When Joe Cole left West Ham United to join Chelsea in 2003, it was the moment he realised the dream of playing for his boyhood club. What he didn’t foresee, however, was Chelsea’s rise to become one of the household names in European football.

“It’s been an incredible journey for the club,” Cole, who retired from playing in 2018, told FIFA. “I was 21 at that time, but I was an experienced 21-year-old. I’ve been playing since I was 16 in the first team [at West Ham], but before that, I was a Chelsea fan as a kid.”

During Cole’s seven-year spell, Chelsea won a total of seven trophies, including three Premier League titles. Cole was also crowned as Chelsea’s Player of the Year in 2008. Now 43, Cole also enjoyed a 10-year career with England, during which he played in three FIFA World Cups.

In a few months’ time, Cole’s former club Chelsea will be in the USA to take part in the brand new 32-team FIFA Club World Cup, having qualified via their UEFA Champions League victory in 2020/21.

FIFA caught up with Cole during a recent visit to Korea and spoke about his former club, Blues head coach Enzo Maresca, the upcoming Club World Cup and England’s appointment of Thomas Tuchel.

Chelsea will be playing at the new 32-team FIFA Club World Cup next year. Are you looking forward to the tournament now the draw has been made?

Joe Cole: Yes, it promises to be an exciting tournament. The eyes of the world will be on it. It’s going to be very, very unique. It could be revolutionary for football. You’re going to see teams from Africa play against teams from Asia, against teams from Europe. It’s in America, which is fantastic at hosting sports. If you’re going to start a major new tournament, America is the place to do it, because you have the infrastructure, you have everything from the roads, the hotels, the stadiums.

You joined Chelsea when they were just starting to become a real force under Jose Mourinho. Did you foresee the club becoming a powerhouse in European football?

I was a Chelsea fan as a kid. I went to go watch Chelsea when we were in the Championship, getting relegated from the Premier League. So seeing my club 20 years later with all the trophies that have been won, it’s incredible. I remember being a ballboy at Chelsea. They used to park the cars behind the goal. When the ball was shot over, I had to go get the ball from underneath the car and give it back to the players. I’ve seen a complete journey. It’s similar to Manchester City, but Chelsea were first.

At Chelsea, you’ve played under some of the best managers in the world, such as Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti. Chelsea are now taking a different approach with Enzo Maresca, a promising manager with potential to grow into his role at a big club.

At first, the fans didn’t understand this direction, because they’re used to getting the best in the world. Now we want to find the next best manager in the world, the next best players in the world. We want to grow, mature, and develop more organically. Chelsea looked at the methodology of how they sign new players. They wanted young players, lots of them. Players know they’re coming not because the club told them, “You’re my guy, you’re going to play.” It’s more like, “You have the opportunity to maybe be our guy, but you have to perform. Here’s a long contract.” So you’re getting security, but this is still like a trial for a lot of players.

So they needed a manager who was strong, who could develop young players and understand a big club. Enzo has a very strong personality. He understood big clubs, because he’s played at Juventus. He’s worked for Manchester City and developed young players there. He ticked all the boxes. When he first signed at first, people said, “What are they doing? This is not Chelsea!” But when you think of the process of what Chelsea are trying to do, it makes sense. I think he’s the next superstar manager.

You’ve worked with overseas managers whilst playing for England under Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello. What are your thoughts about Thomas Tuchel’s appointment?

I know Thomas Tuchel from his Chelsea days. I’ve met him and his staff. I know how good they are. I’m happy that he’s the England manager. I think the players will respond to him. He understands the country. The difference, not so much with Sven, but with Capello was that he was at the back end of his great career as a manager, but he never worked in England. Thomas Tuchel has.

I’ve praised the Football Association for putting us in a good position with our structure to win tournaments. We’re developing very, very good footballers who are tactically aware over the last 15 years, but the next step now is, how do we get the next Thomas Tuchel? That’s something that I’m really passionate about. I personally would like to have an opportunity to manage a team and I’ll probably have to do it abroad. It’s something that I would embrace at some point if the right opportunity presents itself.

You excelled at Chelsea under Carlo Ancelotti, playing at the tip of a diamond midfield as a No10. Do you feel like this position and role has faded in modern football?

Football is evolving. I grew up in an era when every team had a star in the 70s, 80s and 90s. Every team had a maverick, a flair player, whether he was a No10 or a winger. He’d have a different way of playing, so when he got the ball, it was a different game. Particularly in England, people remember watching Gianfranco Zola when he first came to Chelsea. It was like he got sent from the heavens to play in the Premier League!

Players have now been built differently. They have more qualities now as a whole. Like the centre-halves or the full-backs now have the ability of No10s, but the game is more structured. It’s a different kind of beauty, but there’s no No10 who’s going to excite you. I’d like to see players with more character. I love Jack Grealish for what he does on the pitch, and as a person for what he brings to his club. I love players like that who have the real personality that the fans can connect to.