A WATERSTONES SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2025

'EVOCATIVE' The Guardian
'COMPELLING AND BRILLIANTLY CANDID' Daily Mail
'A GREAT BOOK' Jake Humphrey, High Performance Podcast

CANDID, RAW AND UNFORGETTABLE, THIS IS JOE COLE'S STORY - A MUST-READ FOR ANY FOOTBALL FAN

One of the best players of his era, Joe Cole grew up playing football in North London's estates, and his ability, grit and hard work took him to the very top. But Joe was often mistrusted by managers and out of step with the style of English football in the 2000s. The game was suspicious of creative footballers it considered luxury players - the kind it could regard as an indulgence.

With honesty and an eye for the absurdities of football, Joe takes us inside the dressing room to reveal it all. From his days at the FA's School of Excellence at Lilleshall and rising through the ranks at West Ham, to signing for Roman Abramovich's Chelsea and winning it all under José Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti. He offers an insider account of playing alongside the likes of Lampard and Drogba, Beckham and Rooney, Gerrard and Di Canio, as well as for England's so-called Golden Generation under Sven-Göran Eriksson and Fabio Capello.

It was a remarkable career. Then came the tumultuous end, as Joe battled severe injuries and his family suffered loss. He takes us on the journey of a great player coming to terms with his waning powers as his body began to fail him and the sport moved on. Football had given him everything. But then, it was over.