First-team Debut at the Age of 17 in West Ham

Joe Cole (born November 8, 1981 in Islington, London, England) is a professional football player. He is also an English international footballer who plays for Chelsea of the Premiership. He is a right-footed midfielder with an avowed preference for a central position but has also enjoyed success playing on the left.

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. 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 became club captain in his early 20s. Whilst his sublime touch and dribbling prowess won him many plaudits (and several England caps), his career stagnated in his last few years at the club, especially after West Ham parted company with manager Harry Redknapp.

In 2003, Cole moved to Chelsea as part of Roman Abramovich's revolution for £6,600,000 with a view to establishing himself in the England national team. However, due to the stiff competition for places at the club, he initially struggled to hold down a place in the team for both Chelsea and England under Claudio Ranieri. He was a squad member at Euro 2004, but did not play.

Cole had long been praised for his technical skills and creativity but criticised for his lack of all round contribution to the team and the inadequacy of his end product. After the arrival of new Chelsea manager José Mourinho in 2004 Cole initially continued to struggle and was publicly criticised by Mourinho after scoring the winner against Liverpool. He responded positively to this and took advantage of injuries to other players, and became one of the stars of Chelsea's Premiership title winning team in 2004-05. He also won a starting place in the England team on the left side of midfield, which England had struggled to fill adequately for several years. Cole's form saw him hit a run of goals towards the end of the season, and his goal against Norwich was voted in the top ten goals of the season in the Premier League for 2004/2005.

At Chelsea, the strong competition for place has meant that he has struggled to hold a first team role, with Damien Duff and Arjen Robben providing stiff competition. Doubts have been expressed over his abillity to play in the left wing position for the England national side, with some calling for Stewart Downing to be given a chance, as a natural left footer who tends to take up more of a natural wide position. However, Cole has played in the England side of late, competing in the matches against Denmark and Northern Ireland. His new Chelsea team-mate Shaun Wright-Phillips has also been aiming for the fourth midfield position for the national side, but with Sven Goran Eriksson opting for a 4-5-1 system at times, both can be accommodated. As of January 2006, he has earned 29 caps for England (10 as a starting player) and scored four goals.

Cole scored 10 goals for Chelsea in 2004/2005 and he also registered in the Champions League against Real Betis. Although Cole prefers to play in the centre of midfield, it appears as though his opportunities will come as a wide attacker under Mourinho. In the first half of 2005/06 he enhanced his reputation considerably and moved up the Chelsea pecking order ahead of Shaun Wright-Phillips and Damien Duff.

In January 2006 Cole received publicity as the loser in a drunken dustup over Page 3 Girl Keeley Hazell, triggered when another admirer saw the two "getting on well [and] copped the right hump about it."