JOE COLE profile from www.ContactThePlayers.com

Joe Cole is an attack-minded midfielder who plays for England and Chelsea in the English Premier League. Cole is equally adept with either foot, allowing him to play anywhere across the midfield, although he is at his best when he is using his pace and tricks on the flanks, beating defenders and getting crosses into the box. He has long been heralded for his ability to create opportunities out of nothing with sensational tricks, and is now being seen as the solution to England’s long-standing left-side conundrum. Childhood Joe Cole was born on 8th November 1981 in North London. His control of the ball, even as a youngster, led to him being signed up by West Ham United’s academy. His performances for the youth teams prompted a bid of over £10m from Manchester United when he was just 16 and without any first-team experience. West Ham rejected the bid, knowing that they needed to hold on to their best players.

Cole had massive potential, and signed professional forms for West Ham United. His performances for the youth teams made an early debut inevitable – he led West Ham to the FA Youth Cup in 1999, and made his first-team debut soon after aged just17 years old.

Cole’s technical skills and the exciting way in which he played the game ensured he soon became a favourite of the fans. Cole was able to beat defenders, and was an unknown quantity at that stage, which gave him the extra space to work his magic in. He soon became a first-team regular, alongside other youngsters Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard and Michael Carrick, all given their chance by manager Harry Redknapp.

After a heady season, finishing 5th, Redknapp left the club citing a lack of ambition, and some of the club’s best players were sold. Youth-team manager Glenn Roeder was given the post, and soon recognised Joe Cole’s importance to the team, making him captain at just 21 years old. The season ended badly, with West Ham relegated, and Joe Cole one of the first to admit he wanted to move clubs to continue playing in the Premier League.

West Ham’s need to sell allowed Chelsea to snap up Joe Cole for just £7m – Cole had preferred to remain in London and turned down both Manchester United and Liverpool. Cole struggled to settle, even though he was once again playing alongside Frank Lampard, and was often used as a substitute – not least because just weeks after he signed for Chelsea, the club was taken over by Roman Abramovich, who provided the money to bring in other quality midfielders such as Juan Sebastian Veron.

With new manager Jose Mourinho, came new chances to make himself irreplaceable, and Joe Cole soon ensured he was one of the first names on the team-sheet – in spite of competition for his place from Damien Duff, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Arjen Robben. Cole was first-choice, but was criticised by Mourinho after scoring a last-gasp winner against Liverpool for neglecting his defensive duties!

Chelsea’s domination in the Premier League ensued, with Cole picking up two League winners medals, and various Cups. He had become an important player for Chelsea, who badly missed his spark when he was out for much of 2007 with a broken foot.

Cole has continued to play now that Felipe Scolari is in charge of the Blues, and is still using his tricks and flicks, though compliments this by tracking back and covering more miles on the pitch than most of his Chelsea team-mates.