Top 5 Chelsea Moments According to Joe Cole Himself
- Think Football Ideas
- Aug 6
- 4 min read
Joe Cole’s time in West London wasn’t short on silverware, but behind the accolades and adoration lies a set of moments that he holds close, occasions etched in the West London club's history and also in his personal journey.
In his voice, the former England and Chelsea midfielder took a nostalgic walk down memory lane, pulling back the curtain on the five moments that still make his heart race. These are his stories, told with the grin of a boyhood Blue who got to live his dream.
Below Are Joe Cole's Top 5 Chelsea Moments
5. United at Old Trafford: The Night It Felt Like Ours
“There’s pressure, and then there’s Old Trafford in April pressure,” Cole recalled with a wry smile as Chelsea's official website quoted. The 2009/10 title race was reaching fever pitch, and Chelsea needed a win at United’s ground to keep their hopes alive.
Cole nearly didn’t play. A back injury during training threatened to rule him out, but hours of work with the medical team got him on the pitch. And then, with the game hanging in balance, he delivered.
“I found space near the post and flicked it in,” he said. “One of those finishes that comes from instinct. But the real win was in how solid we were from that point on. That’s what wins titles.”
And, as it turned out, that goal was more than a flick, it was a dagger in United’s chase and a turning point in Chelsea’s campaign.
4. From Dream to Deal: Joining Chelsea in 2003
For Cole, signing for Chelsea wasn’t merely a career move, it was coming home, and it was special. “It happened fast, a whirlwind,” he remembered. “There was so much going on at the club, and I was thrown into it. It was surreal.”
The excitement of his arrival was nearly derailed by a hiccup over the number 10 shirt. Promised to him by Claudio Ranieri, but also offered to Juan Sebastián Verón, the situation threatened to unravel before it began.
“My dad wasn’t happy,” Cole laughed. “He said, ‘You can’t sign for someone who lies on the first day!’ But Seba was brilliant. Gave it up without a fuss. Class act.” It was a chaotic start—but one that signalled the beginning of a defining chapter.
3. The First Taste of Glory: Beating Liverpool at Cardiff, 2005
The League Cup final of 2005 brought Cole his first Chelsea trophy, and it came against one of their fiercest rivals.
“We must’ve taken over Cardiff,” he joked. “Felt like my whole family tree was in the stands. That game had everything.”
Liverpool struck early, but Chelsea controlled the match from there. In extra time, Mateja Kežman found the net, sealing the win.
“Kez was one of the nicest lads around. Things didn’t click for him overall, but that was his moment. And for all of us, it was proof that something big was happening at Chelsea.”
2. A Title in the Rain: Clinching the Premier League at Bolton, 2005
The first league title in 50 years should’ve come with fireworks, but instead, Chelsea, under Jose Mourinho's guidance, got wind and wet turf in Bolton. “It didn’t matter,” Cole said. “We were champions. All the grind, the battles, it came to life that day.”
Frank Lampard bagged the goals, but the celebrations were the memory. Dancing in a crammed dressing room, climbing a slippery team bus, Cole nearly took a spill that would’ve made headlines for all the wrong reasons.
“I slipped on champagne and nearly fell off the top. That would’ve been fun to explain to Mourinho before the Champions League semi-final!”
1. The Crown Jewel: Beating United to Seal the 2005/06 Title
For Joe Cole, there’s one match that shines brighter than the rest, and it happened in front of a packed Stamford Bridge. “To win the league at home, against them, in that way... it felt written,” he said. “And that goal, I still think it was my best.”
A weaving, solo effort through a crowded United defence, Cole’s strike made it 2-0 and effectively ended the contest. The crowd, the sunshine, the occasion, it all came together in a way few footballers ever get to experience.
“For a few minutes, I let myself drift and took it all in. The crowd, the chants, the sun on my back. That’s the stuff kids dream about. And this time, we celebrated properly.”
Legacy in Blue
Joe Cole might not have always been the headline act in Chelsea’s glittering modern history, but these moments, his moments, remind fans and football romantics alike why he became such a beloved figure at the Bridge.
He was part of the story. He lived it, felt it, and, in these recollections, brings it vividly back to life.
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