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Joe Cole Profile |
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Birth Date: November 8, 1981
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Birth Place: Islington, London, England, UK
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Birth Name: Joseph John Cole
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Height: 5'9"
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Biography |
Joseph John Cole (born November 8, 1981 in Islington,
London) is a professional footballer who plays for Chelsea
FC of the English Premier League and the England national
team. He is a right-footed midfielder with an avowed
preference for a central position but has enjoyed most
success playing as a left or right-sided midfielder at
Chelsea, due to his fine dribbling abilities and ball
control. This is because he has learned to be somewhat
two-footed, making him a very versatile player.
Cole was born in Islington, London and lived there before
moving to Camden at the age of seven.
A child prodigy who received national media attention as a
schoolboy 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. Cole
became club captain at 19. Whilst his sublime touch and
dribbling prowess won him many plaudits (and several England
caps), his career stagnated in his last few years at the
club, especially after West Ham parted company with manager
Harry Redknapp.
In 2003, Cole moved to Chelsea as part of Roman Abramovich's
'Russian Revolution' for £6,600,000 with a view to
establishing himself in the England 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 Chelsea and England under Claudio Ranieri.
According to Cole, Ranieri had wanted to send him to Russia
on loan to CSKA Moscow just days after finalising his
transfer. Cole refused to move and stayed in Chelsea, but
figured irregularly throughout the first half of season
2003-04 and was reduced to a peripheral figure after Ranieri
signed Scott Parker in January 2004.
He was a squad member at Euro 2004, but did not play.
Cole had long been praised for his technical skills and
creativity but criticised for his lack of all-round
contribution to the team and the inadequacy of his end
product. After the arrival of new Chelsea manager José
Mourinho in 2004, Cole initially continued to struggle,
though he soon found himself making more appearances than he
did during Ranieri's stewardship.
In January 2005, Cole was publicly criticised by Mourinho
after scoring the winner against Liverpool for neglecting
his defensive duties. Mourinho famously described Cole as a
player 'with two faces', with one 'face' that he liked
(referring to Cole's vision and technical ability) and
another 'face' that he did not (referring to Cole's lack of
enthusiasm for defensive duties).
Cole responded positively to this and took advantage of
injuries to other players (most notably Arjen Robben) 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
season in the Premier League for 2004-05.
At Chelsea, the strong competition for places has meant that
he has struggled to hold a first team role, with Arjen
Robben and Shaun Wright-Phillips providing stiff
competition. Doubts have been expressed over his ability to
play in the left wing position for the England national
side, with some calling for natural left-footer Stewart
Downing and even pacy teenager Theo Walcott to be given a
chance.
However, Cole played in the England side throughout 2005 and
early 2006, competing in internationals against Denmark,
Northern Ireland, and Argentina. As of 2 March 2006, he has
earned 30 caps for England (11 as a starting player) and
scored five goals.
Cole scored 10 goals for Chelsea in 2004-05 and he also
registered in the Champions League against Real Betis.
Although Cole prefers to play in the centre of midfield, it
appears as though his opportunities will come as a wide
attacker under Mourinho.
In January 2006 Cole received publicity as the loser in a
drunken bustup over Page 3 Girl Keeley Hazell, triggered
when another admirer saw the two "getting on well [and]
copped the right hump about it."
In the first half of the 2005-06 season Cole enhanced his
reputation considerably, moved up the Chelsea pecking order
ahead of Wright-Phillips and Duff, and was named in the
PFA's team of the season. His status was such that by March
2006, he was considered Chelsea's most creative player by
many pundits, and his omission from the starting lineup by
Mourinho, who was testing a narrower 'midfield diamond'
approach, was held up as the principal cause of Chelsea's
2-1 defeat to Liverpool F.C. in the semi-finals of the 2006
FA Cup competition.
In June 2006, Cole was entered in the top ten goals of the
season for the second season running, this time for an
effort in a 3-0 victory against Manchester United where he
produced marvellous sleight of foot to evade Rio Ferdinand
and Nemanja Vidic before slamming the ball high past Edwin
Van Der Sar.
Later that month, Cole extended his contract with Chelsea FC
for another 4 seasons. Cole's position at Stamford Bridge
appears to have been strengthened by the departure of Duff
to Newcastle United on 23 July 2006.
He is engaged to fitness instructor Carly Zucker who was one
of the prominent WAGs at this year's World Cup.The couple
live in Cole's £3million home in Cobham, Surrey.
Cole missed the first three months of Chelsea's season and
England's first four Euro 2008 qualifiers after sustaining
an injury to his right knee in Chelsea's pre-season tour of
America, but made his return to first-team action on 14
October 2006, coming on as a second-half substitute in
Chelsea's 1-0 victory at Reading. Cole scored his first goal
of the 2006-07 season against Blackburn Rovers in a 2 goal
win in the third round of the Carling Cup.
Cole, like most footballers is a big fan of cars and has
owned various luxury saloons including a Mercedes S-Class.
His sparkling displays in England's friendlies leading up to
the 2006 World Cup have also enhanced his reputation ahead
of the summer's showcase 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. This result can be
attributed to Cole's spectacular play. He scored a
spectacular goal in the 34th minute of the match and got an
assist in the 85th when he sent in a beautiful ball to
Steven Gerrard. At the end of the match, Budweiser announced
that Cole received the Man of the Match. |
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Other Information |
Played for West Ham United FC.
English footballer.
Midfielder.
Plays for Chelsea FC.
Attended St. Aloysius College in Highgate, North London
He played for England in the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups
of Soccer. |
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I love him sooooooooooooo much!!!!!!!!!!!
He's so amazing
Love you Joe Cole xxx mwah xxx
I LOVE U j.cole