Andy Cole: Encyclopedia II - Andy Cole - Manchester United

Andy Cole - Manchester United

On 10th January 1995, Cole was suddenly sold to Manchester United for a deal worth £7million - with £6million cash plus £1million-rated Keith Gillespie going in the opposite direction. He scored 12 goals in his first 18 Premiership games for United, but suffered two near misses at West Ham on the final day of the season that would have kept the Premiership trophy at Old Trafford - it went to Blackburn instead. A week later he was cup-tied for the F.A Cup final which United lost to Everton. Some United fans believe that United could have won the final had Cole not been disqualified by a Third Round appearence for Newcastle.

Cole was slated by even United's own fans throughout the 1995-96 season, although he did score in four successive games during the winter and was in the first 11 for most first-team games. Some fans were even calling for 21-year-old Paul Scholes to replace Cole as Eric Cantona's regular strike-partner! But Cole still collected a Premiership title winners medal and played in their F.A Cup final victory to become part of England's first ever side to win the double twice.

The arrival of Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer - and two broken legs suffered in a reserve game - restricted Cole's first-team chances in 1996-97, but he still played in 20 Premiership games (10 as a substitute) and qualified for another Premiership title medal. Before the season began, he had been offered to Blackburn Rovers as part-exchange in a £12million deal which would have brought Alan Shearer to Old Trafford. But Shearer opted for Newcastle instead.

Cole was the joint top goalscorer in the Premiership during 1997-98 with 18 goals, but United finished trophyless for only the second time in nine seasons and some fans were still slating him for blowing so many chances. But he was still one of the best goalscorers in the Premiership and had a very good goals-per-game ratio.

Cole faced competition from Dwight Yorke, Teddy Sheringham and Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer during the 1998-99 season but still played a big part in their unique treble of the Premiership title, F.A Cup and League Cup. He was United's top scorer in 1999-2000 with 19 goals in 28 Premiership games which saw him collect his fourth Premiership title medal in five seasons. Another title followed in 2000-01, although the real star of United's season was the veteran Teddy Sheringham.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Manchester United", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki