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Joe Cole made 378 appearances during his Premier League career
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Cole played for the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and West Ham United
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Now embarking on a role in punditry, Joe Cole net worth is valued at £33 million
Joe Cole burst onto the scene during his early years at West Ham United, with many touting the Englishman as one of the greatest prospects in the country.
He will be remembered fondly for his impact on the Premier League, with successful stints at West Ham, Chelsea and Liverpool throughout his illustrious playing career.
While it would be foolish to label Cole as a legend of the game, he was an influential figure in Premier League odds during his heyday.
In addition to his club career, Cole earned over 50 international caps for England and played a central role for the Three Lions at major tournaments.
Now one of the best football pundits on television, Cole has continued to build his net worth following his retirement in 2018.
So, how much is Joe Cole worth? We look at financial figures relating to his wealth as well as focusing on his professional career and honours obtained from football.
Net Worth
Joe Cole was never one of the highest paid players in world football but he managed to build a hefty net worth throughout his playing career.
Since hanging up his boots, Cole has added to his wealth by taking on several punditry roles – often appearing at major international tournaments on the BBC.
In addition, Cole is regularly found on Sky Sports and his insight on Chelsea, Liverpool and West Ham is particularly valuable when those three clubs are in action.
Like many footballers, Cole also had endorsement deals and advertising opportunities as a direct result of making it as a professional player.
Whether that be football boot deals or in the fashion industry advertising the freshest suit or latest aftershave, Cole was involved in a plethora of endorsement agreements.
Having played for two of the most successful football clubs on the planet, it is hardly a huge shock to see Joe Cole’s estimated wealth at £33 million.
Club Career
Having been touted as a child prodigy and future England star, big things were expected of Joe Cole and he certainly lived up to the hype during his time at West Ham.
At just 21 years old, Cole was handed the captain’s armband and was awarded ‘Hammer of the Year’ but left the club after their relegation from the Premier League.
Cole was only the sixth player to join Chelsea in the Roman Abramovich era and little did he know that he would play a key role in transforming the Blues into football betting giants.
The Blues legend was a fan favourite at Stamford Bridge and he topped 25 Premier League appearances in five of his seven seasons in west London.
Chelsea fans still speak fondly about Cole’s tenure at the club today, which tells you everything you need to know about his legacy at Stamford Bridge.
From there, Cole made the move to Merseyside but he failed to make a sustained impact at Anfield.
His time at Liverpool was plagued by injury issues and Reds fans didn’t take to him like the supporters at West Ham and Chelsea – hindering his confidence.
A return to West Ham followed, sandwiched by a loan spell at Lille and a two-year contract with Aston Villa. However, Cole’s ability to influence a game was slowing down…
After a brief stint at Coventry City, Cole signed with the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the North American Soccer League and he was a huge hit on that side of the Atlantic.
In fact, Cole was promoted to assistant coach while still playing for the Rowdies – cementing his status with the fans. After three years in Florida, Cole opted to part ways.
England
Earning over 50 caps for your country is some achievement and Joe Cole is in an exclusive group of players to top the half century mark for the Three Lions.
Cole worked his way up through the national team ranks, playing for England at under-16, under-18 and under-21 level before making his first team debut.
After making his debut, Cole was more or less an ever-present in the national squad and he earned selections to the 2002, 2006 and 2010 World Cups and Euro 2004.
While he was unable to lead England to the Jules Rimet Trophy, Cole had plenty of magical moments on the international stage – with that goal against Sweden sticking out.
With the game on a knife edge, Cole scored a superb volley that might just rank as the greatest England goal in World Cup history.
It was a career highlight for Cole and that goal, along with a superb individual performance, earned him the Man of the Match award as England advanced to the knockout stages.
Hardly a stalwart in Premier League predictions throughout his career, Cole is perhaps best known for his effort and endeavour while wearing the England shirt.
Cole made his final international appearance at the 2010 World Cup and he has publicly criticised former England manager Fabio Capello in the aftermath of that tournament.
On the whole, Joe Cole was a solid performer for England – both in qualifiers and on the big stage. We’ll never forget that volley against Sweden in Cologne…
Honours
While Joe Cole’s trophy cabinet is measly compared to former West Ham teammates John Terry, Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand, he has certainly enjoyed his fair share of success.
A fan favourite at Stamford Bridge, the majority of Cole’s medals and trophies came during his time at Chelsea but the first major honour of his career came at West Ham.
Success in the 1999 UEFA Intertoto Cup was particularly sweet for Cole as he came on as a second half substitute in the second leg and celebrated victory on the field.
Chelsea fell short in the 2008 UEFA Champions League final and Cole left Stamford Bridge less than a year before the Blues lifted Europe’s elite trophy for the first time.
However, a Champions League medal is one of the few accolades to elude Cole’s grasp during his playing days. At the end of the day, he still enjoyed a very successful career.
Without further ado, we’re going to take a closer look at Joe Cole’s career highlights and accolades – starting of course with that solitary West Ham triumph.
West Ham Trophies:
- UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1999
Chelsea Trophies:
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Premier League: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2009–10
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FA Cup: 2006–07, 2009–10
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Football League Cup: 2004–05
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FA Community Shield: 2005
Family Life
Cole began dating Carly Zucker in 2002 and the couple were together for five years before the England footballer asked for her hand in marriage.
The couple tied the knot in June 2009 with Zucker, a fitness instructor and model, donning a £10,000 wedding dress to mark the occasion.
Since then, Joe and Carly have given birth to two children; daughter Ruby in March 2010 and son Harrison in October 2012.
Could we see Harrison follow in his father’s footsteps and make it in professional football? Only time will tell but the Cole family name may well live on…
