The one-time England international striker, who has served 13 clubs during a distinguished career, has finished his playing days at Nottingham Forest where he has struggled to command a regular starting place this season.
"It's not the ideal ending, but I wouldn't change a thing. It's been a dream" Cole told The Times newspaper.
"It just wasn't working out (at Forest). I told them from the outset that I didn't want to go there to sit on the bench because I didn't want to be perceived as sitting back and making easy money.
Cole now plans to stay in the game in some sort of coaching capacity: "I've all this experience and I don't want to keep it to myself," he added.
"I want to give something back."
Andrew Cole | |||
Date of birth | Friday, 15th October 1971 | Height | 5.10 |
Place of birth | Nottingham, England | Weight | 12.4 |
Nationality | England | Position | Forward |
Comments | Squad No. | ||
Recent Career History By Club (1999 onwards) | ||||||
Team | Debut | Apps (+ sub) | Goals | Yellows | Reds | |
| 23 Aug 2008 | 5 (6) | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 02 Feb 2008 | 8 (5) | 6 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 24 Nov 2007 | 3 (5) | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 14 Apr 2007 | 5 (0) | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 19 Sep 2006 | 9 (13) | 4 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 13 Aug 2005 | 21 (2) | 10 | 4 | 1 | ||
| 14 Aug 2004 | 37 (2) | 13 | 7 | 1 | ||
| 01 Jan 2002 | 89 (11) | 37 | 13 | 2 | ||
| 10 Oct 2001 | 4 (3) | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 06 Oct 2001 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 19 Aug 2001 | 4 (4) | 3 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 15 Aug 2001 | 1 (0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 03 Apr 2001 | 6 (1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 24 Mar 2001 | 2 (0) | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 07 Mar 2001 | 1 (0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 28 Feb 2001 | 1 (0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 18 Oct 2000 | 11 (2) | 6 | 2 | 1 | ||
| 07 Oct 2000 | 2 (0) | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 05 Sep 2000 | 6 (0) | 4 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 02 Sep 2000 | 1 (0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 26 Feb 2000 | 14 (3) | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 23 Feb 2000 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 10 (3) | 1 | 1 | 0 | |||
| 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 10 (0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 1 (0) | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
Recent Career History By Season (1999 onwards) | ||||||
Season | First App. | Apps (+ sub) | Goals | Yellows | Reds | |
| 23 Aug 2008 | 5 (6) | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 24 Nov 2007 | 11 (10) | 6 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 19 Sep 2006 | 14 (13) | 5 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 13 Aug 2005 | 21 (2) | 10 | 4 | 1 | ||
| 14 Aug 2004 | 37 (2) | 13 | 7 | 1 | ||
| 16 Aug 2003 | 29 (8) | 11 | 3 | 1 | ||
| 17 Aug 2002 | 40 (3) | 13 | 6 | 0 | ||
| 15 Aug 2001 | 29 (8) | 18 | 4 | 1 | ||
| 05 Aug 2000 | 33 (5) | 14 | 4 | 1 | ||
| 22 Sep 1999 | 31 (6) | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 05 Jun 1999 | 1 (0) | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
Appearances 251 (+ 63 as sub); Goals 91; Yellow cards 36; Red cards 5 | ||||||