Joe Cole is an attacking midfield player who joined Liverpool as a free agent in the summer of 2010.

However, his career at Anfield got off to an unfortunate start with a red card on his debut and following a change in management in the new year he mostly found himself on the bench.

Joe spent his formative years with West Ham, where he became one of the most valued players in the squad, largely due to his creative flair and ability to produce the unpredictable. He made his England debut against Mexico in May 2001 and two years later he was given the West Ham captaincy.

After the Hammers departed from the top flight, Joe signed for Chelsea, a club he had grown up supporting. He struggled to make an immediate impact under Claudio Ranieri and initially under Jose Mourinho, but after the Portuguese tactician moved him out to the wing from his more familiar central role, he began to excel for club and country.

Joe won the Blues’ Player of the Year award in 2008 but suffered a cruciate ligament injury in early 2009, which affected him through into the 2009-10 season. In August 2011 he joined Lille in a season-long loan arrangement.

Joe made his debut for England in 2001 and has now made more than 50 appearances for his country.

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