Friday, 31st May, 2013
Manchester United legend Andy Cole has expressed his regret at not staying at Old Trafford for longer, adding that his departure from the club to Blackburn Rovers in 2001 was "too early".
Cole signed with the Red Devils from Tyneside giants Newcastle United for a fee totalling £7m in a cash-cum-player deal which saw Keith Gillespie move in the opposite direction to St James’ Park. Cole made a total 275 appearances for the Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, scoring 121 goals along the way.
Cole’s popularity among the Old Trafford faithful stems from his partnership with Dwight Yorke. The tandem scored a total 53 goals for Manchester United during the 1998/99 campaign, the season which saw the club win the coveted treble.
Cole, however, grew unhappy with his role as a super-sub when the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy were brought in, and requested he be given a transfer to ensure more first-team football in a bid to get himself in the England team that would play in the 2002 World Cup.
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"When I left the club, I wanted to play more games and I saw the manager numerous times", Cole told Manchester United’s official site.
"He told me that I didn’t have to go, he didn’t want me to go, I could have stayed for as long as I could and I would get my games. But I was trying to force myself into the World Cup squad. In the end, he just said ‘Okay, I understand and I know what you are like, I will let you go’", Cole vividly recalled.
As history narrates, Cole would then clinch a £7m move to Blackburn Rovers, and while he did get his dose of first-team football, he still failed to get into the England squad.
“I really enjoyed my time but I left far too early. That is my only regret. I could have stayed at the football club for a lot longer and, looking back, I wish I had.”
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