Joe Cole, described by many as one of the most talented English footballers of his generation had the honour to play for Liverpool in 2010. Unfortunately, his time at Anfield didn’t go as he’d expected.
Just one season in and the Englishman found himself on loan in the north of France at Lille. A knee injury sustained while playing for The Blues ironically at Anfield rendered him a lacklustre career for the rest of his time on the field.
There were talks of a contract extension in west London but as soon as the injury hit, everything seemed to have fallen apart for the attacker. Cole explained that his ego followed such treatment and he decided to leave London for good.
My ego got involved a little bit and football was more of a struggle. I would play, knee would blow up. I couldn’t do certain things that I used to be able to do.
-Joe Cole via The Obi One podcast
This was one of the toughest times of his career as his knee was always causing him unbearable pain. Cole also told the podcast that he’d always ice his knees after playing.
I needed an ice pack, I was in a lot of pain. It’s very rare you get back to where you were… something subconsciously clicked and I thought to myself, ‘I’m never going to get to the player I was. I’ve got to leave.’
-Joe Cole via The Obi One podcast
Joe Cole’s time at Liverpool
Joe Cole’s time at Liverpool was short-lived
The Englishman realized that he wouldn’t be able to get back to the level he was again. Starting afresh seemed like a great option but little did Cole know the nightmares that’d follow.
My daughter was just born and Liverpool is a great club. It didn’t work for me there but it is a fantastic club, an institution globally.
But if I could have my time again, I would probably go, ‘No, you know what, wait.’ And I’d have gone abroad, somewhere hot, because playing in the heat actually helped my knee.
-Joe Cole via The Obi One podcast
42 appearances and a loan spell later, Cole returned to his boyhood club West Ham United. He later went on to play for Aston Villa, Coventry City and Tampa Bay Rowdies.
The Chelsea icon retired in 2018 with an unfulfilled potential. One could only think of the ‘what ifs?’ like, ‘What if he hadn’t got injured?’, he’d probably be a Champions League winner, maybe.
