Former Liverpool attacker comes out of retirement to play for worst football team in UK
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Image Credits: Imago ImagesFormer Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole came out of retirement for a one-off Sunday League appearance, helping Brentwood-based Warley FC to a 3-1 win.The ex-England international, eight years after retiring, featured in Specsavers’ Best Worst Team series, scoring and inspiring a side that had lost 18 games last season.“It’s been a while since I last laced up my boots in a competitive game, but being back out there reminded me exactly why I fell in love with the game in the first place,” Cole said.“The lads at Warley FC have got great spirit, and that’s what football is all about. To come in, be asked to support the team deliver goals, score and help the team to a win — I loved every second of it and it was not a bad result.”Warley FC manager Luke Armstrong added: “Having a football legend like Joe come in and play alongside the lads is massive.
It’s awesome to see a fan-favorite footballer who once shared the pitch with some of the game’s biggest names returning to where it all begins — Sunday League.”Joe Cole spent two-and-a-half years at Liverpool after his 2010 move from Chelsea, a signing that generated significant excitement at the time.However, his spell at Anfield ultimately failed to live up to expectations, with injuries and limited opportunities restricting his impact.The midfielder joined Liverpool on a free transfer after an impressive seven-year stint at Chelsea, where he won three Premier League titles, two FA Cups and two League Cups.Signed by Roy Hodgson, Cole struggled to find consistency in his debut season and was later loaned to Lille for the 2011–12 campaign by Kenny Dalglish.He returned for a brief spell under Brendan Rodgers before leaving permanently in January 2013 to rejoin West Ham United, the club where he began his career. In total, Cole made 42 appearances for Liverpool, scoring five goals.Across his career, the Englishman also represented Aston Villa, Coventry City and Tampa Bay Rowdies in the United States before retiring in 2018.
He earned 56 caps for England, scoring 10 goals, and featured at three World Cups in 2002, 2006 and 2010.Cole came through West Ham’s academy, made his debut at 17 and later captained the club before his big-money move to Chelsea in 2003, where he spent seven years and more than 280 appearances, adding further major honours to his collection. Joe Cole Warley FC