Cole follows in Hoddle's footsteps

Last updated : 31 August 2011 By England MAD

The 29-year-old signed a season-long loan deal with the Ligue 1 champions despite a late attempt from Aston Villa to keep him in the Barclays Premier League.

Cole admits it will be a challenge to adapt to football in another country having struggled to establish himself in just one season at Liverpool.

But he plans to take inspiration from former England internationals Hoddle, who played for Monaco, and Waddle, for Marseille, who both enjoyed great success.

"I needed a new challenge, to go abroad and Lille gives me that opportunity," said Cole.

"For me to adapt to French football will come naturally with the sequence of games.

"I remember Hoddle and Waddle came in the past to play in the French league.I must be successful to become an ambassador of French football in England."

Cole hopes to put his struggles at Anfield behind him having arrived there 12 months ago as their marquee summer signing.

He was sent off on his debut and then struggled with fitness and when Kenny Dalglish took over from Roy Hodgson, the man who had overseen his signing, he struggled to find a place in the side.

His high wages - reported to be £90,000 a week - meant Cole was identified early as one of the players who Dalglish would be willing to let go and after failing to feature in the squad for any of Liverpool's four competitive this season he opted for a move to France after being attracted by the club's Champions League status.

"This is a good club, the family spirit, and the team play attractive football. I'm about to live an interesting experience here, with an ambitious team. I feel I have taken the right direction," he added.

"The squad is young and I'm here to help my team, give them my experience, in order to win new trophies.

"I will discover a different style, which can be rewarding, and I am very excited to start this adventure.
"It has not worked well for me with Liverpool. I have not had the playing time needed. I need to play regularly to express myself fully and be at my best so I moved on to concentrate on this new challenge."