New Lille signing Joe Cole hopes he can be an ambassador for French football and follow in the footsteps of fellow Englishmen Glenn Hoddle and Chris Waddle.

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.

All smiles: Joe Cole poses with the Lille shirt

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.

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