Andy Hangs Up His Boots...

It is with sadness that Footie Frog has to say that former Manchester United, Newcastle United and England striker (and Footie Frog favourite) Andrew Cole, 37, has retired from football.

After failing to score in 11 games for Forest this season, his contract was cancelled by mutual consent after only three months with the club - a rather unceremonious end to a wonderful career. Capped a mere 15 times for England in a sensational 19 years, it could be argued that Andy Cole was one of the biggest missed opportunities for our national side.

2nd in the all-time Premier League goalscoring charts, Cole notched 187 goals in his time with 8 different top-flight clubs, most of which were scored for Manchester United and Newcastle United, becoming a fan favourite at both grounds. In total he scored 289 goals in his career, wearing the shirt of 13 different teams.

He is one of an elite group of players to have won almost everything there is to win at club level, having won the League 5 times, the FA Cup and Community Shield twice, the League cup, Champions League and Inter-Continental Cup.

But Cole fans, do not dispair - the star could soon return in a coaching or management role -

"I have all this experience and I don't want to keep it to myself," said Cole.
"I want to give something back, I don't think this is the end of the Andrew Cole story. Hopefully it's a new chapter."

Footie Frog remembers his exploits for Newcastle United, dragging them up to the Premier League and scoring 41 goals in their first season in the top flight, establishing himself as one of Britain's finest strikers. I used to love watching him play, and some of my earliest footballing memories are of watching videos of Andy and the 'Entertainers'. He was equally thrilling when he moved to Man Utd, and though disappointed with his move away from one of my favourite clubs, I always loved to watch him - nobody will forget his unbelievable partnership with Dwight Yorke. So Footie Frog wishes Andy Cole all the best in whatever avenue he chooses to go down, and hopes that he will put his wealth of experience, knowledge and talent back into football...

Andy Cole, Andy Cole,

ANDY ANDY COLE...

He gets the ball and scores a goal...

ANDY ANDY COLE!!!