Having been signed as one of the inaugural Wanderers players on 30 June 2012, Cole made his debut for the Red & Black in the club’s first-ever competitive match against Central Coast Mariners.

Cole will forever be remembered for his starring role in the Wanderers’ 2014 AFC Champions League triumph, where he scored three key goals and played crucial parts in both legs of the final on his way to being named in the Team of the Tournament.

Wanderers CEO John Tsatsimas thanked Cole for his enormous contributions to the club.

“Shannon has been an amazing professional for this Club and has always epitomised what the Wanderers are all about when he has taken the field for us,” Tsatsimas said.

“He is the last of the foundation players in a continuous sense and we cannot be prouder of his immense contribution to the cause in getting the club to where it is today on and off the pitch.

Cole said he will forever look back fondly on his time with the club.

“It’s been an amazing ride to go from day one when we were first brought together and to experience what we’ve gone through and help build the culture that we have now,” Cole said. 

“It just feels like a good time to part ways. Having been a part of the first phase of this club, experiencing success and failure and doing all that, being the last Foundation Player I think it’s a good time to step away and let the club evolve to whatever it’s going to be next.” 

The Wanderers take on Shanghai SIPG in the final group stage match of their 2017 AFC Champions League campaign Wednesday night at Campbelltown Stadium at 8:00pm.