Clubs: Arsenal FC, Crystal Palace FC (loan), Chelsea FC

• A schoolboy Arsenal fan, Cole joined the club's academy aged 16 and was a first-teamer at 18; replaced Sylvinho as the first-choice left-back in Arsène Wenger's side in 2000/01, during which he made his senior debut for England.

• A domestic double winner in 2001/02, he also lifted two more FA Cups with the Gunners and was a member of the 2003/04 Premier League-winning squad that went through the season unbeaten.

• Returned from long-term injury in time for the 2006 UEFA Champions League final, which Arsenal lost to FC Barcelona, and joined Chelsea a few months later after 228 first-team appearances and nine goals for the north London outfit.

• Was a runner-up again in Europe's premier club competition in 2008 – against Manchester United FC on penalties in Moscow – but was an FA Cup winner with the Blues in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012.

• Scored a career-best four goals, including one on the final day of the season in an 8-0 defeat of Wigan Athletic FC, during Chelsea's 2009/10 Premier League-winning campaign.

• Overtook Kenny Sansom as England's most-capped full-back when he made his 87th international appearance, against Denmark, in a February 2011 friendly in Copenhagen. 

• Ever-present throughout Chelsea's run to the 2012 UEFA Champions League final, he got his hands on the trophy at the third attempt after the Blues' penalty shoot-out success against FC Bayern München. Featured three times in the London club's UEFA Europa League triumph the following season.

UEFA honours
UEFA EURO 2004: All-Star Squad
UEFA Champions League: runner-up 2006, 2008; winner 2012
UEFA Europa League: winner 2013
UEFA.com users' Team of the Year: 2004, 2010