Joe Cole facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Joe Cole

Cole in 2023
Personal information
Full name	Joseph John Cole
Date of birth	(1981-11-08) 8 November 1981 (age 43)
Place of birth	Paddington, London, England
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder, winger
Youth career
	Westward FC
1990–1998	West Ham United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1998–2003	West Ham United	126	(10)
2003–2010	Chelsea	183	(27)
2010–2013	Liverpool	26	(3)
2011–2012	→ Lille (loan)	32	(4)
2013–2014	West Ham United	31	(5)
2014–2016	Aston Villa	12	(1)
2015–2016	→ Coventry City (loan)	7	(1)
2016	Coventry City	15	(1)
2016–2018	Tampa Bay Rowdies	82	(20)
2021	Belstone	0	(0)
Total		514	(72)
International career
1997–1998	England U16	4	(0)
1999	England U18	5	(0)
2000–2003	England U21	8	(2)
2001–2010	England	56	(10)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Joseph John Cole (born 8 November 1981) is an English football coach and former professional footballer. He played as an attacking midfielder or winger. Many people thought he was a very talented young player. Some even said he was the most promising English footballer of his time.

Cole started his career at West Ham United. He played over 120 games there. In 2003, he moved to Chelsea. He spent seven seasons with Chelsea, playing over 280 games. He helped them win seven trophies, including three Premier League titles.

After Chelsea, he joined Liverpool in 2010. He also played on loan for Lille in France. Later, he returned to West Ham. He then played for Aston Villa and Coventry City.

Cole also played for the England national team. He played 56 times for England and scored 10 goals. He was part of England's squads for the 2002, 2006, and 2010 World Cups. He also played in Euro 2004. After retiring from playing in 2018, Cole became a coach at Chelsea.

Early Life and Football Start

Cole was born in Paddington, London. He lived there until he was six years old. Then, he moved to Somers Town.

Club Career Highlights

West Ham United: Rising Star

Joe Cole grew up playing in the West Ham United youth academy. He was very talented, similar to the famous English player Paul Gascoigne. Cole signed his first professional contract in November 1998. He made his first team debut at just 17 years old. This was on 2 January 1999, in an FA Cup match against Swansea City.

Eight days later, he played his first Premier League game. This was against Manchester United. In 1999, Cole helped West Ham win the FA Youth Cup. He scored his first goal for West Ham in November 1999. This was in a League Cup game against Birmingham City. In 2003, West Ham's manager, Glenn Roeder, made Cole the team captain. Cole was only 21 at the time. His last game for West Ham was on 11 May 2003. West Ham was relegated from the Premier League that season. Cole won the "Hammer of the Year Award" for 2003, which is given to the best player at West Ham.

Chelsea: Winning Trophies

Cole warming up before a match in December 2007

On 6 August 2003, Cole joined Chelsea. Chelsea paid £6.6 million for him. He was one of the first players signed after Roman Abramovich bought the club. Chelsea's manager, Claudio Ranieri, saw Cole as a great replacement for Gianfranco Zola.

First Season at Chelsea (2003–04)

Cole made his Chelsea debut a week after joining. It was a UEFA Champions League qualifier against MŠK Žilina. He came on as a substitute and helped Chelsea win 2–0. His first Premier League game for Chelsea was against Liverpool. He scored his first goal for the club in the League Cup against Notts County. He scored another League Cup goal against Aston Villa. His only league goal that season was against Newcastle United.

Becoming a Regular Player (2004–05)

In the 2004–05 season, Cole played more often. This was because other wingers, like Damien Duff and Arjen Robben, were injured. He became a key player in Chelsea's team that won the Premier League title. He also started in the League Cup Final against Liverpool, which Chelsea won. Cole scored ten goals for Chelsea this season. He ended the season with a Premier League winner's medal.

Another League Title (2005–06)

In the 2005–06 season, Cole became a regular starter for Chelsea. He signed a new contract with the club. He scored a goal in Chelsea's 3–0 win over Manchester United. This win secured the Premier League title for Chelsea. He was also chosen for the PFA Team of the Year.

Injuries and Comeback (2006–07)

In January 2007, Cole had surgery on his foot. He had suffered a stress fracture. He returned to play for Chelsea in a Champions League match against Valencia. He also started in Chelsea's win over Manchester United in the 2007 FA Cup Final.

Strong Performances (2007–08)

In the 2007–08 season, Cole scored a goal against his old club, West Ham. He chose not to celebrate out of respect. He also scored in the League Cup semi-finals against Everton. This goal sent Chelsea to another final. Cole played in the 2008 UEFA Champions League Final. Chelsea lost this final to Manchester United on penalties. He was named Chelsea Player of the Year in 2008.

Injury Setback (2008–09)

On 17 August 2008, Cole scored the first Premier League goal under Chelsea's new manager, Luiz Felipe Scolari. This was in a 4–0 win against Portsmouth. Later, he had knee surgery after an injury in an FA Cup game. This meant he missed the rest of the season.

Final Season at Chelsea (2009–10)

Cole missed the start of the 2009–10 season due to his knee injury. He returned to the starting team in a League Cup match in September 2009. He was also given the captain's armband in that game. On his 28th birthday, he played his 250th game for Chelsea. On 3 April 2010, Cole scored an important goal against Manchester United. This helped Chelsea win and move to the top of the league. He came on as a substitute when Chelsea won the 2010 FA Cup Final. His contract with Chelsea ended on 30 June 2010. He left Chelsea having won three Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and one League Cup.

Liverpool: A New Chapter

Joining Liverpool (2010–11)

Cole joined Liverpool on a free transfer in July 2010. He signed a four-year deal. He was the first player signed by manager Roy Hodgson. He was given the number 10 shirt. Club captain Steven Gerrard even said Cole was as skilled as Lionel Messi. Cole later said that joining Liverpool was a mistake for him.

Cole made his Liverpool debut on 5 August 2010. This was in a UEFA Europa League match. He was sent off in his league debut against Arsenal. He scored his first competitive goal for Liverpool against Steaua București in the Europa League. He scored his first Premier League goal for Liverpool in January 2011. This was in a 2–1 win against Bolton Wanderers.

Loan to Lille (2011–12)

Cole with Lille in 2011

On 31 August 2011, Cole moved to French champions Lille on a loan for the season. In his first game, he helped set up a goal in Lille's 3–1 win. He got another assist in his second game. On 24 September, he scored his first goal for Lille. He scored his second goal for Lille in a 3–1 win over Lyon. Cole scored his first hat-trick for Lille in a cup game in January 2012.

He scored his fourth league goal of the season in April. Cole played well during his time at Lille. He scored four goals in 27 league games and made three assists. Lille's manager wanted to keep him. However, Liverpool's new manager, Brendan Rodgers, wanted Cole to return to Liverpool.

Back at Liverpool (2012–13)

After his loan at Lille, Cole returned to Liverpool. Manager Brendan Rodgers wanted him in the team. He played in some pre-season matches. On 2 August 2012, Cole started his first Liverpool game in over a year. This was in a Europa League qualifier. He had to leave the game early due to a hamstring injury. On 22 November 2012, Cole started a Europa League game. He set up a goal and then scored Liverpool's second goal. On 9 December 2012, he scored a goal as Liverpool beat his former club West Ham 3–2.

Return to West Ham: Coming Home

In January 2013, Joe Cole returned to West Ham. He joined on a free transfer from Liverpool. He signed an 18-month contract. He made his second debut for West Ham on 5 January in an FA Cup game. He provided assists for both of West Ham's goals in a 2–2 draw. Cole scored his first league goal back at West Ham on 19 January 2013. He scored again for West Ham in February 2013. On 17 August 2013, Cole scored West Ham's first Premier League goal of the 2013–14 season. This was in a 2–0 win over Cardiff City.

Cole was out for six weeks with a hamstring injury in September 2013. In November 2013, he scored his second goal of the season. This was in a 3–0 win over Fulham. At the end of the 2013–14 season, Cole left West Ham. He had played 37 games and scored five goals in his second time at the club.

Aston Villa: New Challenges

In June 2014, Cole signed a two-year contract with Aston Villa. He joined on a free transfer. His first game for Aston Villa was on 27 August. This was in a League Cup match. His first Premier League game for Villa was on 18 October. On 29 November, Cole made his first start for Villa. He scored the first goal in a 1–1 draw against Burnley. He was a substitute in the 2015 FA Cup Final, which Villa lost to Arsenal.

Coventry City: Loan and Permanent Move

On 16 October 2015, Cole joined Coventry City on a short loan. He made his debut four days later. His first goal for Coventry came on 3 November. It was a free-kick from 20 yards. His loan was extended until January 2016.

On 7 January 2016, Cole signed a permanent deal with Coventry City. He played 22 league games for the club and scored two goals. Both of his goals were from long-range free kicks.

Tampa Bay Rowdies and Retirement

On 4 May 2016, Cole signed with the Tampa Bay Rowdies. This team plays in the North American Soccer League (NASL). He made his debut ten days later. Two weeks after that, he scored his first goal for the team. He was named the league's Player of the Week. In June 2018, Cole also became an assistant coach for the Rowdies.

Cole officially retired from playing football on 13 November 2018. After retiring, he took on a coaching role at Chelsea.

Belstone: A Brief Return

On 21 April 2021, Cole briefly came out of retirement. He played for Belstone in a local league. His friend, Aaron Lincoln, manages the team. Cole played the first half of a cup match, which Belstone won 2–1. He still trains with Belstone sometimes and has played in a couple more friendly matches.

International Career: Playing for England

As a young player, Cole played for England's under-17 team. He scored the winning goal in a tournament final. Cole made his first appearance for the senior England team in May 2001. This was against Mexico. He was part of England's squad for the 2002 World Cup. He also went to UEFA Euro 2004, but did not play.

Cole played very well in friendly games before the 2006 World Cup. He was chosen for England's World Cup squad in May 2006. He played in England's first game against Paraguay. On 20 June 2006, England drew 2–2 with Sweden. Cole scored a great goal in that match. He also assisted a goal for Steven Gerrard. He was named the Man of the match.

Cole scored his seventh goal for England in June 2007. This was in a Euro 2008 qualifying game against Estonia. On 7 February 2008, Cole was in the squad that beat Switzerland 2–1. He was named Man of the match for his performance.

In August 2008, Cole scored a late goal to draw 2–2 with the Czech Republic. He then scored both of England's goals in a 2–0 win against Andorra. This was in a qualifier for the 2010 World Cup. In the next World Cup qualifier, he got a head injury against Croatia.

Cole was chosen for England's 2010 World Cup squad. He played and scored in an unofficial warm-up game. However, he only played in two games as a substitute in the tournament. England lost to Germany in the second round. This was his last game for England.

Playing Style

Cole playing for Lille in 2011.

Joe Cole was a smart and skilled midfielder. He could play in many attacking positions. He was good as an attacking midfielder, a winger, or a supporting striker. He was quick, strong, and creative. Cole was especially known for his dribbling skills. He could both score goals and help others score. This was because of his good vision, passing, and shooting. The famous footballer Pelé praised Cole's dribbling. He said, "He has the skills of a Brazilian." Even with all his talent, some people think he could have achieved even more. This was partly because of the injuries he had throughout his career.

Media Appearances

In 2001, when he was 19, Joe Cole was featured in a BBC documentary. It was called Football's Dream Factory. Today, he works as a football expert, known as a pundit, for TNT Sports.

Personal Life

Joe Cole married fitness instructor Carly Zucker in June 2009. They had been dating since 2002. They have a daughter named Ruby Tatiana Cole, born in March 2010. They also have a son named Harrison "Harry" Cole, born in October 2012.

Cole wears contact lenses. He has used them since his early days playing for Chelsea.

Career Statistics

Club Appearances

International Appearances

Scores and results list England's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Cole goal.

List of international goals scored by Joe Cole

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	3 June 2003	Leicester, England	10	Serbia and Montenegro	2–1	2–1	Friendly
2	16 November 2003	Manchester, England	13	Denmark	2–1	2–3	Friendly
3	26 March 2005	Manchester, England	20	Northern Ireland	1–0	4–0	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
4	3 September 2005	Cardiff, Wales	25	Wales	1–0	1–0	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
5	1 March 2006	Liverpool, England	30	Uruguay	2–1	2–1	Friendly
6	20 June 2006	Cologne, Germany	35	Sweden	1–0	2–2	2006 FIFA World Cup
7	6 June 2007	Tallinn, Estonia	40	Estonia	1–0	3–0	UEFA Euro 2008 qualification
8	20 August 2008	London, England	51	Czech Republic	2–2	2–2	Friendly
9	6 September 2008	Barcelona, Spain	52	Andorra	1–0	2–0	2010 World Cup qualification
10					2–0

Honours and Awards

West Ham United

• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1999

Chelsea

• Premier League: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2009–10
• FA Cup: 2006–07, 2009–10
• Football League Cup: 2004–05; runner-up: 2007–08
• FA Community Shield: 2005
• UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2007–08

Individual Awards

• West Ham United Hammer of the Year: 2002–03
• Premier League Player of the Month: March 2005
• Ballon d'Or: Nominated: 2006
• PFA Team of the Year: 2005–06 Premier League
• Chelsea Player of the Year: 2008
• NASL Best XI: 2016

See also

In Spanish: Joe Cole para niños