Carlton Cole - Speaker

Carlton Cole is a broadcaster and former professional footballer. He played as a striker for clubs including West Ham United, Chelsea, and Celtic, and represented the England national team. Cole hosts the TalkSPORT Sports Bar on Friday nights and works as a pundit for TNT Sport, BBC, and Sky Sport. After retiring in 2018, he became an official Ambassador for West Ham United and has partnered with brands like Giff Gaff, Nivea, and Carling.
Cole began his career at Chelsea in 2001, where he had loan spells at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Charlton Athletic, and Aston Villa. In 2006, he transferred to West Ham United, where he had two stints, being released in 2013 and re-signed shortly after, only to be released again in 2015. He also played briefly for Celtic, Sacramento Republic in the United States, and Persib Bandung in Indonesia.
During his international career, Cole made 19 appearances for the England under-21 team, scoring six goals. He debuted for the senior national team on 11 February 2009 in a friendly against Spain, where he came on as a substitute. He made seven appearances for England, all from the bench, which is a national record as of June 2021.
After retiring, Cole returned to West Ham United in December 2018 to support the club's academy players, working alongside under-18 coaches. He is dedicated to mentoring young athletes, focusing on their development both on and off the field. His aim is to help them achieve long-term success and financial stability throughout their careers, while also preparing them for life after sports. Having faced challenges during his own career, he uses his experiences to guide the next generation and help them avoid common pitfalls.
In addition to his broadcasting and coaching roles, Cole remains committed to nurturing young talent in football, ensuring they have the support needed to thrive in a competitive environment.