Cohort build

[killingfish]

I am playing a fighter (more tanky than damage) and have decided to take leadership feat, i am able to have a lv 5 cohort.
Just wondering if anyone has an idea of one which would support my tank well. Almost all books aloud 3.5

[Dread_Head]

A Bard who specialises in following you round singing your praises (and thus inspiring your courage)? A Cleric for healing and buffing?

[Ellowryn]

A Cleric, Wizard, Artificer, or Druid will be the strongest cohort you can have. Any one of those will boost your abilities, and the abilities of the party, and allow you to do what you want to do better.

[legomaster00156]

Building a cohort is just like building a PC, just two levels lower. Anything that works for a PC works for a cohort.

[Honest Tiefling]

I imagine that it'd be easier to give you better information if we knew your optimization level and party make up and if there's anything in particular the cohort needs to do.

As a suggestion, healers are typically good cohorts. If you don't want them to outshine the party, use the actual Healer class. If that's not a concern, then a standard cleric will do the trick.