Joe Cole made just shy of 400 Premier League appearances and is widely regarded as one of the most talented players this country has produced.
Joe Cole was a proper street footballer and was tipped to become an England legend, and whilst he didn’t quite reach those heights, he still picked up a whopping 56 caps for his country.
The skilful playmaker came through the ranks at West Ham United before completing a big-money move to Chelsea, where he cemented himself as a fan favourite.
Cole won multiple Premier League titles with Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti and picked up six domestic cups.
But, his career could’ve taken a dramatic change when he was a schoolboy.
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Joe Cole reveals little-known Everton fact
Joe Cole visited Everton’s Finch Farm training ground last week.
Cole spoke to Dominic Calvert-Lewin about his Everton future and has been doing bits with the club’s media team.
Now, in an interview released on Everton’s X page, the 36-year-old revealed that he played for the Toffees as a schoolboy.
“I actually played for Everton as a schoolboy, to come out for a trial yeah at Bellefield,” Cole explained.
Owen Hargreaves asked: “How old would you have been then?”
Cole replied: “I think I was 14, 13 and they really looked after us, I stayed at the Golden Eagle hotel in Kirkby. So yeah it’s good, there is footage.”
What could’ve been?
Well, had Cole have joined Everton after his trial, he would’ve made his debut around the time Walter Smith was in charge.
The Camden-born maverick could’ve been feeding balls into legendary strikers Kevin Campbell and big Duncan Ferguson.
A few years later David Moyes would be in post and perhaps Cole would’ve struck a prolific dynamic with then-teenage sensation Wayne Rooney.
But, it wasn’t to be and he ended up penning his first professional deal with West Ham, who earned a big profit on his sale.
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