Joe Cole: The Eastender who produced moments of fantasy

“None of us has seen a kid like him in our lives” – Harry Redknapp.

A winner of three Premier Leagues and two FA Cups, Joe Cole called time on his playing career this week.

The thirty-seven year old, who scored ten goals in fifty-six appearances for England, labelled his twenty years of being a professional footballer as a “dream come true.”

In a career spanning over seven-hundred matches for seven different clubs, Joe Cole produced moments of ultimate magic, including these five examples.

Debut for the Hammers:

Having longed been talked about in the world of football since he joined the Irons at eight years of age, Joe Cole made his first team bow in an FA Cup tie against Swansea in 1999. High hopes were expected of the youngster after having trained with the first team since he was fifteen and being described by Rio Ferdinand as the “best two touch player in the squad.”

Now, at just seventeen, the midfielder effortlessly made the transition into first team football looking more than at home on the pitch. Just days later, his story really began, making his Premier League debut against Manchester United.

Captain of the Irons:

At twenty-one years of age, Joe Cole was surprisingly handed the role all hardened West Ham supporters could only dream of; wearing the armband of your boyhood club.

Despite some huge, daunting characters in the changing room, notably names such as Paolo Di Canio and Les Ferdinand, Joe Cole was fearless in his approach of taking on the added responsibility. Playing the game he loved, with  a unique combination of passion and maturity beyond his years, the academy graduate took his game to the next level, bagging the “Hammer of the Year Award” that season.

Peak Cole:

On the twenty-ninth of April 2006, many saw the goal that epitomized a peak Joe Cole.

Receiving the ball on the edge of the box with his back to goal, the now Chelsea man held off Nemanja Vidic whilst sending three Manchester United players the wrong way with a graceful dip of the shoulder. Slotting the ball into the back of the net with a cool, composed finish, Joe Cole and his trusty right foot helped Chelsea seal the Premier League title.

A goal rich with pace, trickery and calmness, en-captured the undoubted talent Joe Cole possessed, proving to be one of his defining moments.

A goal from the Gods:

Little under two months later, Joe Cole produced another majestic flash of brilliance. This time, it was on the biggest stage of them all. In a World Cup group game against Sweden, Joe Cole picked up the second ball, well outside the box. Chesting the ball upwards, he unleashed a dipping volley into the top corner.

It was one of many examples highlighting his mental fortitude and belief in his own ability, attempting something so spectacular most players wouldn’t dare to dream. Speaking after the game, England Boss, Sven-Goran Eriksson summed up the player perfectly, “Joe Cole has always been a special player, full of fantasy.”

The return of the favourite son:

Ten years after leaving Upton Park, Joe Cole returned in January, 2013. Pulling on the claret and blue once more, the boy from Paddington dazzled the West Ham faithful, providing two assists on his second debut, coming in a 2-2 draw against Manchester United.

Throughout his career, Joe Cole’s love of the game has been unquestionable. A boy who kicked a football on his way to school never strayed from the essence of football. Now a man, Joe Cole played on the biggest stage with a playground love that remained undiminished.