Joe Cole To Join West Ham United, Career In Pictures

West Ham Returnee Joe Cole's Career In Pictures

Joe Cole looks set to end his career where it began as he closes in on a return to West Ham United.

Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp revealed on Wednesday night the 31-year-old had opted to join his old club rather than his old manager.

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Cole celebrates his opener against Arsenal in August 2002

Cole, a product of the Hammers' famed Academy, was part of the imperious 1999 FA Youth Cup-winning side which decimated Coventry City 9-0 over the two-legged final. Michael Carrick was a teammate of Cole's.

He played in the Hammers' first-team for four-and-a-half-years, making 158 appearances, until their relegation from the Premier League in 2003. Cole joined Chelsea for a knockdown £6m and won three league titles, two FA Cups and two League Cups with his boyhood club.

A fruitful loan spell at Lille was sandwiched within his disastrous stint at Liverpool prior to his imminent return to the Boleyn Ground.