Joe Cole, Luxury Player
On sale
4th June 2026
Price: £10.99
A WATERSTONES SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2025
‘EVOCATIVE’ The Guardian
‘COMPELLING AND BRILLIANTLY CANDID’ Daily Mail
‘A GREAT BOOK’ Jake Humphrey, High Performance Podcast
CANDID, RAW AND UNFORGETTABLE, THIS IS JOE COLE’S STORY – A MUST-READ FOR ANY FOOTBALL FAN
One of the best players of his era, Joe Cole grew up playing football in North London’s estates, and his ability, grit and hard work took him to the very top. But Joe was often mistrusted by managers and out of step with the style of English football in the 2000s. The game was suspicious of creative footballers it considered luxury players – the kind it could regard as an indulgence.
With honesty and an eye for the absurdities of football, Joe takes us inside the dressing room to reveal it all. From his days at the FA’s School of Excellence at Lilleshall and rising through the ranks at West Ham, to signing for Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea and winning it all under José Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti. He offers an insider account of playing alongside the likes of Lampard and Drogba, Beckham and Rooney, Gerrard and Di Canio, as well as for England’s so-called Golden Generation under Sven-Göran Eriksson and Fabio Capello.
It was a remarkable career. Then came the tumultuous end, as Joe battled severe injuries and his family suffered loss. He takes us on the journey of a great player coming to terms with his waning powers as his body began to fail him and the sport moved on. Football had given him everything. But then, it was over.
‘EVOCATIVE’ The Guardian
‘COMPELLING AND BRILLIANTLY CANDID’ Daily Mail
‘A GREAT BOOK’ Jake Humphrey, High Performance Podcast
CANDID, RAW AND UNFORGETTABLE, THIS IS JOE COLE’S STORY – A MUST-READ FOR ANY FOOTBALL FAN
One of the best players of his era, Joe Cole grew up playing football in North London’s estates, and his ability, grit and hard work took him to the very top. But Joe was often mistrusted by managers and out of step with the style of English football in the 2000s. The game was suspicious of creative footballers it considered luxury players – the kind it could regard as an indulgence.
With honesty and an eye for the absurdities of football, Joe takes us inside the dressing room to reveal it all. From his days at the FA’s School of Excellence at Lilleshall and rising through the ranks at West Ham, to signing for Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea and winning it all under José Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti. He offers an insider account of playing alongside the likes of Lampard and Drogba, Beckham and Rooney, Gerrard and Di Canio, as well as for England’s so-called Golden Generation under Sven-Göran Eriksson and Fabio Capello.
It was a remarkable career. Then came the tumultuous end, as Joe battled severe injuries and his family suffered loss. He takes us on the journey of a great player coming to terms with his waning powers as his body began to fail him and the sport moved on. Football had given him everything. But then, it was over.
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Reviews
Joe speaks brilliantly - and frankly - about his life growing up in Camden. Joe tells his story with wit and wisdom.
'[Joe Cole's] evocative new book...'
A lovely read about a player who is far more unassuming than I'd imagined. It is, of course, mostly about a generational superstar talent who actually becomes more of an acclaimed superstar actor before injuries take their toll, but it's also about fatherhood. The late George Cole is the undoubted star of this book, an extraordinary character... who proves, for so many reasons, everything a young man in the spotlight needs from a father.
A great, incredibly interesting book. I thought I knew Joe's story, but there is so much here that I hadn't heard before, he shares everything in full for the very first time. A must-read.
Cole's love-hate relationship with Mourinho is one compelling theme of his brilliantly candid book, Luxury Player.
Reflecting on the highs and lows of a stellar footballing career, Cole's candid memoir confronts his long history of injuries alongside the numerous trophies he won with a string of high-profile clubs.