Joe Cole To Join West Ham United, Career In Pictures

West Ham Returnee Joe Cole's Career In Pictures

Joe Cole looks set to end his career where it began as he closes in on a return to West Ham United.

Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp revealed on Wednesday night the 31-year-old had opted to join his old club rather than his old manager.

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Cole celebrates his opener against Arsenal in August 2002

Cole, a product of the Hammers' famed Academy, was part of the imperious 1999 FA Youth Cup-winning side which decimated Coventry City 9-0 over the two-legged final. Michael Carrick was a teammate of Cole's.

He played in the Hammers' first-team for four-and-a-half-years, making 158 appearances, until their relegation from the Premier League in 2003. Cole joined Chelsea for a knockdown £6m and won three league titles, two FA Cups and two League Cups with his boyhood club.

A fruitful loan spell at Lille was sandwiched within his disastrous stint at Liverpool prior to his imminent return to the Boleyn Ground.

Joe Cole's Career
(01 of21)
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Hair-raising in 1998
(02 of21)
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An Old Trafford debutant, January 1999
(03 of21)
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The first of many topless celebrations at Boro, 2002-03
(04 of21)
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Relegation, 2003
(05 of21)
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Impressing KK in 1999
(06 of21)
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Conducting the orchestra in the '99 FA Youth Cup final
(07 of21)
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Bare-chested at Birmingham
(08 of21)
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A first England goal vs Serbia & Montenegro in 2003
(09 of21)
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West end boy, 2003
(10 of21)
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Maturing under Mourinho, 2004-05
(11 of21)
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Champion, 2005
(12 of21)
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Minding Wayne Rooney's advances after scoring the winner against Wales in 2005
(13 of21)
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Savouring one of his greatest goals past Manchester United in Chelsea's 2006 title-clincher
(14 of21)
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World Cup goalscorer versus Sweden in 2006
(15 of21)
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Applause for West Ham fans at Upton Park having scored past them, March 2008
(16 of21)
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Champions League final loser in Moscow
(17 of21)
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Celebrating his final Chelsea goal in a crucial title showdown at United in April 2010
(18 of21)
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A second FA Cup for the collection, 2010
(19 of21)
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Mersey beat, 2010
(20 of21)
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Cole's Liverpool nightmare begins almost immediately as he is sent off on his league debut in August 2010
(21 of21)
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Another muted Upton Park celebration after equalising for Liverpool, December 2012