Joseph John "Joe" Cole (born 8 November 1981 in Paddington, London) is a professional footballer who plays for Chelsea of the English Premier League and plays for 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 has won a number of trophies with Chelsea, including two Premier League titles and the 2007 FA Cup
He 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, Haverstock School voted the best school for education in England, (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 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. Sadly for Cole and for West Ham United, the club was relegated from the Premiership at the end of that season. Cole won the "Hammer of the Year award" for 2003.
[edit] Chelsea
[edit] 2003–04
In 2003, Joe Cole moved to Chelsea, the club he supported as a boy, for £6,600,000 where he found it difficult to play for his 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.
[edit] First team breakthrough
In 2005, Cole was publicly criticised by Mourinho after scoring the winner against Liverpool for neglecting his defensive duties. Cole responded positively to this and took advantage of injuries to other players 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 2004–05 Premier League season. Cole scored 10 goals for Chelsea in 2004–05 and ended the season with the first of his two Premier League Champions' medals. He was subsequently named in the PFA's team of the season.
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.
[edit] 2006–07
In January 2007, Cole underwent surgery for a stress fracture 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 2007 FA Cup Final victory over Manchester United, and went on to be substituted at half time.
[edit] 2007–08
In 2007–08 Cole scored another brilliant goal in the Football League Cup semi finals against Everton on which sent Chelsea to another final. Despite his form, manager Avram Grant opted not to play him in the final, losing out on silverware as Tottenham Hotspur triumphed 2-1.
Cole's form that season earned much praise from his manager and the media alike, and this was shown when he won the Chelsea Fans' Player Of The Year award. It is the first time Cole has collected the prize 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 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] 2008–09
Speaking at a sponsoredbyyou.com fans forum organised by England Team Sponsors Nationwide Building Society on 12 August 2008, Cole admitted he faces one of the most important seasons of his career, playing under a new manager for both club and country. He said: "I'm itching to get started and I think there's always a chance of redemption in football. There's games on top of games from now on. If you lose 5-0 on a Wednesday you can win 5-0 on a Saturday. So there's always a chance of redemption both with England and Chelsea. We want to be very successful this season with club and country. It's been a long summer with no football and it wasn't easy watching Euro 2008 on telly. But I've had a good break and now I'm itching to get started, get in the thick of it and get playing games again. It's a big season for me because I would probably say I'm close to my peak. I'm only 26 still but I've got a lot of experience now and know the game. I'm getting better every year and hopefully I can continue."
On August 17, 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 F.C on October 5 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, Joe missed the rest of the season.
[edit] 2009-10
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 September 23, 2009, in which he was also handed captain's armband. He also came on as a substitute in the Champions League game between Cyprian side Apoel Nicosia.[1] Joe Cole made his first Premier League appearance for Chelsea against side Blackburn. Joe Cole played in the Attacking Midfield role and influenced Chelsea to blast 5 goals against Blackburn.[2] On November 8 Joe played his 250th game for Chelsea, coming on as a substitute against Manchester United in the 62nd minute for Deco.
[edit] National team
Cole made his international debut against Mexico in May 2001. [1] He 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. 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 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 February 7, 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.
[edit] Personal life
Cole married fitness instructor[3] Carly Zucker on 20 June 2009.[4] Cole had been dating Zucker, 25, since 2002 and proposed to her 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.[4] In September 2009, Cole and Zucker announced that she is pregnant with their first child. [5]
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