#4 Andy Cole – Blackburn Rovers (2001-02)
The arrival of Ruud Van Nistelrooy meant that Andy Cole’s days at Manchester United were numbered as he found game time hard to come by in the 2001-02 season. Frustrated with the lack of opportunities, Cole moved to the struggling Blackburn Rovers on 29th December in a bid to help them avoid relegation.
Blackburn had won just five games until then and were seated in the 16th spot and just three points away from safety. It was perhaps their wretched form in front of goal that had seen Graeme Souness’ men drop into troubled waters in the Premier League and the need of the hour was finding someone who could knock the ball into the back of the net at a consistent rate.
The arrival of an established name like Andy Cole proved to be the catalyst that led to The Riversiders not only avoiding relegation but doing so comprehensively. The English striker played a pivotal role in his side’s resurgence as he scored an incredible 13 goals in 20 appearances across all competitions to not only help his side avoid relegation but also clinch the League Cup trophy.
While he will always be remembered for his time at Manchester United, Cole achieved a legendary status at the Ewood Park in a very short time courtesy of his performances in the 2001-02 season.
