Andy Cole was one of the most prolific strikers of his era at Manchester United. He still does not quite get enough credit.
Manchester United have had a number of elite strikers over the years. From the great Dennis Viollet and Tommy Taylor, to the prolific Denis Law in the 1960s. Mark Hughes, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Wayne Rooney are among the top forwards to grace the shirt in more recent decades.
Andy Cole has all the credentials to belong in the same mix too. But for various reasons the former Manchester United forward often gets overlooked.
Cole formed one of the best strike partnerships Manchester United has ever seen with Dwight Yorke in the late 1990s and early 2000s. They scored 52 goals combined in the Treble-winning season.
Certainly, Cole deserves immense credit for his share of that, together they were unstoppable and helped to make United a winning machine.
But amid all the justified praise for ‘Yorke and Cole’ as a pair, the individual contribution and talent of both players often gets lost. Andy Cole’s sole accomplishments deserve more attention.
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Andy Cole’s impressive record
Andy Cole signed for Manchester United in 1995 in a shock move from Newcastle United. It was a club record transfer of £7 million, with Keith Gillespie going the other way.
Despite only joining midway through the decade, Cole finished as Manchester United’s top scorer in the 1990s.
He struck 96 of a total 121 goals for the club before 2000, playing a part in a continued era of success under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Cole helped United become the first club to win the Double twice in 1995/96, and then the first club to win the Treble.
By time he left Old Trafford, Yorke had won five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and one Champions League.
He had to deal with his share of setbacks too, a continued snub at international level, disappointment of losing out on the title in his first season, and a double broken leg in 1997.
Cole ended up scoring 121 goals for United, and remarkably, not a single one was a penalty.
His 121 strikes now ranks him 19th all time in United history. He was even higher when he retired, later overtaken by Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Cole netted more than 20 goals for United in three successive seasons between 1997/98 and 1999/2000. The first of these three saw his highest haul, 25 in total.
He of course could have added to his high tally had he chosen or been asked to take penalties for the club during his stint. But the fact he didn’t, actually makes his achievements even more impressive.
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Andy Cole’s biggest goals
The most important goal Andy Cole ever scored for Manchester United was the winner against Tottenham on the final day of the 1998/99 Premier League season.
United’s Champions League success that year always gets the most attention as the final leg of the Treble, but it was Cole’s strike that clinched United’s first trophy that historic season.
Cole also scored the game-clinching winner away at Juventus in the Champions League semi-final in Turin. United were leading on away goals, but Cole’s 83rd minute strike ensured United took a 3-2 lead on the night, an insurmountable advantage.
One of the most beautiful goals Cole scored was at the Nou Camp in the 1998 group stages, when his partnership with Dwight Yorke really made Europe sit up and take notice. Their one-two scythed the defence apart before Cole coolly scored.
The striker also hit headlines for a stunning five-goal haul in a record 9-0 win over Ipswich Town, in his first few months for the club in March 1995.
Speaking about his haul, Cole commented: “I’m very proud of being the first player to score five in the Premier League, but my goals just blur into each other.”
Cole also became the first English player to score two hat-tricks in the Champions League, doing so against Feyenoord and Anderlecht. He also haunted former club Newcastle with a four-goal haul against them in August 1999.
Why Cole’s reputation may have suffered
Andy Cole had it all, an ability to score every type of goal, his repertoire remains a fascinating watch, whether you are seeing it for the first time, or reliving it.
But there are minor things missing from his CV that have counted against him, during his time at the club and subsequently.
Cole took some blame for United’s failure to beat West Ham and win the 1994/95 title on the last day of the season. He redeemed himself in later years.
The continued international snub hurt his reputation too, and while at club level he racked up the goals, Cole had one thing missing – a goal in a major final.
Cole started both the 1996 and 1999 FA Cup Finals, and while United won, he missed out on a goal. He was cup-tied in 1995.
He started in the Champions League Final with Dwight Yorke, but their thunder was stolen by the substitute heroes.
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