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Widely considered as one of the best defenders of his generation, Ashley Cole is a former professional footballer who played for Chelsea, Arsenal and the England national team.
Ashley’s career started as a youth player for his local team, Arsenal. He worked his way up through their youth academy programme before making his professional debut for the team in 1999.
He went on to win numerous accolades with the club, including two Premier League titles and three FA Cups. In 2006, he also reached the final of the UEFA Champions League.
Alongside his club career, Ashley Cole also represented his national side for 13 years, playing in three World Cups and two UEFA European Championships. In 2010, he was voted England Player of the Year and had 107 caps for the side by the time he retired from international football in 2014.
Since leaving the pitch in 2019, Ashley has gone on to be a coach at Chelsea, working with the youth academy players. He has also been recently part of the England U21s European Championship success as assistant coach for the England Under 21’s, as well as assistant coach for the senior men’s side along Lee Carsley. Ashley remains a legend of British football.
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Born in 1980 in London, Ashley Cole grew up in a working-class environment and found his passion for football early. At a young age, he joined Arsenal’s youth academy, where his talent quickly became evident.
At 18, Ashley made his first-team debut in November 1999 in a League Cup match that Arsenal lost on penalties. Six months later, on the last day of the season, he made his Premier League debut as part of an experimental side. It was the following season before Ashley established himself as the first-choice left-back. His agile, attacking style fit seamlessly into manager Arsène Wenger’s vision for the team, emphasising technical ability and forward-thinking play.
During his time at Arsenal, Ashley was part of the legendary “Invincibles” squad that went unbeaten in the 2003-04 Premier League season. He played a pivotal role in defence, contributing defensively and offensively to Arsenal’s dynamic play.
In 2006, Ashley Cole moved to London rivals Chelsea, where he reached new heights and demonstrated his full potential as a world-class defender and attacking threat.
Ashley’s years at Chelsea marked the peak of his career, with three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, and a UEFA Champions League victory in 2012. His performance in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich showcased his defensive resilience and calm under pressure, traits that had become hallmarks of his game. Ashley was released at the end of the 2013/2014 seasons.
After leaving Chelsea, Ashley joined AS Roma in Serie A, where he spent two seasons. In 2016, he moved to the LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer (MLS), where he played until 2018. He became a fan favorite and demonstrated his enduring quality despite being in the latter stages of his career.
He returned to England briefly in 2019, joining Derby County under his former Chelsea teammate Frank Lampard. After nine appearances for The Rams, Ashley retired from professional football later that year.
Following retirement, he transitioned into coaching, joining Chelsea’s academy and later working with England’s Under-21 team, Everton, Birmingham, before being appointed assistant to interim manager Lee Carsley with the senior England men’s team.
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