A talented product of the famous West Ham youth system, Joe Cole was hailed as a child prodigy by no less than Harry Redknapp. He made his first-team debut for the club at the age of 17, and in just a few years received the captain's armband. Meanwhile a call-up to the England senior team marked his England debut at the tender age of 19. A versatile young playmaker, a series of solid performances in the claret and blue made him a valuable fixture at the East London club. But the lure of a move across town to Stamford Bridge proved too much to resist and in 2003 he donned a Chelsea shirt after a 6 million transfer was agreed. Fortune has not always been in Cole's favorin particular meeting tough competition for his position at Chelseabut the attacking midfielder has continually produced a number of fine cameos which only serve to point the way to future achievement. Yet while he has worked hard enough to stay level-headed, his maturity off the pitch has not prevented his involvement in some colorful incidents in recent years. After a skillful performance at World Cup 2006, Joe was plagued by injury. But he bounced back in spectacular fashion in spring 2007. The 20072008 season was arguably Cole's best, earninghim much praise from his manager and the media alike, and this was echoed when he won the Chelsea Fans' Player of the Year award. Joe has now become a major figure at the top of English soccer. This is the ultimate biography of the Hammers', Blues', and England's enigmatic dangerman."