Joe Cole is best known for his efforts in a Chelsea shirt, but towards the end of what was an illustrious playing career, the former England international developed into somewhat of a journeyman.
On his travels, he ended up the other side of the channel with Ligue 1 outfit Lille while on loan from Chelsea's Premier League rivals Liverpool.
Having fallen out of the international fold during Fabio Capello's England reign, a 29-year-old Cole made the leap to Lille with a view to reviving what was undeniably a flatlining career.
"I love football, I love watching it, I love talking about it," Cole said upon his move to France. "This is a great experience and a challenge to play for a team who wants to progress. This seems a very positive place."
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Coming into a side with few household names across Europe, Cole was sure he would receive the star treatment. Instead he arrived to find a young man playing in his preferred position.
Eden Hazard was only 20 when he shared a dressing room with Cole, yet he was already burdened with greater expectation than his new teammate nine years his senior.
Many may have expected Cole, a man who was once told he could do "anything Lionel Messi can do, if not better" by Steven Gerrard, to turn his nose up at relinquishing free-kick and penalty duties to a 20-year-old.
Yet, from the first time they shared the pitch together there was undeniable chemistry.
Replacing future West Ham and Marseille star Dimitri Payet for his debut, Hazard and Cole both registered goal contributions in a 25 minute period to secure a win over Saint-Etienne.
The very next game saw the pair combine as Cole assisted Hazard for another goal against Bordeaux.
Cole found the back of the net himself two weeks later and went on a run of form that ended up leaving Payet with little more to do than watch on from the sidelines.
While Lille would ultimately fall short in their quest to defend their Ligue 1 title from the previous season, Cole and Hazard combined to provide enough memories to last a lifetime.
Hazard broke a Ligue 1 record that campaign with his 16 assists, a feat that would later be matched by Payet at Marseille.
However, while Cole also assisted Hazard a number of times that season, it was a conversation the pair had off the pitch that would change the trajectory of the Belgian's career forever.
The 2011/12 campaign marked Hazard's last at Lille, many of the European elite were interested in the Belgian had his pick when it came to potential suitors.
This is where Cole intervened.
"It was at the time when we were playing together at Lille, when Manchester United and Manchester City were courting him. Every big team wanted him," Cole told BT Sport in 2019, via their YouTube channel.
"We had some chats about his future, and I just asked him if he'd thought about Chelsea, and he intimated that they were interested. I said 'I think it's for you.'
"I explained that he'd settle in well in London, and I said 'if you get a bit homesick, you can just jump on the train, and you're back in Brussels in five minutes.'
"I think it all played into his decision, and he fell in love with the club and he fell in love with London. I think his family is very settled, and it's worked out for him."
To say things worked out well for Hazard at Stamford Bridge would be an understatement - two Premier League titles alongside two Europa League's and an FA Cup represents a stellar showing.
Cole doubled down on his version of events to The Athletic when he revealed, "I knew he was made for English football and that the fans would love him at Stamford Bridge.
"So I just kept chipping away at him. Actually, it was more like hammering away at him. ‘Forget United and City, Chelsea’s your team. That’s where you’ll be at home’. It worked."
Hazard himself has recalled how Cole persuaded him to make the trip to west London in the summer of 2012, thanking the ex-Three Lions star for his influence.
"I spoke to him before I signed for Chelsea,” Hazard told the club’s official website in 2018. “Every day, seriously, he was telling me that Chelsea was the best club for me.
"He said Chelsea was a big club where you can win trophies every season. For that reason I signed, so thank you, Joe Cole!"
Hazard left Lille with no hard feelings or acrimony attached and used the Cannes film festival as a chance to meet with Blues owner Roman Abramovich on his yacht to iron out the details of his £32m switch.
The Belgium international upped sticks from west London in the summer of 2019 to join Spanish giants Real Madrid in a move that has failed to inspire.
Though this is something Cole feels should not take away from Hazard's playing legacy.
"I know Real Madrid hasn’t worked out, but there is no call for regrets. He couldn’t have lived a life like Cristiano Ronaldo.
"You know, ice baths at 1am and all that… that’s not him. If he had, he probably would have won every personal award out there. But Eden did things his way.
"He’s a family man, and there’s a real balance to be struck in terms of sporting greatness and your life off the pitch.
"He’s a beautiful artist. The best I ever played with. He’s not got the mindset of a Ronaldo or a Messi, and that’s fine.
"He’s given so much joy to Lille and Chelsea fans over the years and won so many trophies that he should be proud.
"He achieved it all playing with a smile on his face, enjoying himself."
Hazard's achievements at Stamford Bridge were solely down to him, but he may not have been in a position to do so had it not been a few words of advice from Cole.
As Chelsea prepare to welcome Lille to Stamford Bridge for the first-leg of the Champions League last-16 clash, the two sides remain bound together by two mercurial attacking midfielders who played the game purely to put a smile on the faces of their supporters.
