Joe Cole joins North American Soccer League club Tampa Bay Rowdies on deal through to end of 2017 season

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Former England international Joe Cole has joined Tampa Bay Rowdies
His deal runs to the end of the 2017 season with an option to stay in 2018
Cole had joined Coventry on a free transfer from Aston Villa in January
The 34-year-old has made 56 appearances for England

Published: 05:47 EST, 4 May 2016 | Updated: 11:55 EST, 4 May 2016

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Former England international Joe Cole has joined North American Soccer League club Tampa Bay Rowdies on a deal through to the end of the 2017 season.

The 34-year-old will move to Florida with the option to stay on for the 2018 season if all goes well.

Cole said: 'It’s a very exciting time for me. I’ve always envisaged playing in the United States at some point in my life and this opportunity came up.

Coventry City's Joe Cole (right) is challenged by Shrewsbury Town's Sullay Kaikai during a match in March

OFFICIAL: Rowdies have signed 3-time @premierleague champion Joe Cole. #WelcomeJoeCole
READ: https://t.co/WGgrVWXCve pic.twitter.com/c24P3dFfcU
— Tampa Bay Rowdies (@TampaBayRowdies) May 4, 2016

JOE COLE

Date of birth: November 8, 1981 (age 34)

Position: Midfielder

CAREER

1998-2003: West Ham

2003-2010: Chelsea

2010-2013: Liverpool

2011-2012: Lille (Loan)

2013-2014: West Ham

2014-2016: Aston Villa

2015-2016: Coventry City (Loan)

2016-2016: Coventry City

2016-: Tampa Bay Rowdies

'My family and I came out to visit a few months ago and everyone was lovely, they really made us feel welcomed.

'I’m really excited to get started and I want to be part of a successful team. My desire to win football matches is still there, I’m not coming for an extended holiday.

'I want to win football matches and of course experience a new lifestyle with my family, but the priority for me is success on the pitch.'

Three-times a Premier League winner with Chelsea, Cole joined Coventry on a free transfer from Aston Villa in January.

Ex-Chelsea and West Ham midfielder Cole had initially joined the Sky Blues on loan in October and has made 22 appearances, scoring twice, for the Sky Bet League One club.

He also won the FA Cup three times during his eight-year spell at Chelsea and made 56 appearances for England.

Cole has signed for NASL club Tampa Bay Rowdies - seen here in the green and yellow shirts

Cole (centre) celebrates Chelsea's Premiership success with his team-mates during a parade in 2005

Tampa Bay Rowdies head coach Stuart Campbell, a former Leicester and Bristol Rovers midfielder, said: 'Joe is a fantastic player, a player I know well from my time in England.

'His experience not just on the field, but off it, is invaluable for us. One of the biggest things I took from my conversations with Joe was his love of the game and how badly he wants to win matches.

'The fire is burning inside him to win games and achieve great things with the Rowdies.'