Joe Cole

Joseph John "Joe" Cole (born 8 November 1981 in Islington, London, England) is a professional Association football who plays for Chelsea F.C. of the FA Premier League and plays for the England national football team. Joe Cole started Joe Cole career with West Ham United F.C. where Joe Cole played more than 100 games during five years, until Joe Cole left for Chelsea in 2003. Joe Cole has won a number of trophies with Chelsea, including two Premier League titles and the 2007 FA Cup Final.

Biography

Joe Cole was born in Paddington, London, England and lived there until Joe Cole moved to Camden Town at the age of six. Joe Cole 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 College, London in North London. The family home in recent years was in Romford.

West Ham United

A child prodigy who received national media attention as a schoolboy, Joe Cole 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 F.C. youth system, Cole was long touted as the hottest prospect in English football with Manchester United reportedly offering to pay GBP10 million for Joe Cole services as a 16-year-old. Playing in a mould similar to former England favourite Paul Gascoigne, Joe Cole quickly progressed through the West Ham ranks before making Joe Cole 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.

Chelsea

2003–04

In 2003, Joe Cole moved to Chelsea for £6,600,000 where Joe Cole found it difficult to play for Joe Cole national team. However, due to the stiff competition for places at the club, Joe Cole initially struggled to hold down a place in the team for both England and Chelsea under Claudio Ranieri.

First team breakthrough

In 2005, Cole was publicly criticised by Mourinho after scoring the winner against Liverpool for neglecting Joe Cole 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. Joe Cole 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 Joe Cole hit a run of goals towards the end of the season, and Joe Cole goal against Norwich (blasted in from 22 yards off Joe Cole 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 Joe Cole two Premier League Champions' medals. Joe Cole 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 Joe Cole contract with Chelsea for another four seasons. Joe Cole ended Joe Cole season by scoring the one of the three goals against Manchester United, which sealed the title for Chelsea.

2006–07

In January 2007, Cole underwent surgery for a stress fracture Joe Cole foot Joe Cole suffered in late 2006. Cole made Joe Cole 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. Joe Cole started for Chelsea in their 2007 FA Cup Final victory over Manchester United, and went on to be substituted at half time.

2007–08

In 2007–08 Cole scored another brilliant goal in the Football League Cup semi finals against Everton F.C. on which sent Chelsea to another final. Despite Joe Cole form, manager Avram Grant opted not to play Joe Cole in the final, losing out on silverware as Tottenham Hotspur F.C. triumphed 2-1.

Cole's form that season earned much praise from Joe Cole manager and the media alike, and this was shown when Joe Cole 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 Joe Cole award, Joe Cole 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,' Joe Cole said.

2008–09

Speaking at a sponsoredbyyou.com fans forum organised by England Team Sponsors Nationwide Building Society on 12 August 2008, Cole admitted Joe Cole faces one of the most important seasons of Joe Cole career, playing under a new manager for both club and country. Joe Cole 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 Luis Felipe Scolari era in a 4-0 win against Portsmouth F.C.. Joe Cole scored Joe Cole second against FC Girondins de Bordeaux in the Champions League Group Stage in the 4-0 victory. Joe Cole scored Joe Cole third goal against Aston Villa F.C on October 5 in a 2-0 victory.

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

National team

Cole made Joe Cole international debut against Mexico national football team in May 2001.

Joe Cole displays in England's friendlies leading up to the 2006 World Cup enhanced Joe Cole reputation ahead of the summer's finals in Germany. In May 2006 Joe Cole was confirmed in the England squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, ahead of Chelsea teammate Shaun Wright-Phillips. Joe Cole played on the left side of midfield in England's opening game against Paraguay national football team on June 10 2006.

On June 20, 2006, England national football team drew with Sweden national football team, 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 Joe Cole sent in a ball to Steven Gerrard. At the end of the match, Budweiser (Anheuser-Busch) 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 national football team, providing an assist for Wayne Rooney from a cross. After another injury, Joe Cole returned to start the friendly against Brazil national football team at Wembley Stadium on 1 June.

Cole scored Joe Cole seventh goal for England in June 2007, in their European Championship qualifier, away to Estonia national football team, Cole was one of the 23-man squad selected for the friendly against Switzerland national football team 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, Joe Cole lured Joe Cole defender into an early tackle and skipped past. Joe Cole 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 Joe Cole performance.

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

Personal life

Cole has been dating fitness instructor Carly Zucker since 2002. Cole proposed to Zucker, 24, 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 got married on 20th June 2009.