Joe Cole

He is from West Ham's academy, now playing in Chelsea. He has long way to go!


Cole was born in Islington, London and lived there until he moved to Camden at the age of seven. He was educated at St. Mary's Primary School in Marylebone along with brother Jarrod Cole, who is a rising rugby star, Haverstock Hill school in Camden and St. Aloysius RC college in North London.
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 was also part of West Ham's victorious Youth Cup winning squad that defeated Coventry City in 1999. In January 2003 Glenn Roeder, then West Ham manager gave Cole the club captain's armband at the age of 19. Sadly, for Cole and for West Ham, the club was relegated at the end of that season from the Premiership with the highest points total (42).

Chelsea
08 November 1981
Source: Wikipedia