Joe Cole Has Found Happiness at Lille

According to L’Equipe, former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole is happy at Lille OSC.

The England international is on a year-long loan with the French outfit after falling out of favor at Anfield.

Through seven games Cole has performed quite admirably, tallying one goal and three assists.

A loan spell outside of England is exactly what Cole needed at this stage of his career. Cole’s career has been plagued by injury the past few seasons. He is finally getting fit enough to get consistent playing time with the first team.

This loan spell could indeed rejuvenate Cole’s career. Albeit, he is already 29.

“Let’s say I knew Lille is on the Eurostar line and it is in the North of France. I only came once to France in Paris, but never at Lille,” Cole told L’Equipe.

“Anyway, I am here to settle, give my very best and fling my body and soul into the fight. I am not a half measure man. My parents came for each match I already played here.

“I want to dive in and submerge myself here, and learn the French language. I studied it for five years in school but I was so hopeless.

” I am determined to learn it one way or another. I am building [little by litte].

“The first time I came to Lille I took the Eurostar. I realised it was faster to join Lille from London that going to Liverpool.”

Despite suffering countless injuries over the course of his career, Joe Cole has been an extremely productive footballer when at full fitness. Like most young footballers, Cole dreamed of playing for the likes of FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.

“If you ask any player in the world where he would like to play, he would rather reply Real Madrid or Barcelona. But you can’t follow a straight path or follow your dreams.

“The most important thing is to find happiness. I came here to play football and have fun. I am very happy, I made the right decision.”

It’s truly fantastic that Cole has found happiness in France. His career as an England international is most likely over after 56 caps and 10 goals. Cole has only made three appearances for the Three Lions in the past three years, making it a safe bet that his England career is history.

We can only wonder, but what if Joe Cole and Michael Owen were able to stay healthy? Would they be amongst the top talents in the history of English football?

I would say so. As for Michael Owen, he was one of the top finishers in Europe during his best years. Now then, call me crazy but I rate Joe Cole as the most technically gifted English player of his generation.

How do you rate Joe Cole’s talent and career?