Happy Birthday to Ashley Cole
Ashley Cole, former Chelsea and Roma defender is celebrating his 43rd birthday today. Showing an interest in joining the ranks of young coaches, Cole has started his managerial journey as assistant coach in different contexts, eventually finding his way to Everton where he supports his former Chelsea teammate, Frank Lampard.
Throughout his coaching journey, one of Cole’s major convictions was that young and inexperienced managers should be given opportunities, which he stated when Juventus appointed Andrea Pirlo as head coach. In his words, “young managers can’t gain experience if they aren’t given the chance.” It is, however, worth noting that he has also been involved with the England’s Under 21 team, which won the Euro Under-21 championship.
Reflecting on his playing career, Cole had significant spells at two London clubs, playing eight years at Arsenal and the same amount at Chelsea. He played a total of 702 games for his clubs and 107 for England. UEFA.com data added further credence to his footballing achievements by enlisting him among players with over 100 Champions League appearances.
Aside from his Premier League exploits, his brief stint at Roma during the 2015-16 season was an experience of highs and lows. Matches with the Italian side included a noteworthy draw against Manchester City and a painful 7-1 loss against Bayern at the Stadio Olimpico.
Tributes have flowed from those who worked closely with him. Arsène Wenger, in an interview with The Guardian, once expressed a deep regret of his career, stating, “Ashley Cole’s move away from Arsenal is one of the biggest regrets of my career.” The former Arsenal manager cited Cole’s impressive fighting spirit as proof that he should never have left the club. Similarly, Carlo Ancelotti, who coached him at Chelsea, fiercely defended Cole amidst interest from top clubs, firmly declaring that “Ashley Cole will not be sold at any price.”
When asked about the toughest opponents he faced during his career, Cole singled out Ronaldinho and Cristiano Ronaldo. In return, both players described Cole as a “fantastic defender”, with Ronaldo admitting that Cole was “a very tenacious player in tackles. When you played against him, you already knew it wouldn’t be an easy match.”
After his work in Italy, Cole spent time in the United States before concluding his career in England in 2019 with Derby County. He referred to his career as an “incredible” experience, reminiscing, “When I was a boy, I never would have expected to play one game or to become a professional. Looking back now, I can say I’ve played in World Cup matches.” He participated in three World Cups, a memorable feat for a generation of English players.