Andy
Cole
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Appearances275
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Total goals121
Andy
Biography
Any Reds wishing Alex Ferguson had plumped for Nottingham Forest’s Stan Collymore when he went shopping for a new striker in the January 1995 sales were forced to eat their hats over Andy Cole.
An inauspicious start to his Old Trafford career was followed by the most purple of purple patches, in which the Nottingham-born striker banged in a goal every couple of games, a ratio not seen in M16 since the golden age of Denis Law. It was only a matter of time, of course. Form is temporary, class is permanent. Cole had blazed a trail at St James’ Park, scoring an astonishing 68 goals in just 74 matches, including 41 in the 1993/94 league season. Once he was off and running, benefiting from the prompting of Cantona, Giggs and Sharpe, he played like a dream, justifying every penny of his then-record £6.25 million transfer. That first season saw Cole score an astonishing five times in the 9-0 rout of Ipswich Town at Old Trafford – a scoreline that remains an individual and team best in Premiership history. Cole netted 11 league goals on the way to the 1995/96 title, snatched so memorably from the grasp of his old team-mates at Newcastle. Further title success followed in 1996/97, a season disrupted by pneumonia and two broken legs. Though his days appeared numbered with the arrival of Dwight Yorke from Aston Villa for the 1998/99, the truth couldn’t have been more different. Cole and Yorke were dynamite together, scoring 35 goals in the league between them as United stormed unstoppably to the Treble. Yorke’s craft and strength, Cole’s pace and predatory instincts unforgettably combining at Nottingham Forest in February 1999 in an 8-1 win, memorable also for a four-goal substitute cameo from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Though Cole found his United form hard to replicate in an England shirt, there is little doubt he is one of the club’s – and the modern game’s – great strikers. He was still scoring top-flight goals for Manchester City in 2005/06 after spells with Blackburn and Fulham.
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Position
Forward
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Country
England
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Date of birth
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Joined
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United debut
v Blackburn (H) League
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Left United
Latest
Andy Cole says
"I wish I was playing in games like these. There were over 109,000 fans at the Big House for the Real Madrid game the other year, which tells you how big the games are."
'Is it too late to come out of retirement?' Article
United ambassador Andy Cole cannot wait for Tour 2018 – in fact, he wishes he was playing again!
Andy Cole on United v Liverpool says
"It’s about rivalry between two big clubs and cities. It’s always one of the first fixtures that I used to look for and fans will be excited by this game in July. I scored four times in these derbies, so I have a lot of great memories."
Andy Cole says
"City are going to improve in the summer by bringing in more players. Whoever gets close to them next season has a good chance of winning the league."
Andy Cole says
”Manchester City are the team to catch. To run away with the league, as they did last season, means everybody has to try to close the gap on them."
Andy Cole says
"People remember me for the goal against Tottenham that won the title in 1999, but the 5-3 comeback was fantastic. That's my favourite memory against Spurs."
Andy Cole says
“Liverpool are another improving team. Klopp has done a good job and I like the way they play football. They remind me a bit of the team I played in here."
Andy Cole says
"Tottenham are an improving team and I like the way Pochettino has them playing. But next season is a massive one as, at some stage, they have to win something.”
Andy Cole says
”I played against Liverpool many times and Anfield was one of my favourite hunting grounds. I knew what it meant to me, my team-mates and the fans."
Andy Cole's verdict on our top-four rivals Article
Club legend Cole offers his honest verdict ahead of the 2018/19 Premier League fixtures being released.
Andy Cole on facing Bayern says
“We played them twice in the group stages in the Champions League in 1998/99 and there were two draws. I think it was a case of two evenly matched teams and we were fortunate enough to win the final.”
Andy Cole on Bayern Munich says
“They have always been a quality team and you know, playing such a high quality side like that, even in a friendly, will be a big game. It's only a pre-season fixture but everybody will want to win it.”
Cole's respect for Bayern Munich Article
Andy Cole reacts to the announcement of United's pre-season friendly with 1999 Champions League rivals Bayern Munich.
Who will have the biggest impact? Article
Which United star will enjoy the best tournament in Russia? Three United legends have their say.
Talking Point: Who's our key man? Article
Four Old Trafford legends have picked out the players who will influence Saturday's FA Cup final.