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
UTD Unscripted: Just Keep Going Article
In our latest long read, Andy Cole recounts the life-changing experience that made his United family rally round.
Goal of the Day: Cole v Feyenoord video
On this day in 1997, Andy Cole rolled in a third to score United’s first European hat-trick for 39 years...
Goal of the Day: Cole-fired Reds scorch Feyenoord Article
On this day in 1997, Andy Cole tapped home a third to register United’s first European hat-trick for 39 years.
Fans out in force for #ILoveUnited in Dallas Article
Thousands of United supporters got together in Texas to cheer on the Reds against Liverpool.
I Love United - Dallas 2019 video
Get a sense of what Andy Cole and Bryan Robson experienced when they joined fans at I Love United in Dallas...
Join the legends at #ILOVEUNITED in Dallas video
Watch our preview show with Coley and Robbo in Dallas, USA, and catch up on their day with the Dallas Cowboys...
Legends launch United Ultraboost trainers Article
Andy Cole and Louis Saha joined forces in Los Angeles for the US launch of the United Ultraboost trainers.
#ILOVEUNITED: Legends meet the Dallas Cowboys video
Coley and Robbo have been spending time with the Dallas Cowboys, before Sunday's #ILOVEUNITED events in the US...
United v Liverpool: Legends have their say Article
Andy Cole and Bryan Robson reflect on meetings with the Merseysiders and discuss five key points about the rivalry.
Cole's title-winning goal video
On his 48th birthday, take another look at Andy Cole's title-winning chip against Tottenham back in 1999...
Cole recalls emotional return to Tyneside video
United legend and former Newcastle player Andy Cole explains why a recent return to St James' Park "choked" him up...
Cole: Greenwood has quality in abundance Article
Read what the United legend told us about Mason after Wednesday's pre-match training session at the Cars Jeans Stadium.
United's famous fathers Article
On this Father's Day weekend, we're recalling the Reds whose dads or children also found fame.
Legends: United 4 Bayern Munich 2 video
The Reds emerged victorious in a six-goal thriller when facing a team of Bayern legends at Old Trafford in 2015…
Treble Icons: Andy Cole Article
Our series continues with a closer look at the part the Reds’ former no.9 played in the success of 1998/99.