Andrew Cole
Headline:
Exclusive: Andrew Cole announces retirement the The Times
Synopsis:
Former England striker brings curtain down on a career of numerous highs that ended on an unfortunate low.
Andrew Cole today announces his retirement to The Times. A miserable November day, in an upstairs room at the offices of his management company, was not the time nor the place that one of the best centre forwards of his generation had hoped to call time on a distinguished career. When Cole signed for Nottingham Forest, he dreamt of going out in a blaze of glory, of shooting his home-town club back into the Premier League.
Instead there were tears. Cole, 37, made an acrimonious departure from Forest 11 days ago and yesterday spoke for the first time. Cole voiced regrets at his lack of opportunities at the City Ground, at the mixed messages from Colin Calderwood, the club's manager, and at the inevitable whispering campaign that followed his exit - but he came across like a man who had been relieved of a burden.
Characterised, by his own admission, as “narky, sullen and unapproachable”, the former Newcastle United, Manchester United and England forward was at peace with himself, if not with Calderwood, as he contemplated his first steps as a coach or manager.
“It's not the ideal ending,” Cole said of his exit from Forest, his contract having been cancelled by mutual consent after he failed to score in 11 appearances. “It just wasn't working out. I told them from the outset that I didn't want to go there to sit on the bench because I didn't want to be perceived as sitting back and making easy money. I wanted to go there and offer something, but it was a strange one from the start. I never knew what my role was. Was it to lend a hand, use my experience, or was it a PR thing, to sell a few more season tickets? I still don't know. I felt like the manager wouldn't have a conversation with me. I don't know if it's the right word, but he seemed kind of intimidated by me. ....
- Publish date:
- 11 November 2008
- Author:
- Oliver Kay
- Source:
- The Times
- Media:
