Chelsea fans have Joe Cole to thank for a lot. He was part of the original Jose Mourinho revolution and would end up winning three Premier League titles at Stamford Bridge.
Alongside the 27 goals and 25 assists in 183 games across seven seasons, Cole was one of the most creative and technically skilled players the club had seen. He was the early Roman Abramovich era answer to Gianfranco Zola.
Cole left Chelsea when he was just 27 due to damaging injuries that ultimately took years of elite level game time from his career. Perhaps the biggest impact he would make on the club came once he left though.
READ MORE: Cucurella, Loftus-Cheek and the other Chelsea stars Graham Potter can work with in training
In the summer of 2012, just after Chelsea had won the Champions League, Cole played a key role in convincing one of the world's biggest prospects to join Chelsea. Having just completed his first season in France at Lille, Cole witnessed 20-year-old Eden Hazard win player of the season after 20 goals and 15 assists on the way to the Ligue 1 title.
With interest in the Belgian from all of Europe's top teams, Cole's advice that Chelsea was the place to go would prove decisive. Hazard went on to join Chelsea for £32million that summer, seven seasons later, and with 110 goals for the Blues, Hazard left as one of the greatest ever players.
Chelsea will see themselves as indebted to Cole for his impact on the transfer, and Hazard left his own magical mark on Cole. When asked who the best player he played with in club football was, Cole was in no doubt.
"Oh, it's a good question. Okay," he said on Rio Ferdinand's YouTube channel. "The best, most complete player is Eden Hazard. In terms of everything."
In Cole's 20-year playing career he spent time with Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba to name just a few. He preferred Hazard though, adding: "He's my type of player. You can't compare Hazard with Drogba or Hazard with Frank or Stevie. I played with him before he joined Chelsea. He was me but a just a slightly better version," he laughed.
"He was a better version. He was so strong, I was never as strong as him, he was so strong, honestly you wouldn't believe it - and then he had the left foot, right foot: powerful. Great player."
Since leaving Chelsea for a deal worth more than £100million Hazard has struggled at Real Madrid, though he did finally get his hands on the Champions League trophy. In three seasons in Spain he has scored just four goals, starting less than 30 matches.
Given the world-class level he was at and the ability Hazard has, it has been a disappointing move. "I am [surprised he hasn't kicked on at Real Madrid] but I think we're going to see this with a lot of great players in the post Messi and Ronaldo era, his body let him down," explained Cole. "He's not a great professional but his ankles are really bad at the moment. It's only because of injuries.
"Messi and Ronaldo have had this clean run at it for 15 years where they have shown us their talent. "The only, and you see the next generation with Haaland and Mbappe, the only the only thing stopping them competing with those two is longevity."
READ NEXT:
Denis Zakaria sends positional message to Graham Potter as midfielder awaits Chelsea debut
Kevin De Bruyne mistake highlights why Todd Boehly plan will end frustrating Chelsea problem
Todd Boehly told key Chelsea signing would be 'biggest transfer of the last 50 years'
Kai Havertz told he could struggle for Chelsea game time under Graham Potter amid 'slow' claim
Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: All the latest news, rumours and gossip from Stamford Bridge
