Ruddock went out to break Andy Cole's legs

Ruddock, who has become a cult figure in English football, put in the shocking tackle in a reserve game in 1996, between Liverpool and Manchester United, which left Cole out of action for months.

''Basically, I loved kicking Andrew Cole,'' he told ''TalkSport''.

''I know this is not big and it's not clever, but in one tackle I did break both of his legs.

''I didn't mean to break both of his legs if I'm honest. I only meant to break one… it wasn't even a free-kick, it was play on.

''It was excellent because he let the ball run past him and I absolutely destroyed him. Again, I know it's not big and it's not clever, but it was great. 

''I'm great friends with Teddy Sheringham and if Teddy Sheringham didn't like him, then I don't like him.''

The news comes as a revaltation as Cole never believed that Ruddock had been out to hurt him, he told the 'Independent' in 2010:

''I was angry, more than angry, when Ruddock chopped me down in a reserves match and I was diagnosed afterwards with two ankle fractures that kept me out for months. We disagreed on how it happened. He claimed it was an honest challenge and that I fell badly, while I said late and reckless.

''But even in my fury back then, which was also fuelled by frustration at being out of action, I never thought for a moment that Ruddock had maliciously taken me down with the intention of breaking my bones. No professional would do that to another unless there was something awry in their head.''