Cole, who also won 107 caps for England during a stellar career, came up against the Reds on numerous occasions, first as part of Arsene Wenger’s formidable Arsenal side which challenged us so intensely in the early 2000s.
In 2006, he joined Jose Mourinho’s Blues, where he spent eight trophy-laden years, going toe-to-toe with United at the summit of English and European football, including in the 2008 Champions League final.
And Cole, who could claim to be one of the world’s best left-backs during his spell at Stamford Bridge, left a lasting impact on the man who would eventually replace him in the England squad prior to the 2014 World Cup.