51 Facts About Andy Cole

Andrew Alexander Cole was born on 15 October 1971 and is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker.

Andy Cole spent six years with Manchester United and won nine trophies, including the Treble of the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League in 1999.

Andy Cole has the distinction of being one of the few players in England to have swept all possible honours in the English game, including the PFA Young Player of the Year award, as well as the coveted UEFA Champions League title.

Andy Cole was capped 15 times for the England national team between 1995 and 2001, scoring st Albania in a 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier.

Andy Cole began his career as a youth player for Arsenal on leaving school in 1988, signing professional in 1989.

Andy Cole made his only league appearance for Arsenal, aged 19, as a substitute against Sheffield United at Highbury during a First Division match on 29 December 1990.

Andy Cole made a substitute appearance against Tottenham Hotspur in the Charity Shield in 1991 and almost made an immediate impact, hitting the side netting from outside the penalty area.

Andy Cole then scored 12 goals in as many league matches as Newcastle cruised to the Division One title and won promotion to the Premier League.

Andy Cole scored 34 goals in 40 matches during Newcastle's first Premier League season as they finished third, and qualified for the UEFA Cup for the first time since the 1970s.

Andy Cole was voted PFA Young Player of the Year for that season.

Newcastle fans were saddened and confused with Keegan for selling Andy Cole, leading to Keegan publicly confronting fans at St James' Park, against the advice of chairman Sir John Hall and first team coach Terry McDermott, explaining his reasons on the day of the transfer.

McDermott stated in his autobiography that Keegan decided to sell Andy Cole citing a drop in form and enthusiasm, whilst hoping to sign Queens Park Rangers striker Les Ferdinand shortly following Andy Cole's departure.

Andy Cole scored twice in away wins over Leicester City and Coventry City during the season's final stages, as his new team kept up the pressure and cut the gap between themselves and league leaders Blackburn Rovers.

Andy Cole was cup-tied for the FA Cup Final a week later.

However, Andy Cole picked up his form in the final stages of the season and scored crucial goals including the equaliser in the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea to help send United to Wembley Stadium again.

Andy Cole played in United's FA Cup final victory to become part of England's first ever side to win the double twice.

Andy Cole then ended the season strongly with several crucial goals in both the league, and in the UEFA Champions League to complete his comeback from injury.

Andy Cole found himself starting most of United's games that season, either alongside Solskjaer or new signing Teddy Sheringham.

Andy Cole became the joint top goalscorer in the Premier League during the course of the season with 18, several of which were spectacular efforts.

Andy Cole developed a strong partnership with Teddy Sheringham, but United finished trophyless for only the second time in the 1990s as they surrendered their lead of the Premier League to Arsenal during the final two months of the season.

Andy Cole achieved several personal landmarks in this campaign, scoring his first European hat-trick for the club in an away match at Feyenoord, as well as ending the season as runner-up in the PFA Players' Player of the Year award to Arsenal's Dennis Bergkamp.

Andy Cole remained upbeat when interviewed and when asked about his new-found return to success, he claimed he had found freedom in his life after the injuries and erratic form of his earlier time at Old Trafford, saying he had great joy with his young son and lived for him and his family in his faith as a born-again Christian.

Andy Cole claimed the friendship of Ryan Giggs, his roommate on away matches, was a major motivating factor through the tough times when fans and media doubted him at United.

Andy Cole played a key role in the side's unique treble of the Premier League title, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League.

Andy Cole scored the winning goal in United's final Premier League match of the season against Tottenham Hotspur, a result which meant United finished one point ahead of rivals Arsenal to win the Premier League title.

Andy Cole scored United's third and winning goal in their Champions League semi-final second leg against Juventus, sealing their place in the final.

Andy Cole collected his fourth Premier League title medal in five seasons, and scored over 20 goals in all competitions for the third successive season.

Andy Cole scored many goals for United including the only goal of the game in their top-of-the-table clash against their closest rivals Leeds United.

Andy Cole ended the season with a total of 18 goals in all competitions, 5 for Manchester United and 13 in just 20 matches for Blackburn.

Andy Cole scored 11 goals but his relationship with manager Graeme Souness hit rock bottom after Cole reported him to the Professional Footballers' Association accusing him of unfair treatment.

Andy Cole scored 37 goals in 100 appearances in all competitions for Blackburn.

Andy Cole was the club's top scorer and scored one of the goals of the season against Liverpool.

However, Andy Cole struggled to break into Harry Redknapp's side and in March 2007, he signed on loan for Birmingham City of the Championship until the end of the season.

Andy Cole returned to Portsmouth after five appearances and one goal for Birmingham.

Andy Cole brought the best out of me and made me feel a lot younger than my age.

On 4 July 2008, Andy Cole signed a 12-month deal with Nottingham Forest, his 12th club and his local from his time growing up in Nottingham.

However, on 31 October 2008, Forest confirmed Andy Cole's contract had been cancelled by mutual consent after 11 appearances and 0 goals.

On 11 November 2008, Andy Cole announced his retirement from football, ending a 19-year career.

Andy Cole scored one goal for England, in a World Cup qualifying match against Albania in March 2001.

Andy Cole scored in his single appearance for the England B team.

Andy Cole earned his first four caps under four different managers.

Andy Cole made his debut against Uruguay under Terry Venables in 1995; appeared next against Italy under Glenn Hoddle at the Tournoi de France in 1997; made his third appearance against France under caretaker Howard Wilkinson in 1999; and finally earned his fourth cap against Poland under new manager Kevin Keegan in his first starting appearance a few weeks later.

However, one week later, Andy Cole agreed to spend at least two days a week working on finishing with the forwards at Huddersfield Town, under his former Newcastle United and Fulham teammate Lee Clark.

In December 2010, Andy Cole was back at Manchester United, working at the Carrington training ground while finishing his coaching badges.

In October 2019, Andy Cole was named as forward and attack coach assisting manager, Sol Campbell at Southend United.

On 30 June 2020, manager Campbell and his three assistants including Andy Cole left the club by mutual consent.

Andy Cole married his long-time girlfriend Shirley Dewar in July 2002.

In 2008, Andy Cole was questioned by police after an alleged assault on his wife at their home in Alderley Edge, Cheshire, before being released on bail.

In June 2014, Andy Cole suffered kidney failure after developing focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.

Andy Cole has since set up the Andy Cole Fund to raise money for Kidney Research UK, after suffering kidney failure in 2015 after contracting an airborne virus.

Neil Ruddock considered Andy Cole to be the player he most enjoyed playing against.