Western Sydney utility Shannon Cole has played his last game for the Wanderers.
Cole, who was there at the very beginning when Western Sydney were founded in the A-League in 2012, is leaving the club. He captained the Wanderers in his final match on Wednesday, a fitting end with a 3-2 win over Shanghai SIPG in Asian Champions League.
Cole enjoyed an impressive five years with the red and black. In that time he was part of a team that won a Premier’s Plate in 2013, reached three A-League grand finals and made history in 2014 as the first Australian club to win the Asian Champions League. It has been some stint.
The sometimes defender, sometime midfielder has been there at all of the big moments in Western Sydney’s history. All up Cole made 73 appearances for the Wanderers across all competitions, with 53 of those coming in the A-League.
The 32-year old feels the time is right to depart the club
“It’s not tough, it feels right,” he told The Sportsman. “Complete. Five years is a very long time in a football career. It’s time for the club to step into the next era, post-foundation players, and time for me to embark on a new football journey. Physically I am in great shape, I am owe much of that to the Wanderers professional environment, so now is the perfect time to start that next journey.”
Joining from local rivals Sydney FC five years ago, Cole help build the culture and the fabric of the Wanderers. On the field he was most influential in the first two seasons, the campaigns where Western Sydney were the darlings of the A-League.
Tony Popovic’s men won the league in their debut season, but were pipped in the grand final by Central Coast Mariners. In that season Cole made 22 appearances, his versatility on show as featured at right back, left back, right midfield and left midfield.
The following season he helped the Wanderers achieve what no other Aussie club had done before, or since, conquer Asia. In that magical tour through Korea, China, Japan and finally Saudi Arabia, Western Sydney defied the odds. Cole played a big part throughout the whole journey, racking up 13 matches on the right side and chipping in with three goals and two assists. Cole was there on the field where the Wanderers famously and heroicly held Al-Hilal 0-0 in the second leg in Riyad to be crowned Asian champions.
Dependable, hard-working, a team player, Cole is the kind of individual every team needs. Prepared to do the hard yards, to put the needs of the team over his own. Never blessed with bags of natural talent, it was his determination and work ethic that got him into the professional game.
Regular matches have been rare for the APIA, Dulwich Hill and Rockdale junior in the past two seasons, with just six this season and four the season before that, because of injury and competition for places. But Cole never complained, continued to work hard and do his bit in training. The 32-year old is the sort of player that clubs are built around, the ones that set standards and lead by example.
Cole’s career has been something of a journey around the football world. It has included playing in the US, New Zealand, trailing with Doncaster Rovers and a stint in Israel. He spent four years with Sydney FC, winning the A-League double with the Sky Blues. He even snagged himself a Socceroo cap in 2010, playing 73 minutes against Indonesia.
But he will be best remembered for his time in a red and black shirt, for his free-kicks, his role in the launch of Western Sydney and their stellar early success.
“I’m proud to have shared that time with some amazing players and staff,” Cole said. “As a father, as the years go by, I’ll be able to tell my family ‘your dad helped build that club’. That’s something I look forward to.”
