West Ham United via their official Twitter account have wished former Hammer Joe Cole a happy birthday. The Twitter feed also contains a quote from the club’s current skipper Mark Noble who says although he loved Paolo Di Canio, for him, Joe Cole was “one of the best” – sparking a debate between who the fans would rather have in his prime and it appears the fans have voted pretty unanimously.
"I loved Di Canio, loved him. But my idol growing up was Joe Cole. As a kid he was a joke, he was one of the best." – Mark Noble
If you could only pick one, Cole or Di Canio in their prime for West Ham? pic.twitter.com/lsvrsm8F0K
— West Ham United (@WestHam) November 8, 2019
Di Canio – Outrageous levels of skill and the correct amount of madness to make him loved at West Ham.
— James Lamb (@lambjames) November 8, 2019
Di Canio. He went missing when it suited him but he was truly amazing and milked the crowd like no one else.
— John Hardy (@hardyjohn) November 8, 2019
Been going West Ham 30 years and no player got me out of my seat more than Di Canio. An absolute magician.
— Adam Peek (@CrouchingPeeky) November 8, 2019
Di Canio was my introduction to West Ham. If not for him I might still be adrift. COYI
— ADB (@300yearstoolate) November 8, 2019
Di canio??
— Deftona666 (@deftona666) November 8, 2019
Di canio all day. Absolute genius, he done things that not many footballers could do
— Adam Ryan (@AdamSRyan91) November 8, 2019
But in the eyes of this supporter, it’s impossible to decide…
Impossible, like choosing your favourite child
— JonnyH (@RorkesXDrift) November 8, 2019
What do we think?
Both were, without question, fantastic talents. Perhaps the fact Cole signed for Chelsea in 2003 – one of West Ham’s fiercest rivals – has worked against him. Although many still look back on his time at the Boleyn Ground fondly, losing one of their own to a cross-city rival must have hurt.
Di Canio was one of the Premier League’s great mavericks. He scored over 50 league goals for West Ham and will go down as a club legend. The former Juventus, Milan and Napoli striker made his fair share of transfers and joined the Hammers in 1998 from Sheffield Wednesday for £2m.
As well as his performances, Di Canio’s eccentricity and flamboyant character made him a cult hero with the fans almost instantly.