Having developed a reputation as one of the Premier League’s hardest men, it takes a brave person to stand up to Roy Keane.
Such was his steely gaze, the Irishman was an intimidating presence who was capable of striking fear into even the most hardened of opponents.
Yet a certain West Ham youngster in 2002 by the name of Joe Cole refused to be intimidated by Keane and his mastery of football’s dark arts.
Manchester United travelled to Upton Park in March 2002 as they hunted a fourth-straight Premier League title, with Arsenal and Liverpool also in the mix.
As for West Ham, who boasted the likes of Paolo Di Cano, David James and Frederic Kanoute along with a young Cole and Michael Carrick, they were comfortably sat in mid-table.
It was the Hammers who took the lead through Steve Lomas in the eighth minute
However, the Red Devils got off to a poor start when the Hammers took the lead in the eighth minute through Steve Lomas.
David Beckham equalised for the Red Devils nine minutes later before Frederic Kanoute hit back to put the Hammers in front once more.
Unfortunately that was as good as it got on the goal front for the Upton Park faithful as Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Beckham again helped United secure a valuable 5-3 win.
But Hammers fans will forever remember the moment Cole did what so few players have been able to do over the years: embarrass Keane.
The United midfielder gave Cole all of the usual warning signs during the contest with the fresh-faced talent surely aware of what could happen if he continued to ruffle his feathers.
Keane even appeared to whack Cole in the neck but despite the West Ham midfielder’s protests, the Irishman was not punished.
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Yet Cole would soon get his sweet, sweet revenge in a moment that has been immortalised.
A slick back-heel from Sebastian Schemmel put the ball right at Cole’s feet.
Keane, sensing an opportunity to send Cole flying with a thunderous tackle, charged in like a thundering freight train.
But the fleet-footed Cole knew exactly what to expect.
Cole pulled off an outrageous piece of skill that left Keane humiliated, pirouetting the ball away and into the path of Kanoute.
The crowd roared their approval having seen an academy product make one of the Premier League’s toughest customers look silly, if only for a fleeting moment.
Cole lasted one more season at West Ham before he was snapped up by Chelsea in August 2003, where he went on to win three Premier League titles and two FA Cups.
He’d eventually return to West Ham after spells at Liverpool and Lille in January 2013 but left in 2014 to go to Aston Villa.
Cole ended his career with moves to Coventry City and American team Tampa Bay Rowdies before he retired in November 2018.
