LONDON, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- Former England international Joe Cole announced on Tuesday that he is retiring after over 20 years as a professional footballer.
The 37-year-old played 56 times for England and scored 10 international goals in four major tournaments. He also made over 700 club appearances for West Ham United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Lille, Aston Villa and Coventry City.
He ended his career in Florida with the Tampa Bay Rowdies. A talented attacking midfielder, Cole played 280 times for Chelsea, scoring 40 goals.
"Winning trophies at Chelsea was particularly special for me. Those memories will live with me forever, as will the chance I had to share them with my family," he commented. "After 20 years as a professional, the time has come for me to hang up my boots. It has been a dream come true. All of it."
Cole went on to say that his favorite thing about being a professional footballer was "the feeling you enjoy after coming back into the dressing room after a win."
Cole said he wanted to stay involved in the game. "I feel I can offer a lot as a coach... To lend my experience to help other young footballers achieve their dreams, just like I did, is a big passion of mine," he concluded.
