Players - Joe Cole

Joe Cole
Birthdate: 8 November 1981
Birthplace: Islington, London, England
Other clubs: West Ham United (1997-2003), Chelsea (2003-10), Lille (loan 2011-12), West Ham United (2 / 2013-14), Aston Villa (2014-), Coventry City (loan 2015), Coventry City (free transfer 2016), Tampa Bay Rowdies (2016-18)
Signed from: Free Transfer
Signed for LFC: Bosman, 21.07.2010
International debut: 25.05.2001 vs. Mexico
International caps: 56/10 - 27.06.2010
Liverpool debut: 05.08.2010
Last appearance: 26.12.2012
Debut goal: 16.09.2010
Last goal: 09.12.2012
Contract expiry: 04.01.2013
Win ratio: 38.1% W:16 D:11 L:15
Games/goals ratio: 8.4
Games/assists ratio: 10.5
Total games/goals opposite LFC: 28 / 4
League games / goals / assists: 26 / 3 / 1
Total games / goals / assists: 42 / 5 / 4

Player Profile

An England international with 56 full caps at the time of his move to Anfield, Cole was already well known by Liverpool supporters as someone who had been a thorn in their side on several occasions, having scored the winning goal for Chelsea against the Reds in both Premier League matches during the 2004/05 season; and also the opening goal in the Champions League semi-final tie two seasons later. Born in London, Cole was one of a number of fine, young English players who came through West Ham United’s youth system in the 1990s. He was part of the West Ham team who won the FA Youth Cup in 1999 and had also come to the attention of the men who ran the national set-up by scoring seven times in a youth match against Spain. At the start of 2003 Hammers manager, Glenn Roeder made Cole his captain at the young age of 21. But West Ham were soon relegated from the Premier League and it was pretty much inevitable that Cole, who had just been named "Hammer of the Year", would move on. Cole joined Chelsea and settled quickly into life at Stamford Bridge, playing in 97 of the maximum 114 Premier League matches in his first three seasons. The second and third of those seasons brought him his first tangible senior success as Chelsea won and then retained the Premier League title. Cole made a big impression at international level when the World Cup was held in Germany in 2006, scoring a thrilling volley to open the scoring in the group game against Sweden before later creating a goal for Steven Gerrard in the same match.

Injury restricted Cole’s club and international appearances in 2006/07 as he needed surgery on his foot at the start of 2007, but he recovered in time to win an FA Cup-winners’ medal at the end of the season. By the middle of 2008, he had reached a crucial stage of his career playing under new managers; Scolari and Capello, for both club and country. Unfortunately, injury again hit his hopes and he missed the second half of the 2008/09 season after requiring knee surgery. He didn't appear for the first team again until September. Even though his appearances were restricted, he scored a crucial goal at Old Trafford late in the season in a victory that ultimately saw the Blues regain the Premier League trophy they had relinquished to Manchester United in 2007. Cole’s Chelsea contract ran out at the end of June 2010, at which time he was in England’s World Cup squad in South Africa, a tournament in which he added to his growing total of international games with two substitute appearances. Cole arrived at Anfield with probably more winners’ medals than any player who has previously signed for Liverpool Football Club. Still the right side of thirty, he was expected to be of good use to the squad with 300+ Premier League appearances and 50+ England caps to his name.

It's fair to say that Cole's debut season as a Liverpool player was far from being the success it was expected to be when he arrived effectively as Roy Hodgson's first signing as the Milan Jovanovic deal had been instigated by the previous manager. Cole's start to his Liverpool career was nothing short of disastrous. Cole's Premier League debut lasted only 45 minutes before he was sent off against Arsenal at Anfield. His next home appearance saw him miss a penalty against Trabzonspor in the Europa League. Cole only started 19 of Liverpool's 54 competitive matches and was a substitute in 13 more. Dalglish gave him his first start in over two months on the final day of the 2010/11 season at Aston Villa but Cole failed to impress. Cole was loaned to French Ligue 1 champions, Lille, for the 2011/12 season. Though disappointed to leave Liverpool it was an exciting move for Cole: “Lille are a club with great pedigree and it’s really exciting to have an opportunity to play in the Champions League again." Cole had a good loan spell even though Lille were unable to successfully defend their title, scoring four times in 32 Ligue 1 matches. Cole, who was according to Brendan Rodgers, signed for "astronomical amount of money", reportedly on £90,000 a week, returned to West Ham on a free transfer in January 2013 with a rumoured pay-off of £3 million, but the club is said to have saved itself at least £3.5 million in wages for Cole for the remaining 18 months of his contract.

Cole made eight first-team appearances for West Ham in 2012-13, scoring twice. He played a part in 25 first-team matches in the following season but only in 11 of those matches did he make the starting team. His 18-month contract with West Ham expired shortly after the end of the 2013/14 season and the club issued a statement saying that they would be releasing the player without offering him a further contract. So Cole became a free agent if he wished to still continue playing at the age of thirty-two and a half. On 10 June 2014 Cole signed a two-year deal to join Aston Villa, where he was an unused substitute in the 2015 FA Cup final. After just one League cup appearance as a substitute at the start of 2015/16, Cole joined Coventry City in October, initially on an emergency loan deal. The move became a permanent deal in January and at the end of the season, he signed a two year deal with North American Soccer League side Tampa Bay Rowdies. Cole remained with the Rowdies for three seasons, making almost 100 appearances in all competitions. Cole announced his retirement from playing on 13 November 2018 and the following month returned to Chelsea as an Academy coach.

Appearances per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 26 0 1 15 0 42
2010-2011 20 0 0 12 0 32
2011-2012 0 0 0 0 0 0
2012-2013 6 0 1 3 0 10
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps Minutes Opponent
3 122 Aston Villa
2 180 Trabzonspor
2 168 Blackburn Rovers
2 165 Braga
2 163 Steaua Bucharest
2 143 Sparta Prague
2 137 Utrecht
2 110 West Ham United
2 91 Manchester United
2 91 Sunderland
2 70 Bolton Wanderers
2 59 Swansea City
2 36 Stoke City
2 14 WBA
1 90 Rabotnicki
1 88 Blackpool
1 79 Everton
1 77 Anzhi Makhachkala
1 75 Young Boys
1 45 Arsenal
1 23 Gomel
1 17 Wolves
1 13 Napoli
1 8 Fulham
1 6 Birmingham City
1 3 Newcastle United
1 2 Tottenham
Total Started/substitutions
23 Started
9 On the bench
19 Substitute
15 Substituted
Total Venue
21 Away
21 Home
Total Competition
26 Premier League
15 Europa League
1 League Cup
Total W D L Win % Manager
19 8 6 5 42.1% Roy Hodgson
13 6 2 5 46.2% Kenny Dalglish
10 2 3 5 20% Brendan Rodgers
Goals per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 3 0 0 2 0 5
2010-2011 2 0 0 1 0 3
2011-2012 0 0 0 0 0 0
2012-2013 1 0 0 1 0 2
A more detailed look at the player's goalscoring
Total Started/substitutions
2 Started
3 Substitute
Total Competition
3 Premier League
2 Europa League
Total Goal minute period
1 1-15 minutes
1 61-75 minutes
3 76-90 minutes
Total Goal origin
5 Open play
Assists per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 1 0 0 3 0 4
2010-2011 1 0 0 2 0 3
2011-2012 0 0 0 0 0 0
2012-2013 0 0 0 1 0 1
A more detailed look at the player's assists
Milestone Appearances
# Date Against Stadium Competition
1 05.08.2010 Rabotnicki Anfield Europe
Milestone Goals
# Minute Date Against Stadium Competition
1 1 16.09.2010 Steaua Bucharest Anfield Europe
Related Articles
Cole was on a steep decline when he joined Liverpool

Joe Cole has admitted he wouldn’t join Liverpool if he had his time again - and only left Chelsea because he knew he was on the decline as a player. From January 2024.

Liverpool fans should be encouraged by start to season

Liverpool Echo match report on Liverpool - Arsenal on 15.08.2010.

Detailed profile on Joe Cole

Joe Cole became Roy Hodgson's first signing for Liverpool.

Reds comfortably ease through in the Europa League

Match report from Liverpool Echo on Liverpool FC 2 Rabotnicki 0 on 5th August 2010.

Related Quotes

I thought about the semi-final of the Champions League in 2005 when I ran on to the field and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I was thinking about playing in that atmosphere every week and that swung it for me.

Joe Cole on his decision to sign for Liverpool

We tried our very hardest to get him. The chairman made Joe a fantastic offer. But, in the end, we were competing with a club that has years and years of tradition and a reputation as one of the biggest clubs in the world. I got a lovely message from Joe to inform me of his decision. He explained it. I think he wants to move for football reasons. He wants to be part of a transformation at Liverpool. I think maybe getting away from London and a clean break was part of it too. Whatever his reasons he has been genuine the whole way through. Joe is a bit of a throw-back, if you like. He has class and his manners are impeccable. I will always see him as the 11-year-old boy I first clapped eyes on at West Ham and I can only wish him all the best and hope his move is successful. Everywhere I went this summer Spurs fans were asking me 'Are we going to get him?' Daniel Levy pushed the boat out for him, he really did. No one can fault the effort we made to try to get him but it wasn't to be and I fully respect Joe's decision.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp was frustrated to miss out on the signing of free agent Joe Cole

Other Clubs
Club Season Club rank League apps League goals Total apps Total goals
West Ham United 1998-1999 England Premier League 8 0 9 0
West Ham United 1999-2000 England Premier League 22 1 31 2
West Ham United 2000-2001 England Premier League 30 5 36 5
West Ham United 2001-2002 England Premier League 30 0 33 1
West Ham United 2002-2003 England Premier League 36 4 40 5
Chelsea 2003-2004 England Premier League 35 1 41 3
Chelsea 2004-2005 England Premier League 28 8 37 8
Chelsea 2005-2006 England Premier League 34 8 41 10
Chelsea 2006-2007 England Premier League 13 0 24 1
Chelsea 2007-2008 England Premier League 33 7 54 10
Chelsea 2008-2009 England Premier League 14 2 20 3
Chelsea 2009-2010 England Premier League 26 2 39 2
Lille 2011-2012 France 1 32 4 43 9
West Ham United 2012-2013 England Premier League 11 2 12 2
West Ham United 2013-2014 England Premier League 20 3 25 3
Aston Villa 2014-2015 England Premier League 12 1 15 1
Aston Villa 2015-2016 Premier League 0 0 1 0
Coventry City 2015-2016 England League One 22 2 22 2
Tampa Bay Rowdies 2016 USA 1 24 9 26 9
Tampa Bay Rowdies 2017 USA 2 20 6 21 6
Tampa Bay Rowdies 2018 USA 2 9 2 10 2
Total 459 67 580 84