Shannon Cole
Encyclopedia
Shannon Cole is a midfielder who currently plays in the Australian football (soccer)
A-League
for Sydney FC
.
. In 2003, He studied drama at the University of Western Sydney
for 1.5 years before putting degree on hold to pursue a football career.
and Parramatta Eagles
. He also left Australia for spells in US college football in the tiny Michigan
town of Northville and semi-professional football with Waitakere United
in New Zealand
. Following this, Cole spent a month trialling with ambitious English Championship side Doncaster Rovers, before spending a stint with Israeli side Maccabi Netanya
.
In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald in July 2008, Cole reflected on these early globetrotting stages of his career: "With the college football, I had a friend over there already, so I went over for the year when I was 19 and it was just something I wanted to try, living away from home and live as a footballer. I kind of saw it as a personal challenge. Going to Europe was also great, but I don't have an EU passport at the moment and it made it difficult to get a deal. Being full-time with Doncaster, even for a month, was a great experience. The standard in Israel was also really high and there were a lot of really good, strong African boys there, but Netanya were looking for a senior player to come in and run the midfield, and I was just 22, so it didn't work out."
Shannon Cole signed with NSW Premier League club Sydney Olympic in 2007. During his time there, Cole was a member of the Sydney Olympic team that lifted the 2008 NSW Premier League Johnny Warren Cup, after a 2-1 extra time win in the final against the Sutherland Sharks. Cole provided the assist from a free kick for Olympic's first goal in this game, scored by Emmanuel Giannaros in the 52nd minute.
on a two year contract from Sydney Olympic. Chosen mainly because of his ability to play at left and right back or midfield.
On 23 August 2008, Cole scored a free kick against Central Coast Mariners that curled over the wall into the bottom corner to put Sydney in the lead 3-2. This proved to be the winning goal. Another goal the next week against Perth Glory cemented his position in the team.
In December he scored his third goal for Sydney in their 3-2 loss to Melbourne Victory
. His goal was the first of the match, just less than 30 seconds into the game.
In 2010-11 A-League, Cole scored a spectacular free-kick goal against Melbourne Victory
at Sydney Football Stadium in Round 1 of Grand Final Replay on 7 August 2010. He scored again in Round 8 Mid-Week Fixture with a spectacular goal outside from penalty box against North Queensland Fury. Cole scored again, this time he ran past the defenders of Perth Glory to slide the ball past Tando Velaphi
in Round 15 then later did a spectacular acrobatic jump.
. His second call was on 19 January 2009 against Indonesia
and played 73 minutes in his debut.
: A-League Premiership: 2009-2010 A-League Championship: 2009-2010
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
for Sydney FC
Sydney FC
Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
.
Early life
Shannon attended St Ambrose primary school, Concord West, and St Patrick's College, StrathfieldSt Patrick's College, Strathfield
St Patrick's College is an independent, Roman Catholic, day school for boys, located in Strathfield in the inner west of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
. In 2003, He studied drama at the University of Western Sydney
University of Western Sydney
The University of Western Sydney, also known as UWS, is a multi-campus university in the Greater Western region of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
for 1.5 years before putting degree on hold to pursue a football career.
Club career
Shannon Cole's early football career saw a series of stints with NSW state league clubs, in particular APIA Leichhardt, Dulwich Hill, Rockdale City SunsRockdale City Suns
Rockdale Ilinden Football Club , founded in 1969, is an Australian association football club based in Sydney suburb of Rockdale and competes in the highest men's competition in New South Wales, the NSW Premier League.The Club's home ground is Bicentennial Park South, located in the suburb of...
and Parramatta Eagles
Parramatta Eagles
Parramatta Eagles are an Australian football club that played in the National Soccer League and later the New South Wales Premier League. Due to various levels of mismanagement at the club it was demoted at the end of 2006...
. He also left Australia for spells in US college football in the tiny Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
town of Northville and semi-professional football with Waitakere United
Waitakere United
Waitakere United is a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu.-History:...
in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Following this, Cole spent a month trialling with ambitious English Championship side Doncaster Rovers, before spending a stint with Israeli side Maccabi Netanya
Maccabi Netanya
Maccabi Netanya F.C. is an Israeli football club based in Netanya. Established in 1934, the club were founding members of the Israeli League in 1949. After winning their first championship in 1970, the club's golden period lasted until the late 1980s, including four more league titles and a double...
.
In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald in July 2008, Cole reflected on these early globetrotting stages of his career: "With the college football, I had a friend over there already, so I went over for the year when I was 19 and it was just something I wanted to try, living away from home and live as a footballer. I kind of saw it as a personal challenge. Going to Europe was also great, but I don't have an EU passport at the moment and it made it difficult to get a deal. Being full-time with Doncaster, even for a month, was a great experience. The standard in Israel was also really high and there were a lot of really good, strong African boys there, but Netanya were looking for a senior player to come in and run the midfield, and I was just 22, so it didn't work out."
Shannon Cole signed with NSW Premier League club Sydney Olympic in 2007. During his time there, Cole was a member of the Sydney Olympic team that lifted the 2008 NSW Premier League Johnny Warren Cup, after a 2-1 extra time win in the final against the Sutherland Sharks. Cole provided the assist from a free kick for Olympic's first goal in this game, scored by Emmanuel Giannaros in the 52nd minute.
Sydney FC
On 15 August 2008 he was signed by Sydney FCSydney FC
Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
on a two year contract from Sydney Olympic. Chosen mainly because of his ability to play at left and right back or midfield.
On 23 August 2008, Cole scored a free kick against Central Coast Mariners that curled over the wall into the bottom corner to put Sydney in the lead 3-2. This proved to be the winning goal. Another goal the next week against Perth Glory cemented his position in the team.
In December he scored his third goal for Sydney in their 3-2 loss to Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
. His goal was the first of the match, just less than 30 seconds into the game.
In 2010-11 A-League, Cole scored a spectacular free-kick goal against Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
at Sydney Football Stadium in Round 1 of Grand Final Replay on 7 August 2010. He scored again in Round 8 Mid-Week Fixture with a spectacular goal outside from penalty box against North Queensland Fury. Cole scored again, this time he ran past the defenders of Perth Glory to slide the ball past Tando Velaphi
Tando Velaphi
Tando Yuji Velaphi is an Australian football goalkeeper who currently plays for Melbourne Victory in the A-League. Before joining Victory in 2011, he spent several seasons at , eventually developing into their first-choice 'keeper....
in Round 15 then later did a spectacular acrobatic jump.
International career
On 1 October 2008 was called up from Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek for the Australia national football team for a training camp, he was not promoted for the 22 squad against QatarQatar national football team
The Qatar national football team is the national team of Qatar and is controlled by the Qatar Football Association. They have never qualified for a FIFA World Cup but are hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The team has also appeared in seven AFC Asian Cup tournaments and hosted the 2011 AFC Asian...
. His second call was on 19 January 2009 against Indonesia
Indonesia national football team
The Indonesia national football team represents Indonesia in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Indonesia . Prior to independence in 1945, the team competed as the Dutch East Indies national football team. Under this name, Indonesia was the first Asian team to...
and played 73 minutes in his debut.
Honours
With Sydney FCSydney FC
Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
: A-League Premiership: 2009-2010 A-League Championship: 2009-2010