Manchester United legend Andy Cole has candidly opened up on a “fantastic relationship” that he has shared with a former club teammate amid his health struggles.
One of the best strikers in Premier League history, Cole enjoyed a prolific playing career at Old Trafford and hoovered up major silverware under Sir Alex Ferguson.
The 52-year-old ex-United striker lifted five Premier League titles, a Champions League and two FA Cups before his departure to Blackburn Rovers in 2001.
Cole, who arrived at Old Trafford in 1995 from Newcastle, played a key part in United’s legendary treble-winning season alongside strike partner Dwight Yorke.
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Cole’s struggles off the pitch
Cole, unfortunately, has suffered health issues after his prolific playing career and even underwent a kidney transplant in 2017.
The United hero’s kidney capacity had dropped to seven per cent and Cole was also sleeping for up to 15 hours a day before his operation.
Before his nephew offered to donate his kidney to him for the surgery, Cole admitted that he struggled with easy tasks like getting up and walking.
Speaking on The Late Late Show, the ex-United star recalled the time when Roy Keane came to visit him at the hospital and had him “rolling around” in laughter.
“I remember the nurse saying to him, ‘If you can, Mr Keane, don’t make him laugh,’” Cole told presenter Patrick Kielty.
“You can see the stitches are very tight in my stomach and whatever. So, he said, ‘Yeah, yeah, no problems.’
“Within about five minutes he had me rolling around — I was in so much pain but Roy being Roy he continued just to make me laugh.
“I’ve always had a fantastic relationship with him. He was an unbelievable captain and I was fortunate to play with such a great player.
“But away from the football pitch, he’s always had time for me. You could say we’re a bit alike as well but I don’t think I’m as ferocious as he is.
“I like to speak my mind [but] not as much as he does! But yeah, I think when two people connect like that, it’s a lot easier.”
How Cole’s illness changed his ‘whole world‘
Cole told Kielty that he struggled with water retention due to the issues with his kidney, which led to him ballooning up to a whopping 18st.
The former England international admitted that it has been “really, really tough” getting used to the medication and it has affected his mental wellbeing.
Cole said that his whole world “changed” after he was struck with his illness, which came as a shock to him due to how he looked after himself during his career.
“Knowing that I’d played football, I’ve been fit all my life, and then all of a sudden a random illness comes around and it’s changed my whole world, to be brutally honest,” he said.
“Knowing that I’ve got to deal with whatever’s in front of me… I don’t think that they really explain to you what goes on when you have such a surgery.”
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