The Joseph John Cole Story

The Early Years at West Ham

    Joe Cole started his career with West Ham and was touted as the hottest prospect in Engish football. At 16yrs old he was coveted by Manchester United as a young prospect but chose to stay with West Ham. He progressed through the West Ham ranks and signed professional terms in November 1998 before making his first team debut at age 17 in an FA Cup third round tie against Swansea City, eight days later he made his Premier League debut, away to Manchester United

His first silverware came on August 1999 after West Ham won the UEFA Intertoto Cup against Metz with an aggregate of 3-1. In January 2003, then West Ham manager Glenn Roeder gave Cole the club captain's armband at the age of 21. And on the same year he won the "Hammer of the Year award".

With England

Capped by England at under-16, under-18 and under-21 level, Cole was a full international between 2001 and 2010, capped by the England national team on 56 occasions, scoring 10 goals. He was selected for the England squad at the 2002, 2006 and 2010 World Cups and Euro 2004.