The Treble winner, 51 today, speaks passionately about role models and the influence of black players in an in-depth conversation with club journalist Sam Carney that you can read below.
Cole feels particularly strongly about the lack of opportunities for black coaches and managers in English football, pointing to the fact his great friend Dwight Yorke could not find a route back into the game. As Andy explains, Yorkie’s eventual chance came on the other side of the world with Australian club Macarthur FC and, like every Red, he was delighted to see him win a domestic cup earlier this month.