Former Chelsea, Liverpool, West Ham and England star Joe Cole retires from playing football

Former Chelsea, Liverpool, West Ham and England star Joe Cole retires from playing football
Joe Cole has has announced his retirement.The 37-year-old made 716 professional appearances, scoring 104 goals for seven clubs, including West Ham and Chelsea and finished his career with Tampa Bay Rowdies in the United Soccer League.He earned 56 England caps and appeared in three World Cup tournaments after making his debut aged 19 following an impressive start to his career at West Ham.Cole said in a statement: “After 20 years as a professional, the time has come for me to hang up my boots. It has been a dream come true. All of it.“Whatever is next, I hope the next two decades are as special as my last 20 years as a professional have been. A huge thanks to everyone who helped me along that path.”Cole joined West Ham at the age of eight and made 187 appearances, scoring 18 goals, in two spells, from 1998 to 2003 and 2013 to 2014.He made his debut as a 17-year-old in January 1999, graduating to become captain, leaving for Chelsea only after the Hammers’ relegation from the Premier League in 2003.Cole won every domestic honour during his time at Chelsea, contributing to the Blues’ first championship in 50 years in the 2004/05 under Jose Mourinho.European success proved elusive as Cole was in the Chelsea side beaten by Manchester United on penalties in the 2008 Champions League final in Moscow.A two-and-a-half-year spell at Liverpool saw Cole make just 42 appearances, scoring five goals, and included a 2011/12 loan spell in Ligue 1 at Lille, where he played alongside Eden Hazard.A season-long return to West Ham was followed by spells at Aston Villa, Coventry and then the Rowdies.Cole was part of England’s so-called ‘Golden Generation’ and playing alongside David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes, Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard, plus Chelsea team-mates John Terry and Frank Lampard.Cole scored one of England’s best World Cup goals when he lashed this effort past Sweden in 20062
Cole scored one of England’s best World Cup goals when he lashed this effort past Sweden in 2006
He added: “I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have played with some of the very best players of my era and even more fortunate to call a lot of them friends.“Winning trophies at Chelsea was particularly special for me. Those memories will live with me forever, as will the chance I had to share them with my family. “Looking to the future, I want to stay involved in the game. I feel I can offer a lot as a coach.“To lend my experience to help other young footballers achieve their dreams, just like I did, is a big passion of mine.”Want to see talkSPORT’s brilliant Breakfast duo Alan Brazil and Ally McCoist live on tour? Buy tickets for their London show here.

Arsenal fans at the Emirates stadium.

Premier League: Arsenal's Shkodran Mustafi back in squad for Crystal Palace clash; Kieran Gibbs misses out Friday, 30 December 2016 Arsenal, who are fourth in the table and nine points behind leaders Chelsea after 18 games, will hope to continue their 22-year unbeaten home run against 17th-placed Palace.
Ex-Arsenal star Frimpong slams Granit Xhaka after Brighton

Morrison scored a superb solo goal for West Ham in 2013

Premier League prize money 2018-19: How much every team earned as Liverpool land fortune. Manchester City took the Premier League title, but it's Liverpool who took home the most money in 2018-19
Liverpool will earn more Premier League prize money than

Gareth Bale could leave Real Madrid in the summer

David de Gea's future at Manchester United is uncertain, as he looks for assurances over the club's ambitions and seeks wage parity. Now, a Twitter post has fans on high alert.
Man Utd fans react as David de Gea 'drops transfer hint' with

1. Xavi loved Matt Le Tissier  scroll through the gallery to see other footballers and their biggest idols

WHAT A SIGHT The second test event saw saw Tottenham Legends take on Inter Forever and the Spurs faithful and Ardiles took the opportunity to gush about the club's new home Tottenham's slick new stadium saw its first piece of football last weekend and it wowed all those who attended including talkSPORT's Ian Abrahams, who
Simply the best' - Tottenham fans and former player Ossie

Will Adams become a Hornet?

Gordon Taylor PFA exit backed by former chairman Clarke Carlisle. Former Burnley and QPR defender Clarke Carlisle was PFA chairman from 2010 - 2013 "The BAME issue, talking about equality
~ Gordon Taylor PFA exit backed by former chairman Clarke

Ally McCoist was shocked by how poorly Scotland played against Kazakhstan

Would Tottenham winning the Premier League title be BIGGER than Leicester's famous triumph? Danny Murphy in talkSPORT debate. 'If Tottenham win the title this season, would it be a bigger
Would Tottenham winning the Premier League title be BIGGER

Harry Winks stooped low to win the game for Spurs

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino jokingly said last night that even the Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is now 'worried' that he will leave the Premier League club. Football pundits heavily praised Pochettino after he led his team with a 1-1 draw against Barcelona this Wednesday at the UEFA Champions League.
Levy is 'worried' about speculation over my future, jokes

Salah lay motionless on the St James’ Park turf after the collision

Mar 08, 2019 · Pep Guardiola has mounted a staunch defence of Manchester City's reputation as their fight to win four trophies comes under threat of being tarnished after the Premier League became the fourth
Pep Guardiola trusts Manchester City to resolve Financial

Klopp spoke about Sturridge’s FA charge for the first time

'He spun me and I nearly did my back in': Raheem Sterling jokes he almost injured himself trying to stop 'great talent' Jadon Sancho in training stop him in training at Manchester City
Raheem Sterling jokes about difficulty of stopping Jadon

Yannick Bolasie has returned to Everton after his loan spell was ended at Villa

FA appeals against decision to clear Jose Mourinho of using foul language Footage showed Mourinho making comments in his mother tongue, at one point looking into a camera.
FA release Jose Mourinho statement on Manchester United

Harry Kane and Dele Alli are crucial to Tottenhams long-term success

Arsenal activate Nacho Monreal's contract extension clause. Plus how Aubameyang reacted to winning the club's player of the month award.

Roberto Firmino draws Liverpool level after good work from Mo Salah

Jose Mourinho is the shock name in the frame to take over as Celtic manager next season. The odds on the Portuguese boss taking over at Parkhead have been slashed from 66/1 down to 14/1 with bookmakers Paddy Power.
Next Celtic manager: Jose Mourinho SECOND favourite to become

A 2-0 victory against Cardiff sent Man City back to the top of the Premier League

Arsenal legend David Seaman has urged Unai Emery to drop Petr Cech and play Bernd Leno in the Europa League final. Cech is set to bring down the curtain on his playing career with a final
Arsenal should drop Petr Cech for Bernd Leno in Europa League

Post a Comment

0 Comments