Hazard hails Cole as he hangs up boots
EDEN HAZARD last night hailed former England star Joe Cole, admitting he helped convince him to join Chelsea.
Cole, 37, yesterday retired from playing after 716 appearances and 104 goals for seven different clubs. Former Chelsea hero Cole played with Hazard while on loan at Lille from Liverpool in 2011-12.
It was Belgium playmaker Hazard’s final season at the French club before he moved to Stamford Bridge, where he has become a world superstar.
“I spoke to him before I signed for Chelsea,” said Hazard (right). “Every day he was telling me that Chelsea was the best club for me. “He said Chelsea was a big club where you can win trophies every season. For that reason I signed – so thank you Joe Cole.”
Cole now plans to go into coaching after finishing his career at USL club Tampa Bay Rowdies in Florida, USA.
“After 20 years as a professional, the time has come for me to hang up my boots,” he said. “It has been a dream come true. All of it.
“Whatever is next, I hope the next two decades are as special as my last 20 years as a professional have been. A huge thanks to everyone who helped me along that path.” Cole, a lifelong Chelsea supporter, joined West Ham at the age of eight and made 187 appearances and scored 18 goals in two spells at the club from 1998 to 2003 and 2013-14.
He made his debut as a 17-year-old in January 1999 and went on to become captain. He left for Chelsea after the Hammers were relegated from the Premier League in 2003.
Success
Cole won every domestic honour during his time at Chelsea, contributing to their first league title in 50 years in 2005 under Jose Mourinho.
European success proved elusive as Cole was in the Chelsea side beaten by Manchester United on penalties in the 2008 Champions League Final in Moscow.
A two-and-a-half-year spell at Liverpool saw Cole make just 42 appearances, scoring five goals, and included the season-long stint at Lille alongside Hazard. A loan move back to West Ham was followed by spells at Aston Villa, Coventry and then the Rowdies.
He made 56 England appearances, after making his debut at 19, and took part in three World Cup tournaments.
He was part of the so-called ‘Golden Generation’ alongside David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes, Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard.
He said: “I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have played with some of the very best players of my era and even more fortunate to call a lot of them friends.
“Winning trophies at Chelsea was particularly special for me. Those memories will live with me forever, as will the chance I had to share them with my family.
“Looking to the future, I want to stay involved in the game and 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.”