Allan Aloysius "Skill" Cole (14 October 1950 â 9 September 2025), was a Jamaican footballer who played at both professional and international levels as forward.
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.
Cole played in the NASL with the Atlanta Chiefs, and in Brazil with Náutico.
He also represented the Jamaica national team at international level. appearing in three FIFA World Cup qualifying matches for them. During his career, he was Jamaica's "most celebrated player".
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. He is credited on their 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.
Cole died on 9 September 2025, in Kingston, at the age of 74.