Joe Cole, a former English footballer, is known for his time at clubs like West Ham, Chelsea, and Liverpool, as well as representing England in multiple World Cups. His career spanned over two decades, featuring notable achievements and transitions.
Joseph Rooks, now known as Joe Cole, was born on November 8, 1981, in Paddington, London. At the age of six, his family relocated to Somers Town. His early education took place at St. Mary's Bryanston Square primary school, followed by Haverstock School in London, and later St. Aloysius College in Highgate. Cole’s professional football journey began within the youth program of West Ham United, where he turned professional in November 1998. His first appearance for the senior team came in an FA Cup match in January 1999, when he was just 17 years old. Eight days afterward, he made his Premier League debut. In 1999, West Ham secured both the FA Youth Cup and the UEFA Intertoto Cup. By 2003, Cole was honored with the Hammer of the Year Award, and in August of that year, he transferred to Chelsea for £6.6 million. During the 2004–05 season, Chelsea claimed the Premier League title, with Cole contributing 10 goals. He became a regular starter in the 2005–06 season, extended his contract for four years, and was included in the PFA Team of the Year. A stress fracture in his foot in late 2006 required surgery, forcing him to miss part of the 2006–07 season. In 2008, he participated in the UEFA Champions League Final and was named Chelsea Player of the Year. Knee surgery in the 2008–09 season sidelined him for the 2009–10 pre-season. He returned to action in September 2009 during a League Cup match and played his 250th game for Chelsea on November 8, 2009, marking his 28th birthday. Chelsea won the FA Cup Final in 2010, and after his contract expired in June 2010, Cole became a free agent. In July 2010, Joe Cole signed a four-year contract with Liverpool. A year later, in August 2011, he was loaned to the French club Lille for a season. Though manager Rudi Garcia expressed interest in retaining him, Cole returned to Liverpool. He left the club in January 2013 before his contract concluded and rejoined West Ham on an 18-month deal. He sustained a hamstring injury in September 2013, missing six weeks of play. In June 2014, he agreed to a two-year deal with Aston Villa. October 2015 saw him sign a 35-day emergency loan with Coventry City, which was later extended until early 2016, followed by a season-long contract. In May 2016, he joined the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the North American Soccer League, committing until the end of the 2017 NASL season. Later that month, he earned the league’s Player of the Week honor after a victory over Minnesota United. In October, he was nominated for the NASL Golden Ball award. By June 2018, he had taken on the role of assistant coach with the Rowdies, and in November of the same year, he retired from professional football. He subsequently began coaching duties with Chelsea. Cole also represented the England national team, starting at the U16 level in 1997 and participating in the World Cups of 2002, 2006, and 2010. Cole entered a relationship with Carly Zucker, a fitness instructor, in 2002, and the two became engaged in 2007. They wed on June 20, 2009, and have two children: daughter Ruby, born in 2010, and son Harrison, born in 2012. In 2009, Cole received a suspended driving ban and a £750 fine after being caught driving 118 km/h in a 112 km/h zone on a divided highway in Surrey. Among his accolades, Cole was named West Ham United’s Hammer of the Year for the 2002–03 season, Premier League Player of the Month in March 2005, selected for the PFA Team of the Year during the 2005–06 Premier League campaign, and honored as Chelsea Player of the Year in 2008. He was also nominated for the Ballon d'Or in 2006. In 2016, Joe Cole was chosen for the North American Soccer League Best XI. In 2021, Cole listed his mansion in Merseyside for sale at £2.25 million. The property features five bedrooms, five bathrooms, an open-plan kitchen, and a heated swimming pool.