Andy Cole has paid the ultimate compliment to a fellow Manchester United legend that he never played alongside at Old Trafford under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Sir Alex Ferguson signed Andy Cole from Newcastle in 1995 and the former England and Manchester United striker was a key first-team player for the Red Devils.
Cole lifted five Premier League trophies, a Champions League title and two FA Cups during a prolific playing spell at Old Trafford in the 1990s and early 2000s.
The 53-year-old United legend found the back of the net 121 times and registered 44 assists in 275 appearances for the Red Devils under former manager Ferguson.
Cole scored 187 times in the Premier League across his entire playing career and the ex-England international is fourth in the league’s all-time goalscoring list.
The ex-Newcastle star also had a famous strike partnership with Dwight Yorke at Old Trafford and the pair were key parts of Ferguson’s United treble winners in 1999.
Andy Cole didn’t think twice with praise for Man Utd and England legend Wayne Rooney
Andy Cole, who retired from football in 2008, left Old Trafford in 2001 and signed for Blackburn Rovers after he fell down the pecking order under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Legendary former Manchester United manager Ferguson was well-known for bringing the best in class to the Premier League club during his 26-year reign.
The 83-year-old Scotsman had a roster of star-studded strikers at his disposal at one point or another, including the likes of Wayne Rooney and Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Speaking to ESPN, Cole was asked to build his ‘ultimate striker’ and the former Three Lions striker praised fellow United legend Wayne Rooney by picking him twice.
The former Newcastle and Blackburn Rovers player selected Rooney, who is United’s all-time leading scorer, for his ultimate striker’s work rate and link-up play.
Robbie Savage’s defence of Wayne Rooney’s incredible work ethic for both Man Utd and England was perfect
Wayne Rooney climbed ahead of United legend Cole in the Premier League’s all-time scorers and the 39-year-old had an illustrious playing spell at Old Trafford.
The former United and England captain, who called it time on his legendary career in 2021, is widely regarded as one of the best Premier League strikers of all time.
Robbie Savage previously said that Rooney is the “most underappreciated footballer” in English football, despite the United legend’s remarkable career.
“He gets hammered and yet he is Manchester United’s and England’s top scorer,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live in 2017, as per BBC Sport.
“He is a professional, his work ethic is very good, you can see his temperament is still the same.
“When he gets a decision against him, he goes berserk. That is the same old Wayne Rooney.
“The bottom line is that age and not playing regular games is catching up with him. He is not the player he was.
“But he is the most underappreciated footballer we have seen in English football.”
Rooney entered the world of management after his glittering playing career and he has been out of the dugout since he was sacked by Plymouth Argyle in 2024.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
