Cole, whose contract came to an end yesterday, was a Chelsea player for eight seasons, making 338 appearances, 13 of those as a substitute, and finding the net seven times.
Throughout that time he was the England team's left-back. He announced his retirement from international football in May having won 107 caps, a record for a full-back and the fifth highest total overall.
His remarkably consistent high level of performance was always appreciated by the Chelsea support, who welcomed him to Stamford Bridge even though he joined from big London rivals Arsenal, with William Gallas moving the other way as part of a transfer-deadline-day deal in August 2006.
Cole has had no reason to regret his switch across the capital, collecting winners' medals for the Champions League, the Premier League, the Europa League, the League Cup, the Community Shield and the FA Cup four times, taking him to his all-time record seven wins in that competition's long history. Arsenal without Cole did not lift silverware until this year's FA Cup final a week after he played his final Chelsea game.
In his first season as a Blue, Cole shared left-back duties with Wayne Bridge as small injury concerns hindered his involvement. Close-season surgery sorted the problem and Cole emerged as first choice for his position in his second season, scoring his maiden Chelsea goal in a 4-0 win at West Ham. He survived an injury scare in training on the eve of the 2008 Champions League Final, recovering to be one of our best players against Manchester United in Moscow, including converting his penalty in the ultimately unsuccessful shoot-out that decided the match. The big occasions and the toughest opponents have never fazed Cole.
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