MICK JAGGER had an unexpected influence on one former Chelsea star’s display in the 2007 FA Cup final.
Joe Cole has opened up on how the rock ‘n’ roll superstar’s “snake hips” left him unable to concentrate on the Wembley turf.
Cole, 43, started the 2007 FA Cup final for Chelsea, a heavyweight clash against a Manchester United side littered with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney.
But it wasn’t the big name players or the occasion of playing the first game in new Wembley that threw Cole off, rather the presence of one of his musical heroes.
Speaking to former Blues teammate Ashley Cole on the Football’s Greatest: Could It Be Magic podcast, brought to you by Carling, Joe Cole opened up on being starstruck by the Rolling Stones frontman.
He said: “It was a dreadful, dreadful game. Do you know what I remember about that game? Weird things that spring to mind.
“I remember, because it was the first game at the new Wembley. So it was sort of extra exciting. For some reason, I’m a big Rolling Stones fan, right? And Mick Jagger was walking around.
“Do you not remember this? See, Mick Jagger was walking around the tunnel. He must have been doing a song or something before the Cup final.
“Might have been a national anthem, giving it these snake hips there. I don’t know what it was.
“But I remember seeing him, but I’m focused on the game and nothing could take me off. There’s nothing that could put me off, I’m ready.
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“I wouldn’t even look at the opposition because you’re playing against, like, [former West Ham team-mate Michael] Carrick, who we know, or the boys from England, the United boys.
“And I just see Mick and I just went proper fan boy. I think I went, ‘All right, Mick!’ And he’s probably why I got taken off at half time, my head was gone. I couldn’t concentrate. Mick had done me.”
Cole was hooked at half-time with the scores tied 0-0 after the first 45 minutes.
But it ultimately proved to be the right decision as Chelsea went on to win the match 1-0 thanks to a 116th minute extra-time goal by Didier Drogba.
That FA Cup is one of three won by the former England international during his career.
While he also lifted the Premier League three times too.
Football’s Greatest: Could It Be Magic with Joe Cole and Ashley Cole, brought to you by Carling, the official sponsor of the Emirates FA Cup and Adobe Women’s FA Cup.
You can watch the show on YouTube and Spotify or listen to it wherever you get your podcasts.
