Joe Cole has explained how he went against logic when deciding on his transfer to Liverpool from Chelsea.
The former England international had the opportunity to move to Tottenham Hotspur in 2010 when Harry Redknapp was manager but turned it down in favour of a move north.
The 37-year-old played 280 times for the Blues and also 170 times for West Ham during his time in London after starting his youth career with the Hammers.
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While he won three Premier League titles, two FA Cups, a League Cup and helped establish the Stamford Bridge side as force in Europe, Cole was unsure how a transfer to White Hart Lane would go down.
He told FourFourTwo : “Staying in London would have been the logical thing to do. Harry Redknapp was the manager there, too, so it was a very easy fit.
“But I just didn’t feel it was right, being a West Ham and Chelsea player and then going to play for Tottenham. It would have tarnished everything I did at Chelsea.”
Cole is now back Chelsea's Cobham training base working as technical academy coach. It seems his good memories playing for the Blues have meant it feels the right place to start his coaching career.
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He said: “West Ham will always have a special place in my heart, but as a kid you dream of winning trophies,” he says. “Playing for Chelsea was really special.
“It’s a good place to learn, I feel very comfortable there and they’ve been great with me ever since I left in 2010. The chairman, Bruce Buck, always stayed in touch, and they wanted me back in the building.
“In the same way as when I signed for West Ham as a kid, I just felt like this was the right place to start.”
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