Joe Cole rings down the curtain

Joe Cole has decided to pull down the curtain on his illustrious career as a fabulous era for one of the Hammers proudest products comes to an end.

Announcing his returement Joe said: “After 20 years as a professional, the time has come for me to hang up my boots.

“716 professional games, 104 goals, for seven great clubs, as well the honour of playing for England. It has been a dream come true. All of it.”

Cole made his first-team debut for the Hammers in 1999, at just 17-years-old, before making his Premier League debut just days later. The midfielder then helped the Irons win the FA Youth Cup with a 9-0 aggregate win over Coventry City.

And the official site at www.whufc.com records: ‘The 1999/2000 campaign saw Cole help West Ham to win the UEFA Intertoto Cup, while the Academy graduate was named club captain at just 21. in January 2003 before winning the Hammer of the Year award for the 2002/03 campaign.

Joe said: “There are key moments in every professional’s career. One of mine came when I was a young West Ham player.

“A senior pro, who was nearing his own retirement, said to me: ‘Enjoy every game, young man. It goes by in the blink of an eye and you’ll miss it badly after it’s gone.’ He was right.

“Those words resonate even more now than they did back then. I tried to play and live by his advice every single day because being a professional footballer is an absolute honour.”

Cole, however, wants to play in the game and said: “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.

“Whatever is next, I hope the next two decades are as special as my last 20 years as a professional have been. Again, a huge thanks to everyone who helped me along that path.”

Everyone at West Ham United would like to wish Joe all the best in his retirement and every success in his coaching career.

ClaretandHugh saysJoe Cole was a joy to watch and one of the most ordinary fellas to ever grace the game. There was never any of the ‘Billy Bigtime’ about the guy who was once described by Harry Redknapp in his time at the club as “one of the best young footballers” he had ever seen. He wasn’t wrong as Joe went on to span a career which eventually also took in Chelsea, Liverpool, a second spell with the Irons, Villa, Coventry and Tampa Bay Rowdies, along of course with England. His hopes to continue as a coach have also been in the embryo stage at the Rowdies and it would be, as Redknapp might say, “t’riffic” to see him back in Britain passing on all that knowledge he has gained down the years. Always a Hammer at heart we thank him for his contribution to our great club and wish him all the best for his future in the game.  

 

About Hugh5outhon1895

Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!" Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon