Cole was born in Archway, North London and was raised a couple of miles away in Somers Town in Camden. A child prodigy who received national media attention as a schoolboy and a product of the famed West Ham United youth system, Cole was long touted as the hottest prospect in English football with Manchester United reportedly offering to pay £10million for his services as a 16 year old. Playing in a mould similar to former England favourite Paul Gascoigne, he quickly progressed through the West Ham ranks before making his first-team debut at the age of 17. Cole became club captain at 19. Whilst his sublime touch and dribbling prowess won him many plaudits (and several England caps), his career stagnated in his last few years at the club, especially after West Ham parted company with manager Harry Redknapp.

In 2003, Cole moved to Chelsea as part of Roman Abramovich's revolution for £6,600,000 with a view to establishing himself in the England national team. However, due to the stiff competition for places at the club, he initially struggled to hold down a place in the team for both Chelsea and England under Claudio Ranieri. He was a squad member at Euro 2004, but did not play.

Cole had long been praised for his technical skills and creativity but criticised for his lack of all-round contribution to the team and the inadequacy of his end product. After the arrival of new Chelsea manager José Mourinho in 2004 Cole initially continued to struggle and was publicly criticised by Mourinho after scoring the winner against Liverpool for neglecting his defensive duties. He responded positively to this and took advantage of injuries to other players, and became one of the stars of Chelsea's Premiership title winning team in 2004-05. He also won a starting place in the England team on the left side of midfield, which England had struggled to fill adequately for several years. Cole's form saw him hit a run of goals towards the end of the season, and his goal against Norwich was voted in the top ten goals of the season in the Premier League for 2004/2005.

At Chelsea, the strong competition for place has meant that he has struggled to hold a first team role, with Damien Duff and Arjen Robben providing stiff competition. Doubts have been expressed over his ability to play in the left wing position for the England national side, with some calling for Stewart Downing to be given a chance, as a natural left footer who tends to take up more of a natural wide position. However, Cole has played in the England side of late, competing in the matches against Denmark and Northern Ireland. His new Chelsea team-mate Shaun Wright-Phillips has also been aiming for the fourth midfield position for the national side, but with Sven Goran Eriksson opting for a 4-5-1 system at times, both can be accommodated. As of 2 March 2006, he has earned 30 caps for England (11 as a starting player) and scored five goals.

Cole scored 10 goals for Chelsea in 2004/2005 and he also registered in the Champions League against Real Betis. Although Cole prefers to play in the centre of midfield, it appears as though his opportunities will come as a wide attacker under Mourinho.

In January 2006 Cole received publicity as the loser in a drunken dustup over Page 3 Girl Keeley Hazell, triggered when another admirer saw the two "getting on well [and] copped the right hump about it." He is currently dating Carly Zucker.

In the first half of the 2005-2006 season he enhanced his reputation considerably and moved up the Chelsea pecking order ahead of Shaun Wright-Phillips and Damien Duff and was named in the PFA's team of the season. In June 2006, Joe Cole extended his contract with Chelsea FC for another 4 seasons.

--Wikipedia