Carlton Cole

Infobox Football biography
playername = Carlton Cole


fullname = Carlton Michael Cole Okirie
height = height|meter=1.91
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1983|11|12cite web | title = Player Profiles: Carlton Cole | publisher = West Ham United Official Site | url = http://www.whufc.com/page/PlayerProfilesDetail/0,,12562~22296,00.html| accessdate = 2008-01-11 ]
cityofbirth = Croydon
countryofbirth = England
currentclub = West Ham United
clubnumber = 12
position = Striker
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 2001–2006
2002–2003
2003–2004
2004–2005
2006–
clubs = Chelsea
→ Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan)
→ Charlton Athletic (loan)
→ Aston Villa (loan)
West Ham United
caps(goals) = 25 (4)
07 (1)
21 (4)
27 (3)
55 (9)
nationalyears = 2003–2005
nationalteam = England U21
nationalcaps(goals) = 19 (6)
pcupdate = 20:44, 05 October 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 20:58, 28 August 2008 (UTC)

Carlton Michael Cole Okirie (born November 12,1983, in Croydon, London, England) is an English football player who plays for West Ham United.

Club career

Chelsea

Cole began his career as a trainee with Chelsea in 2001 and made his debut in April 2002 as a substitute for Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in a 3-0 victory against Everton. [cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title =Hasselbaink sees off Everton| work = | pages = | language = | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2002-04-06 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/1911197.stm | accessdate =2007-07-14 ] He made his first senior start three weeks later, scoring a goal as Chelsea beat Middlesbrough at the Riverside. [cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title =Blues boss hails Cole| work = | pages = | language = | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2002-04-27 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/1955503.stm | accessdate =2007-07-14 ] He made one more appearance for Chelsea in the 2001/02 season, in a 3-1 home defeat against Aston Villa in May 2002.cite web| last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Carlton Cole | work =Soccerbase | publisher =Racing Post | date = | url = http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=30686| format = | doi = | accessdate =2007-07-14 ] Cole started the 2002/03 season in the Chelsea first team squad, scoring a goal and making another in the opening game of the season in a 3-1 win over Charlton after coming on as a substitute for Zola. [cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title =Chelsea comeback thwarts Charlton| work = | pages = | language = | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2002-08-17 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/2196563.stm | accessdate =2007-07-14 ] He suffered a hairline fracture in his leg in August but returned to action in a Worthington Cup tie against Gillingham in November, scoring two goals. [cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title =Cole ends Gills hopes| work = | pages = | language = | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2002-11-06 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/2390945.stm | accessdate =2007-07-14 ] Claudio Ranieri, the then manager of Chelsea, described Cole as being the best young player that he had ever coached, saying, "I've never coached a young player like Carlton. He's fantastic even though he hasn't really started his career yet. He has a very long contract, and, in my opinion, a very big future at Chelsea." [cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title =Ranieri hails Cole as best yet| work = | pages = | language = | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2002-11-09 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/2429087.stm | accessdate =2007-07-14 ] However, with Gudjohnsen, Hasselbaink and Zola available for selection, Cole's first team opportunities were limited and he was loaned to Wolverhampton Wanderers in November 2002 for one month, [cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title =Cole joins Wolves on loan| work = | pages = | language = | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2002-11-28 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wolverhampton_wanderers/2525193.stm | accessdate =2007-07-14 ] later extended to two months. [cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title =Cole extends Wolves deal| work = | pages = | language = | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2002-12-29 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wolverhampton_wanderers/2613755.stm | accessdate =2007-07-14 ] Having made seven appearances for Wolves, scoring one goal, his loan spell was cut short as Chelsea, needing cover, recalled him early in January 2003. [cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title =Cole returns to Chelsea| work = | pages = | language = | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2003-01-02 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/2622627.stm | accessdate =2007-07-14 ] Cole made a further twelve league and cup appearances for Chelsea in the 2002/03 season, in addition to the four that he made before going on loan to Wolves. He scored six goals in all for Chelsea that season, including a spectacular, long-range left-footed strike against Sunderland, [cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title =Chelsea boost Euro bid| work = | pages = | language = | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2003-04-05 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/2895721.stm | accessdate =2007-07-14 ] and the winner against Bolton Wanderers in April 2003 as Chelsea pressed for a place in the Champions League. [cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title =Cole punishes Bolton| work = | pages = | language = | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2003-04-12 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/2917299.stm | accessdate =2007-07-14 ] Cole signed a new six-year contract with Chelsea in the summer of 2003, [cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title =Chelsea duo sign new contracts| work = | pages = | language = | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2003-07-03 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/3040178.stm| accessdate =2007-07-14 ] but with Mutu, Gudjohnsen, Hasselbaink and Forssell also battling for a place in the starting lineup for Chelsea, he joined Charlton Athletic on a season-long loan in August 2003, [cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title =Cole joins Charlton| work = | pages = | language = | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2003-08-20 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/charlton_athletic/3167837.stm| accessdate =2007-07-14 ] where he scored five goals in 22 league and cup appearances, helping Charlton to finish the 2003/04 season in seventh place in the Premier League. Despite Charlton being keen to retain Cole's services for the 2004/05 season, [cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title =Charlton want Cole to stay| work = | pages = | language = | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2004-06-16 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/charlton_athletic/3812361.stm| accessdate =2007-07-14 ] Cole joined Aston Villa on another season-long loan. [cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title =Cole joins Villa on loan| work = | pages = | language = | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2004-07-12 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/3886685.stm| accessdate =2007-07-14 ] This move sparked off a dispute as Charlton were expecting Cole to return to the club as part of the deal that took Scott Parker from Charlton to Chelsea. [cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title =Charlton contest Cole move| work = | pages = | language = | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2004-07-15 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/charlton_athletic/3897759.stm| accessdate =2007-07-14 ] The dispute was later resolved when the two clubs reached a settlement. [cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title =Charlton reach Cole deal| work = | pages = | language = | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2004-08-12 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/charlton_athletic/3559350.stm| accessdate =2007-07-14 ] Cole scored three goals in 30 league and cup appearances for Aston Villa, including a goal on his debut in a 2-0 win over Southampton in August 2004, [cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title =Aston Villa 2-0 Southampton| work = | pages = | language = | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2004-08-14 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/3553148.stm| accessdate =2007-07-14 ] in a season which was interrupted by a knee injury picked up in an England U21 match against Holland U21 in February 2005. [cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title =Cole faces lengthy injury lay-off| work = | pages = | language = | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2005-02-25 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/4299147.stm| accessdate =2007-07-14 ]

He returned to Chelsea in summer 2005 where he appeared in pre-season friendlies. [cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title =Chelsea 1-0 AC Milan| work = | pages = | language = | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2005-07-25 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/4713445.stm | accessdate =2007-07-14 ] However, first team opportunities were limited by the presence of Drogba and Crespo, [cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title =Cole sights Chelsea starting spot| work = | pages = | language = | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2005-11-13 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/4432980.stm| accessdate =2007-07-14 ] and Cole made only 12 league and cup appearances for Chelsea in the 2005/06 season, scoring one goal in the FA Cup win over Huddersfield. He joined West Ham United in July 2006,cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title =Hammers sign Chelsea striker Cole| work = | pages = | language = | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2006-07-05 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/5152194.stm | accessdate =2007-07-14 ] having made a total of 31 league and cup appearances for Chelsea, scoring eight goals.

West Ham

Cole joined West Ham United in July 2006 for an undisclosed fee, signing a four-year deal. He scored seconds into his competitive debut for West Ham after coming on as a substitute in injury time to seal a 3–1 home win against Charlton Athletic in August 2006. [cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title =West Ham 3-1 Charlton| work = | pages = | language = | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2006-08-19 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4786591.stm | accessdate =2007-07-14 ] However, in a season of turmoil at West Ham in which the club only secured their place in the Premier League on the final day of the season, Cole was unable to establish himself in the first team, making 23 league and cup appearances, 15 of which were as substitute, and scoring three goals.

International career

Cole is of Nigerian and Sierra Leonean descent through his parents, but rejected the chance to play for either of the national sides of these countries.cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title =Nigeria chase Cole| work = | pages = | language = | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2004-05-20 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/3730081.stm | accessdate =2007-07-14 ] [cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title =Cole happy to spurn Nigeria| work = | pages = | language = | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2004-09-06 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/3632500.stm | accessdate =2007-07-14 ] He was a regular member of the England under-21 side, scoring six goals in 19 appearances, [cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title =Squad Profiles: Carlton Cole| work = | pages = | language = | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2004-08-17 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/shared/bsp/hi/football/statistics/players/c/cole_244611.stm | accessdate =2007-07-15 ] including two goals in the 3–1 win over Ukraine under-21 team in August 2004. [cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title =England U21 3-1 Ukraine U21| work = | pages = | language = | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2004-08-17 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/3566862.stm | accessdate =2007-07-14 ] Peter Taylor, then England under-21 manager, claimed that Cole had "...the potential to break into the full England squad...". [cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title =Taylor backs Cole | work = | pages = | language = | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2004-09-03 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/england/3626508.stm | accessdate =2007-07-07 ] In August 2008, Nigeria coach Shaibu Amodu called Cole into camp ahead of Nigeria's World Cup Qualifier against South Africa. [cite news | title =Amodu drops Enyeama, Ike; names Cole | publisher =Kickoff Nigeria | date =2008-08-04 | url =http://www.kickoffnigeria.com/static/news/article.php?id=2342 | accessdate =2008-08-04 ] However, it was later reported that Cole was ineligible to play for Nigeria as he was then too old to switch from one country to another.cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/7542589.stm| title=Nigeria make Cole call-up blunder |last=Okeleji |first=Oluwashina |date=August 5, 2008|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=2008-08-05] cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12010_3937664,00.html|title=Cole call-up questioned|date=August 5, 2008|publisher=Sky Sports|accessdate=2008-08-05]

References

External links

*soccerbase|id=30686|name=Carlton Cole
* [http://www.4thegame.com/club/chelsea-fc/player-profile/2883/carltoncole.html Profile] at 4thegame.com
* [http://www.thefa.com/England/U21s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2004/08/CarltonCole_Preview.htm "Carlton Cole Exclusive"] , TheFA.com. Retrieved 15 July 2007.
* [http://www.thefa.com/England/U21s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2003/08/62477.htm "It's a big weekend for... Carlton Cole"] , TheFA.com. Retrieved 15 July 2007.