Allan Cole (footballer)

Allan Cole
Personal information
Date of birth (1950-10-14)14 October 1950
Place of birth Kingston, Jamaica
Date of death 9 September 2025(2025-09-09) (aged 74)
Place of death Kingston, Jamaica
Position Forward
Youth career
1965–1968 Vere Technical
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1968 Atlanta Chiefs 1 (0)
1968–1969 Real Mona
1969–1972 Boys' Town
1972 Náutico 3 (0)
1973–1977 Santos
International career
Jamaica
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Allan Aloysius "Skill" Cole (14 October 1950 – 9 September 2025), was a Jamaican professional footballer who played as a forward. He represented Jamaica at international level.[1] During his career, Cole was Jamaica's "most celebrated player".[2]

In addition to his football career, Cole was also the tour manager of the Jamaican reggae star Bob Marley and his band The Wailers during the 1970s.[2]

Early years

Cole was born on 14 October 1950, and grew up in the middle-income neighbourhood of Woodford Park in Kingston, Jamaica. His father, Allan Cole Sr, was a civil servant, and his mother was a dressmaker.[3]

Career

Cole played in the North American Soccer League with the Atlanta Chiefs and in Brazil with Náutico.[4][1]

He appeared in three FIFA World Cup qualifying matches for the Jamaica national team.[5]

Music

Cole is credited on Bob Marley and the Wailers' Rastaman Vibration album as co-writing the 1976 song "War", though according to The Guardian the lyrics were actually from a speech by Haile Selassie that Cole brought to Marley's attention.[3]

Death

Cole died on 9 September 2025, in Kingston, at the age of 74.[6][7]

References

  1. 1 2 Allan Cole at National-Football-Teams.com
  2. 1 2 Taherzadeh, Bahhaj (25 September 2014). "Bob Marley and the Beautiful Game". Paste Magazine. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  3. 1 2 Salewicz, Chris (23 September 2025). "Allan 'Skill' Cole obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  4. ↑ NASL career stats
  5. ↑ Allan Cole – FIFA competition record (archived)
  6. ↑ Davis, Jovani (9 September 2025). "Jamaican football legend Allan "Skill" Cole dies at 74". Caribbean National Weekly. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  7. ↑ "Allan "Skill" Cole is dead". Jamaica Observer. 9 September 2025. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
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