Andy Cole

Andrew Cole has been called many things in his life. Andy, finisher, poacher, winner and goal king are up there. But so are moody, difficult, arrogant and problematic.

 

The Manchester United legend didn’t do much media as a player, so away from the pitch we have never got to know him. Like others, such as United teammate Paul Scholes, he decided he would do his talking on the pitch.

 

And if that was all he was judged on – playing football – he would be regarded as highly as Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry, Ian Wright and Dennis Bergkamp. But he isn’t – which doesn’t make much sense when you break down the facts.

 

Andrew Cole is the second highest goalscorer in the history of the Premier League, behind Shearer. But Cole’s goals-per-Premier League-games ratio is actually higher. Cole didn’t take penalties, Shearer did – slotting away 56.

 

So when I was offered the chance to interview Cole, as part of the ITV Sports Life Stories series, I had so much to put to him.

 

He did not disappoint.

 

WATCH THE ANDY COLE SPORTS LIFE STORIES TRAILER

 

Cole was open about all aspects of his career – taking on the most sensitive talking points of his playing days. A lack of recognition as one of the Premier League’s greatest strikers, his beef with Teddy Sheringham, why he never got more of a chance with England, Andrew or Andy, why he failed to get on with a number of his managers… No stone was left unturned.

 

I was just as keen to get beyond the footie chat and see if I could truly get to know Andrew and understand why he decided not to engage with the media like others did – and benefitted as a result.

 

I had the privilege of speaking with his mum, dad, brother, wife and two children. They broke down his enigmatic personality in a way only family can.

 

The Andrew Cole story triggered lots of questions in my mind about how highly players value and understand the media. Can footballers ignore the media and still gain proper recognition? Do players understand, or care, that the public’s perception of them can impact on their career? Why can’t sportspeople be themselves – as inconvenient as that may be for the media at times – and be left alone?

 

Take a butchers. Andrew is ready to talk.

 

– Andy Cole, Sports Life Stories, on ITV 4 at 10pm tonight (10th March 2015)