{{short description|South African soccer player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}} {{Use South African English|date=August 2012}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Cole Alexander | image = | fullname = Cole Alexander | height = {{height|m=1.77}}<ref name="soccerway">{{soccerway|cole-alexander/88753|accessdate=10 October 2020}}</ref> | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1989|07|09}} | birth_place = Cape Town, South Africa | currentclub = Polokwane City | clubnumber = 12 | position = Central Midfielder | youthyears1 = | youthyears2 = | youthyears3 = | youthyears4 = | youthyears5 = {{0|0000}}–2008 | youthclubs1 = Leeds Lentegeur | youthclubs2 = Seven Stars | youthclubs3 = Santos | youthclubs4 = Hellenic | youthclubs5 = Ajax Cape Town | years1 = 2008–2014 | clubs1 = Ajax Cape Town | caps1 = 43 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2010–2011 | clubs2 = → Vasco da Gama (loan) | caps2 = 24 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2012–2013 | clubs3 = → Chippa United (loan) | caps3 = 10 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2014–2016 | clubs4 = Polokwane City | caps4 = 52 | goals4 = 4 | years5 = 2016–2018 | clubs5 = SuperSport United | caps5 = 9 | goals5 = 2 | years6 = 2018–2020 | clubs6 = Bidvest Wits | caps6 = 57 | goals6 = 4 | years7 = 2020–2021 | clubs7 = Odisha | caps7 = 15 | goals7 = 3 | years8 = 2021–2023 | clubs8 = Kaizer Chiefs | caps8 = 26 | goals8 = 1 | years9 = 2023 | clubs9 = Helsingborg | caps9 = 7 | goals9 = 1 | years10= 2024– | clubs10= Polokwane City | caps10= 21 | goals10= 0 | nationalyears1 = 2015–2017 | nationalteam1 = South Africa | nationalcaps1 = 6 | nationalgoals1 = 1 | pcupdate = 10 February 2025 | ntupdate = }}
'''Cole Alexander''' (born 9 July 1989) is a South African professional soccer player who plays as a central midfielder for South African club Polokwane City.<ref>{{soccerway|cole-alexander/88753}}</ref>
==Early and personal life== Alexander was born in Cape Town,<ref name="soccerway" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Seraj |date=24 June 2020 |title=Stellenbosch FC offer Cole Alexander contract for transfer next season |url=https://www.kickoff.com/news/articles/south-africa-news/categories/news/premiership/stellenbosch-fc-offer-cole-alexander-contract-for-transfer-next-season/680349 |access-date=10 October 2020 |website=Kick Off |archive-date=12 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200912213803/https://www.kickoff.com/news/articles/south-africa-news/categories/news/premiership/stellenbosch-fc-offer-cole-alexander-contract-for-transfer-next-season/680349 |url-status=live }}</ref> and grew up in the Lentegeur neighborhood of Mitchells Plain.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |last=Reiners |first=Rodney |date=8 December 2010 |title=King Cole is Vasco's joy |url=https://www.pressreader.com/article/282733403277507 |access-date=10 October 2020 |website=Cape Argus |via=pressreader.com}}</ref> He attended Lantana Primary School and later Golden Groove Primary School before attending Wittebome High School in Wynberg.<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 December 2014 |title=Polokwane the perfect stop for Cole |work=Weekend Argus |url=https://www.pressreader.com/article/282127814816459 |access-date=10 October 2020 |via=pressreader.com |archive-date=23 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723190323/https://www.pressreader.com/article/282127814816459 |url-status=live }}</ref>
He is the son-in-law of Duncan Crowie, having married his daughter Jaime in March 2019.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news |last=Fillies |first=Avril |date=7 April 2020 |title=Football fire still burning for Cole |work=News24 |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/SouthAfrica/Local/Peoples-Post/football-fire-still-burning-for-cole-20200406 |access-date=10 October 2020 |archive-date=11 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011054842/https://www.news24.com/news24/SouthAfrica/Local/Peoples-Post/football-fire-still-burning-for-cole-20200406 |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Club career== Cole started his junior career with local side Robert Bowman,<ref name="auto" /> and went on to play junior football with Seven Stars, Santos, Hellenic and Ajax Cape Town Juniors.<ref name="auto1" />
He started his senior career with Ajax Cape Town in 2008, and had loan spells with Vasco da Gama and Chippa United.<ref name="auto1" /><ref>{{Cite news |title=Alexander Keeping A Positive Mindset After Heartbreak At Ajax |publisher=Sbnews |url=http://www.sbnews.co.za/2014/09/cole-alexander-fact-file.html?m=1 |date=19 September 2014 |access-date=23 July 2021 |archive-date=23 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723190334/https://maxcdn.bootstrapcdn.com/bootstrap/3.3.6/js/bootstrap.min.js |url-status=live }}</ref> He made 43 league appearances for Ajax without scoring.<ref name="soccerway" />
On 23 June 2014, Cole joined Polokwane City on a two-year deal.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alexander Signs For Polokwane City |url=https://www.soccerladuma.co.za/news/articles/categories/south-africa/poll/former-ajax-midfielder-cole-alexander-signs-for-polokwane-city/166312 |date=23 June 2014 |website=soccerladuma |access-date=23 July 2021 |archive-date=11 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811063632/https://www.soccerladuma.co.za/news/articles/categories/south-africa/poll/former-ajax-midfielder-cole-alexander-signs-for-polokwane-city/166312 |url-status=live }}</ref> He made 52 appearances across two seasons at the club, scoring two goals.<ref name="soccerway" />
In February 2016, Cole signed for SuperSport United on a pre-contract agreement.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 February 2016 |title=PSL transfer news: SuperSport confirm Cole Alexander signing from Polokwane |url=https://www.kickoff.com/news/articles/south-africa-news/categories/news/premiership/psl-transfer-news-supersport-confirm-cole-alexander-signing-from-polokwane/566042 |access-date=10 October 2020 |website=Kick Off |archive-date=23 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723190420/https://www.kickoff.com/news/articles/south-africa-news/categories/news/premiership/psl-transfer-news-supersport-confirm-cole-alexander-signing-from-polokwane/566042 |url-status=live }}</ref> He made 8 appearances for SuperSport United during the 2016–17 season, and 1 appearance during the 2017–18 season. Subsequently, Cole signed for Bidvest Wits in February 2018,<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 February 2018 |title=Another signing for struggling champs |url=https://supersport.com/football/news/5a8709784e6a0839eb0ce014 |access-date=10 October 2020 |website=Supersport.com |archive-date=23 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723190339/https://supersport.com/football/news/5a8709784e6a0839eb0ce014 |url-status=live }}</ref> where he made 57 league appearances across two-and-a-half seasons.<ref name="soccerway" />
On 10 October 2020, he joined Indian Super League club Odisha FC on a two-year deal.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Odisha FC rope in South Africa international Cole Alexander|url=https://khelnow.com/football/odisha-fc-sign-midfielder-cole-alexander|access-date=17 October 2020|date=10 October 2020|website=khelnow.com|archive-date=23 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723190342/https://khelnow.com/football/odisha-fc-sign-midfielder-cole-alexander|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/indian-football/isl-2020-21-everything-need-know-odisha-fc-central-midfielder-cole-alexander|title=ISL 2020-21: Everything you need to know about Odisha FC central midfielder Cole Alexander|first=Suyash|last=Upadhyaya|date=19 November 2020|website=www.sportskeeda.com|access-date=23 July 2021|archive-date=22 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122050418/https://www.sportskeeda.com/indian-football/isl-2020-21-everything-need-know-odisha-fc-central-midfielder-cole-alexander|url-status=live}}</ref> Alexander scored his first goal for the club on 22 December in a 2–2 draw with NorthEast United FC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kickoff.com/news/articles/world-news/categories/news/sa-players-abroad/cole-alexander-spares-stuart-baxter-blushes-with-first-odisha-fc-goal/691597|title=Cole Alexander spares Stuart Baxter blushes with first Odisha FC goal|date=23 December 2020|website=Kick Off|access-date=23 July 2021|archive-date=21 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121043505/https://www.kickoff.com/news/articles/world-news/categories/news/sa-players-abroad/cole-alexander-spares-stuart-baxter-blushes-with-first-odisha-fc-goal/691597|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/football/story/isl-2020-21-odisha-fc-draw-with-northeast-united-1752159-2020-12-22|title=ISL 2020-21: Odisha FC draw 2-2 with NorthEast United after Cole Alexander 67th minute equaliser|date=22 December 2020|website=India Today|access-date=23 July 2021|archive-date=22 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122050926/https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/football/story/isl-2020-21-odisha-fc-draw-with-northeast-united-1752159-2020-12-22|url-status=live}}</ref> On 23 July 2021, Cole mutually terminated his contract with Odisha FC after reaching agreement over an undisclosed fee.<ref>{{Cite web|date=23 July 2021|title=Cole Alexander bids an emotional goodbye as he parts ways with Odisha FC|url=https://www.odishafc.com/news/details/cole-alexander-bids-an-emotional-goodbye-as-he-parts-ways-with-odisha-fc|website=OdishaFC|access-date=24 July 2021|archive-date=23 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723185839/https://www.odishafc.com/news/details/cole-alexander-bids-an-emotional-goodbye-as-he-parts-ways-with-odisha-fc|url-status=live}}</ref>
He returned to South Africa and Kaizer Chiefs in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-07-27|title=Kaizer Chiefs confirm Keagan Dolly and Cole Alexander signing|url=https://www.kickoff.com/news/articles/south-africa-news/categories/news/premiership/kaizer-chiefs-confirm-keagan-dolly-and-cole-alexander-signing/702912|access-date=2021-07-27|website=Kick Off}}</ref> In the latter half of 2023 he played for Helsingborgs IF in the Swedish Superettan, but then left.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://fotbolltransfers.com/nyheter/officiellt-cole-alexander-lamnar-helsingborgs-if/180517|title=Officiellt: Cole Alexander lämnar Helsingborgs IF|publisher=Fotbolltransfers|date=8 January 2024|access-date=8 January 2024|language=sv}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Polokwane City F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alexander, Cole}} Category:1989 births Category:Living people Category:Soccer players from Cape Town Category:Cape Coloureds Category:South African men's soccer players Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Cape Town Spurs F.C. players Category:Vasco da Gama F.C. players Category:Chippa United F.C. players Category:Polokwane City F.C. players Category:SuperSport United F.C. players Category:Bidvest Wits F.C. players Category:Odisha FC players Category:Kaizer Chiefs F.C. players Category:Helsingborgs IF players Category:Superettan players Category:South African expatriate men's soccer players Category:Expatriate men's footballers in India Category:South African expatriate sportspeople in India Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Sweden Category:South African expatriate sportspeople in Sweden Category:21st-century South African sportsmen