressed through the West Ham ranks before making his first-team debut at the age of 17. In 1999 Cole was part of West Ham's victorious FA Youth Cup winning squad (alongside Michael Carrick), defeating Coventry City 9–0 on aggregate in the final. In January 2003 Glenn Roeder, then West Ham United manager gave Cole the club captain's armband at the age of 21.[3] The club was relegated from the Premier League at the end of that season. Cole won the "Hammer of the Year award" for 2003.[4]

Chelsea

Cole took advantage of injuries to other players to become one of the stars of Chelsea's Premier League title winning team in 2004–05. He also won a starting place in the England team on the left side of midfield, which England had struggled to fill for several years. Cole's form saw him hit a run of goals towards the end of the season, and his goal against Norwich City (blasted in from 22 yards off his weaker left foot) was voted in the top ten goals of the 2004–05 Premier League season. Cole scored 10 goals for Chelsea in 2004–05 and ended the season with the first of his three Premier League Champions' medals. He was subsequently named in the PFA's team of the season.

Cole, playing for Chelsea, taking on Sunderland player George McCartney

In the first half of the 2005–06 season Cole secured himself in the Chelsea first team line up, ahead of Shaun Wright-Phillips and Damien Duff. Cole also extended his contract with Chelsea for another four seasons. He ended his season by scoring the one of the three goals against Manchester United, which sealed the title for Chelsea.

Just weeks after Cole's participation in England's 2006 World Cup squad, in which he made his mark by scoring the side's best goal of the tournament, he was injured in the pre-season. In January 2007, Cole underwent surgery for a stress fracture on his foot he suffered in late 2006. Cole made his return for Chelsea in the first leg of Chelsea's 1–1 draw in the Champions League quarter-final tie against Valencia. Cole worked hard in Chelsea's 2–1 victory in the second leg. He started for Chelsea in their victory over Manchester United in the 2007 FA Cup Final, and went on to be substituted at half time.

Joe Cole training before a match

In 2007–08 Cole scored another goal in the League Cup semi finals against Everton which sent Chelsea to another final.

On 17 August 2008, Cole scored the first Premier League goal of the Scolari era in a 4–0 win against Portsmouth. He scored his second against Bordeaux in the Champions League Group Stage in the 4–0 victory. He scored his third goal against Aston Villa on 5 October in a 2–0 victory.

After surgery on his knee to repair an injury he picked up in the FA Cup clash with Southend United, Cole missed the rest of the season.

Cole did not play for Chelsea in the pre-season, due to cruciate ligament damage in his knee, suffered in January 2009. He was one of the substitutes for Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League clash against F.C. Porto, which Chelsea won 1–0, however he was never brought on in a match that saw torrential rain lashing Stamford Bridge in London. He made a return to the starting squad in Chelsea's Carling Cup Match with QPR on 23 September 2009, in which he was also handed captain's armband. He also came on as a substitute in the Champions League game between Cypriot side Apoel Nicosia.[5] Cole made his first Premier League 2009-10 appearance for Chelsea against side Blackburn Rovers. He played in the attacking midfield role and influenced Chelsea to blast 5 goals against Blackburn.[6] On 8 November Cole played his 250th game for Chelsea, coming on as a substitute against Manchester United in the 62nd minute for Deco, on his 28th birthday. On 21 November he scored the last goal in Chelsea's 4–0 win against Wolves. On 3 April, he scored the opener against Manchester United at Old Trafford after 19 minutes with a masterful back heel deflection from a Florent Malouda cross, Chelsea went on to win the game 2–1. He came on as a substitute as Chelsea won the 2010 FA Cup Final, his second appearance in a victorious FA Cup final for Chelsea.

His contract with Chelsea expired on 30 June 2010, making him a free agent.[7]

Liverpool

Cole joined Liverpool on a free transfer after signing a four-year deal in July 2010.[8][9] He was manager Roy Hodgson's first signing at the club and was given the number 10 shirt.[10]

Cole made his Liverpool debut against Borussia Moenchengladbach in a pre-season friendly before making his competitive debut in a 2-0 win against Rabotnicki in the Europa League.[11] His league debut, against Arsenal on 15 August 2010, lasted just 45 minutes as he was sent off for a challenge on Laurent Koscielny.[12] In his next match on 19 August 2010, Cole missed a penalty against Trabzonspor in the Europa League third qualifying round first leg, as Liverpool won 1-0.[13] Joe cole played in Jamie Carragher's Testimonial match , where , he scored his first goal for the club.

International career

As an England youth international Cole scored seven goals in an 8-1 victory against Spain, as well as playing for England's Under 17 team, where he scored the winning goal against Norway in a final of the Nordic Tournament.[14]

Cole made his senior international debut against Mexico in May 2001.[15] He was a member of England's 2002 World Cup squad, and made one substitute appearance. Cole was also a squad member at Euro 2004, but did not play.

His displays in England's friendlies leading up to the 2006 World Cup enhanced his reputation ahead of the summer's finals in Germany. In May 2006 he was confirmed in the England squad for the World Cup, ahead of Chelsea teammate Shaun Wright-Phillips.[16] He played on the left side of midfield in England's opening game against Paraguay on 10 June 2006.

On 20 June 2006, England drew with Sweden, in the World Cup, with a final score of 2–2. Cole scored a volley in the 34th minute of the match and got an assist in the 85th when he sent in a ball to Steven Gerrard. At the end of the match, Budweiser announced that Cole received the Man of the match. The Swedish football fans congratulated England for having such a valuable player in the tournament. Cole lined up for the England squad for the first time since the 2006 World Cup in the 1–1 friendly draw against the Netherlands, providing an assist for Wayne Rooney from a cross. After another injury, he returned to start the friendly against Brazil at Wembley on 1 June.

Cole scored his seventh goal for England in June 2007, in their European Championship qualifier, away to Estonia.

On 7 February 2008, Cole was one of the 23-man squad selected for the friendly against Switzerland which they won 2–1, courtesy of Jermaine Jenas and Shaun Wright-Phillips goals. For Jenas' goal, Cole received the ball on the left wing, and with a quick bit of trickery, he lured his defender into an early tackle and skipped past. He then passed a smart ball through the box to Jenas who did not have to raise a leg. Cole received Man of the match for his performance.

In August 2008, Cole scored a late equalising goal in a 2–2 draw at Wembley against the Czech Republic after coming on as a substitute. He then scored England's two goals in the next fixture after coming on as a second half substitute in the 2–0 defeat of Andorra in the opening match for the 2010 World Cup Qualifers. In England's next world cup qualifier against Croatia he suffered a head injury in a clash with Croatian defender Robert Kovač which resulted in the Croatian's sending off. After initially getting up he then collapsed and had to be substituted. However he was able to come back and watch the remainder of the match.

Cole was named in the final 23 man selection for England's 2010 World Cup squad.[17] He played in, and scored, in a 3-0 victory against the Platinum Stars, of South Africa's Premier Soccer League, in an unofficial warm-up game.[18] However he was limited to just two substitute appearances in the tournament itself as England lost to Germany in the second round.

Personal life

Cole married fitness instructor[19] Carly Zucker in June 2009.[20] Cole had been dating Zucker since 2002 and proposed to her in 2007. The couple have a daughter, Ruby Tatiana Cole, born in March 2010.

In November 2009, Cole was caught driving his Audi A4 at 105mph on a 70mph section of dual carriageway in Claygate, Surrey.[21] At the subsequent court case, Cole was warned he could lose his driving licence and was ordered to pay £600 costs.[21] He has launched an appeal concerning his driving ban.[21]

Honours

West Ham United

UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1999

Chelsea

Premier League: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2009–10

Football League Cup: 2004–05, 2006–07

FA Cup: 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10

FA Community Shield: 2005

Individual

West Ham 'Hammer of the Year': 2003

PFA Team of the Year: 2006

Chelsea Player of the Year: 2008

Premier League Player of the Month: March 2005