Joe Cole

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Joe Cole
Personal information
Full name Joseph John Cole
Date of birth 8 November 1981 (1981-11-08) (age 26)
Place of birth    Romford, London, England
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)
Playing position Winger
Club information
Current club Chelsea
Number 10
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1998–2003
2003–		 West Ham United
Chelsea		 126 (10)
143 (34)   
National team2

2006
2001–		 England U21
England B
England		 008 0(2)
001 0(0)
050 0(7)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 21:52, 12 May 2008 (UTC).
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of 21:44, 28 May 2008 (UTC).
* Appearances (Goals)
For the rock band roadie and chronicler who was murdered, see Joe Cole (roadie).

Joseph "Joe" John Cole (born 8 November 1981 in Romford, London) is a professional footballer who plays for Chelsea of the English Premier League and the England national team.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Cole was born in Romford, East London and lived there until he moved to Camden at the age of six. He was adopted as a baby by mother Susan and father George. He was educated at St. Mary's Primary School in Marylebone along with brother Nicky and sister Charly, Haverstock school (Now Haverstock Business & Enterprise College) in Chalk Farm, Camden and St. Aloysius RC College in North London. The family home in recent years was in Romford.

[edit] 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, and a product of the famed West Ham United youth system, Cole 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. 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 also part of West Ham's victorious Youth Cup winning squad, 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. Sadly, for Cole and for West Ham United, the club was relegated at the end of that season from the Premiership with the highest points total ever recorded by a relegated side, 42.

[edit] Chelsea

[edit] 2003–04

In 2003, Cole moved to Chelsea as part of Roman Abramovich's 'Russian Revolution' for £6,600,000 with a view to establishing himself in the England national team. However, due to the stiff competition for places at the club, he initially struggled to hold down a place in the team for both England and Chelsea under Claudio Ranieri.

According to Cole, Ranieri had wanted to send him to Russia on loan to CSKA Moscow just days after finalizing his transfer. Cole refused to move and stayed in Chelsea, but figured irregularly throughout the first half of season 2003–04 and was reduced to a peripheral figure after Ranieri signed Scott Parker in January 2004.

[edit] 2004–05

Joe Cole had long been praised for his technical skills and creativity but criticised for his lack of all-round contribution to the team. After the arrival of new Chelsea manager José Mourinho in 2004, Cole initially continued to struggle, though he soon found himself making more appearances than he did during Ranieri's stewardship.

In January 2005, Cole was publicly criticised by Mourinho after scoring the winner against Liverpool for neglecting his defensive duties. Mourinho famously described Cole as a player 'with two faces', with one 'face' that he liked (Cole's vision and technical ability) and another 'face' that he did not (Cole's lack of appetite for defensive duties). Mourinho also substituted Cole with Portuguese midfielder Tiago Mendes shortly after Cole's goal, and explained later that it was because "after Cole scored, the game ended for him. We were playing with ten men afterwards because Cole stopped running, stopped playing."

Cole responded positively to this and took advantage of injuries to other players (most notably Arjen Robben) to become one of the stars of Chelsea's Premiership 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 adequately for several years. Cole's form saw him hit a run of goals towards the end of the season, and his goal against Norwich (blasted in from 22 yards off his weaker left foot) was voted in the top ten goals of the season in the Premier League for 2004–05. Cole scored 10 goals for Chelsea in 2004–05, and ended the season with the first of his two Premier League champions' medals.

[edit] 2005–06

At Chelsea, the strong competition for places meant that he struggled to hold a first team role, with Arjen Robben and new arrival Shaun Wright-Phillips providing stiff competition. In the first half of the 2005–06 season Cole enhanced his reputation considerably, he moved up the Chelsea pecking order ahead of Wright-Phillips and Damien Duff, and was named in the PFA's team of the season. His status was such that by March 2006, he was considered Chelsea's most creative player by many pundits, and his omission from the starting lineup by Mourinho, who was testing a narrower 'midfield diamond' approach, was held up as the principal cause of Chelsea's 2–1 defeat to Liverpool in the semi-finals of the 2006 FA Cup competition. Cole scored important goals, against Liverpool at Anfield, Arsenal at Highbury and against Manchester United at home by evading Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidić. During the 2005–06 season, Cole extended his contract with Chelsea for another four seasons. He ended his season by scoring a solo goal against Manchester United, which sealed the premiership.

[edit] 2006–07

Joe Cole in 2007
Joe Cole in 2007

Cole missed the first three months of Chelsea's season and England's first four Euro 2008 qualifiers after sustaining an injury to his right knee in Chelsea's pre-season tour of America, but made his return to first-team action on 14 October 2006, coming on as a second-half substitute in Chelsea's 1–0 victory at Reading. Cole scored his first goal of the 2006–07 season against Blackburn Rovers in a 2 goal win in the third round of the Carling Cup.

However, in January 2007, Cole underwent surgery for a stress fracture in the navicular bone of his foot he suffered in late 2006. Although he stated in a January 30th interview on the Chelsea website that he didn't want to give a timetable for his return, club doctor Bryan English stated on February 24, 2007 that Cole would return to play at the end of March or beginning of April.

Although not fully fit, Cole made his return for Chelsea in the first leg of Chelsea's 1–1 draw in a 2006–07 UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie against Valencia at Stamford Bridge. Cole contributed hugely to Chelsea's 2–1 victory in the second leg and 3–2 victory on aggregate. Cole started Chelsea's FA Cup semi-final against Blackburn, which Chelsea won 2–1 after extra-time, and made substitute appearances against Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham. In April 2007, Cole scored the only goal in Chelsea's defeat of Liverpool in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, at Stamford Bridge, giving Chelsea an advantage going into the away leg, which they lost 1–0 and crashed out of the Champions League on penalties.

[edit] 2007–08

In arguably Cole's best season for Chelsea, he scored the only goal in a 1-0 over former club West Ham with a crisp sidefoot finish into the top right corner and a stunning finish playing against Blackburn. His performances were consistent thereafter and he scored another brilliant goal in the Carling Cup semi finals against Everton F.C. on January 23, 2008 which sent Chelsea to another Wembley final. Despite his form, manager Avram Gran elected not to field the player in the Carling Cup Final against Tottenham Hotspur, with Chelsea ultimately losing out on silverware as Spurs triumphed 2-1. Cole showed his professionalism by netting twice in a 4-4 draw against the same opposition in the Premier League, and has featured consistently since. His tally of 10 goals thus far this campaign is the highest the player has reached in his career.

Cole's form this season has earned much praise from his manager and the media alike, and this was echoed when he won the Chelsea Fans' Player Of The Year award, voted by the fans. It is the first time Cole has collected the accolade, which was presented by former Chelsea captain Marcel Desailly. After receiving his award, he said : 'I always dreamt of playing for Chelsea and my other dream was to play for the best team in the world. I think I am doing both things at the moment so I am very happy. I take pleasure coming into work every day and playing with some of the best players in the world. I try to learn every day and we have some good banter.' 'I was trying to think of what to say, but I'm not used to that kind of thing. I'm happy but I'd like to thank the fans for voting for me, and also I want to be better next year,' he said.

[edit] Honours

[edit] National team

Joe Cole was a member of England's 2002 FIFA World Cup squad, but did not start any games and only made one substitute appearance off the bench.

He 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 2006 FIFA World Cup, ahead of Chelsea teammate Shaun Wright-Phillips. He played on the left side of midfield in England's opening game against Paraguay on June 10, 2006.

On June 20, 2006, England drew with Sweden, in the 2006 FIFA 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 FIFA 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 Stadium on 1 June.

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

On the February 7, 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.

[edit] Personal life

Cole has been dating fitness instructor Carly Zucker since 2002. Cole proposed to Zucker, 25, in 2007 after a dinner at London celebrity restaurant The Ivy. After Zucker had accepted, Cole gave her a £50,000 ring at their Surrey mansion. They intend to marry at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea on June 28, 2008, but were told they would have to worship there for six months and then get special dispensation from the Archbishop to become eligible. Hence the wedding ceremony will be held elsewhere locally, before the reception at the Royal Hospital. [1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Perthen, Amanda (2008-05-11). Nice place for a WAG wedding. Mail on Sunday. Retrieved on 2008-05-11.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
England squad - 2002 FIFA World Cup
1 Seaman • 2 Mills • 3 A. Cole • 4 Sinclair • 5 Ferdinand • 6 Campbell • 7 Beckham • 8 Scholes • 9 Fowler • 10 Owen • 11 Heskey • 12 Brown • 13 Martyn • 14 Bridge • 15 Keown • 16 Southgate • 17 Sheringham • 18 Hargreaves • 19 J. Cole • 20 Vassell • 21 Butt • 22 James • 23 Dyer • Coach: Eriksson
 Flag of England
v • d • e
England squad - UEFA Euro 2004
1 James • 2 G. Neville • 3 A. Cole • 4 Gerrard • 5 Terry • 6 Campbell • 7 Beckham • 8 Scholes • 9 Rooney • 10 Owen • 11 Lampard • 12 Bridge • 13 Robinson • 14 P. Neville • 15 King • 16 Carragher • 17 Butt • 18 Hargreaves • 19 J. Cole • 20 Dyer • 21 Heskey • 22 Walker • 23 Vassell • Coach: Eriksson
 Flag of England
v • d • e
England squad - 2006 FIFA World Cup
1 Robinson • 2 Neville • 3 A. Cole • 4 Gerrard • 5 Ferdinand • 6 Terry • 7 Beckham • 8 Lampard • 9 Rooney • 10 Owen • 11 J. Cole • 12 Campbell • 13 James • 14 Bridge • 15 Carragher • 16 Hargreaves • 17 Jenas • 18 Carrick • 19 Lennon • 20 Downing • 21 Crouch • 22 Carson • 23 Walcott • Coach: Eriksson
 Flag of England
v • d • e
Chelsea F.C. – current squad

1 Čech • 2 Ivanović • 3 A. Cole • 4 Makélélé • 5 Essien • 6 Carvalho • 7 Shevchenko • 8 Lampard • 9 Sidwell • 10 J. Cole • 11 Drogba • 12 Mikel • 13 Ballack • 14 Pizarro • 15 Malouda • 17 Sinclair • 18 Bridge • 20 Ferreira • 21 Kalou • 22 Ben Haim • 23 Cudicini • 24 Wright-Phillips • 26 Terry • 33 Alex • 35 Belletti • 39 Anelka • 40 Hilário • ¬ Bosingwa • Manager: Vacant


Persondata
NAME Cole, Joseph John
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Cole, Joe
SHORT DESCRIPTION Footballer
DATE OF BIRTH 1981-11-8
PLACE OF BIRTH Paddington, London, England
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH