Ashley Cole (born 20 December 1980) is an Englishfootball coach and former player. As a player, he played as aleft-back, most notably forArsenal andChelsea. Cole is considered by many critics and fellow professional players as one of the best defenders of his generation,[3][4][5][6] one of the greatest English players of all time[7][8][9][10] as well as one of the greatest left-backs in the history of the sport.[11][12][13][14] Born inStepney, London, Cole began his youth career atArsenal and made his full debut for the club in November 1999, going on to make 228 appearances and scoring nine goals for the North London club. With Arsenal he won twoPremier League titles, threeFA Cups, and was an integral member of the "Invincibles" team of the 2003–04 season, who went the entire league season undefeated. Cole also made an appearance in Arsenal's firstUEFA Champions League final in2006; the club lost 2–1 toBarcelona.
In August 2006, after a protracted transfer saga, Cole completed a move torival clubChelsea, with whom he won further honours, including the Premier League in the2009–10 season, fourFA Cups, oneFootball League Cup and oneUEFA Champions League. He was released by Chelsea at the end of the2013–14 season.[15][16] With seven winners' medals, Cole has won the FA Cup more times than any other player in history,[17] and is one of two players to have won theDouble with two clubs, along withNicolas Anelka.[18]
Cole was an England international from 2001 to 2014, playing at the2002,2006 and2010 World Cups, as well asEuro 2004 andEuro 2012. He was votedEngland Player of the Year in 2010. When he retired from international football in 2014, he had won107 caps, making him England's most-capped full-back.[19]
Early life
Cole's father, Ron Callender, is fromBarbados. He left the family after seven years of marriage[20] and later moved to Australia.[21] Cole and his younger brother Matthew were brought up by their mother Sue Cole,[22] going toBow School inTower Hamlets.[23]
Club career
Arsenal: 1999–2006
Cole started his career by joining his local club,Arsenal, whom he had supported as a child. At the age of 18, on 30 November 1999, he made his first-team debut in theLeague Cup fourth round againstMiddlesbrough; Arsenal lost 1–3 on penalties after the match ended 2–2 at the end of extra time at theRiverside Stadium.[24] On 25 February 2000, he signed his first professional contract. His Premier League debut came on 14 May 2000 againstNewcastle United, as part of an experimental side that lost 4–2 away on the final day of the season.[25] Before he fully broke into the Arsenal side, he spent part of the1999–2000 season on loan atCrystal Palace, where he played 14 league matches and scored one goal, a long-range half-volley againstBlackburn Rovers. WhenSylvinho, Arsenal's established left-back, suffered an injury in the autumn of the2000–01 season, Cole took the opportunity to establish himself in the first team and remained first-choice even after the Brazilian's recovery.[26]
With Arsenal, he won theFA Premier League twice (in2002 and2004), and theFA Cup three times (in2002,2003 and2005, scoring in the penalty shootout in the final of the latter). Although injured for much of the2005–06 season, he recovered in time to play in Arsenal'sUEFA Champions League final defeat toBarcelona at the end of the season. In total he made 228 first-team appearances for theGunners, scoring nine goals.
Cole had a very good season in 2004–05. He was a regular at left-back for both England and Arsenal despiteGaël Clichy's claim for a place in the first-team squad. Cole scored his first goal of the season in the seventh game in a tough trip toManchester City in which he scored the opening and only goal to give Arsenal an important win. He scored his second goal in a 3–1 away win toAston Villa, scoring Arsenal's third in only the 28th minute.
Transfer saga: 2005–2006
Cole was found guilty of making contact with league rivalsChelsea over a possible move, without informing Arsenal. He was fined £100,000 by thePremier League on 2 June 2005 for atapping-up meeting at a hotel in January 2005. Cole, his agentJonathan Barnett, the Chelsea managerJosé Mourinho and chief executivePeter Kenyon, and agentPini Zahavi were present at the meeting.[27] An appeal in August 2005 did not reject the guilty verdict, but his fine was reduced to £75,000. Chelsea were also fined £300,000 and Mourinho was fined £200,000, reduced on appeal in August 2005 to £75,000. Barnett's licence was suspended for 18 months and he was also fined £100,000.[28]
On 18 July 2005, Cole signed a one-year extension to his contract with Arsenal, but just a year later departed from the club in acrimonious circumstances. On 15 July 2006, Cole launched a verbal attack on Arsenal; in his autobiography, he claimed that the Arsenal board had treated him as a "scapegoat" and that they had "fed him to the sharks" over the tapping-up affair while Arsenal, from their part, insisted that they were legally obliged to punish Cole for his illegal contact with Chelsea. Cole was deliberately left out of Arsenal's2006–07 team photograph,[29] fuelling press speculation that he would leave.
On 28 July 2006, Arsenal vice-chairmanDavid Dein confirmed that Arsenal and Chelsea had been in "civil talks" about the player.[30] Chelsea insisted they would not raise their £16 million bid for Cole, but Arsenal held out for at a higher valuation of £25 million.[31] Negotiations continued throughout August and looked to be heading for deadlock, but eventually Cole signed for Chelsea on 31 August for a fee of £5 million, withWilliam Gallas being transferred from Chelsea to Arsenal as part of the same deal. The deal was closed after the transfer window had officially ended, and was not confirmed until an hour and a half after the deadline had passed.[32] The move angeredArsenal fans, who dubbed him "Cashley" and waved fake £20 notes with Cole's face on them at him when the two clubs faced each other on 10 December 2006.[33]
Arsenal had offered Cole a longer contract to stay at the club, but he had been left "trembling with anger" when they offered him wages of £55,000 per week.[34] His wage increased to £120,000 a week when he signed a new contract in September 2009.[35]
Chelsea: 2006–2014
Cole was given the number 3 shirt at Chelsea, and made his first appearance for the club as a substitute forWayne Bridge in their 2–1 win overCharlton Athletic on 9 September. He issued a public statement concerning his transfer saying he "forgave" Arsenal for how he felt he was treated during his time there.[36]
On 31 January 2007, Cole suffered a serious knee injury in the 3–0 victory overBlackburn Rovers in a Premier League game at Stamford Bridge, although after a scan it was revealed to be not as bad as first thought, with Chelsea optimistic that he would return before the end of the 2006–07 season.[37] Cole did indeed make a return at the end of the season, playing in the last twelve minutes of the2007 FA Cup final at the newWembley Stadium againstManchester United. Chelsea emerged victorious 1–0 after extra-time with a goal scored byDidier Drogba, to win the2007 FA Cup.[38]
Cole lining up for a Champions League game atSpartak Moscow in October 2010
Cole was reportedly one of the players upset whenJosé Mourinho was relieved of his position as Chelsea manager. He was dropped in favour of Wayne Bridge for the2008 Football League Cup final, which Chelsea lost 2–1 toTottenham Hotspur. However, Cole scored his first Chelsea goal in Chelsea's very next game, on 1 March 2008, the fourth goal in a 4–0 away victory againstWest Ham United. On 19 March 2008, Cole was involved in a controversial incident in a Premier League game against Tottenham atWhite Hart Lane where he performed a high tackle on Tottenham'sAlan Hutton. RefereeMike Riley gave Cole a yellow card, a decision which was judged as too lenient by some analysts.[39] Cole allegedly also "turned his back on the referee" and the episode renewed debate in the media over the game's rules on dissent towards officials.
After starting Chelsea's first six games in the league, Cole scored his third, fourth and fifth Chelsea goals at home toBurnley, Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland respectively.[40] On 2 September 2009, he signed a new four-year deal which will contract him to Chelsea until 2013.[41]On 10 February 2010, he suffered a fractured left ankle in the 2–1 defeat againstEverton that kept him out of action for three months.[42] He eventually made his return againstStoke City, a game which Chelsea won 7–0.[43] Cole scored a goal againstWigan Athletic on the last day of thePremier League in an 8–0 win as Chelsea claimed the title.[44] He then played in the2010 FA Cup final, where Chelsea beatPortsmouth to give Cole the second league and cup double of his career.[45] He started all 38 league games for Chelsea in the2010–11 season, and was awarded the Chelsea F.C. Player's Player of the Year award for the second time.
In the2011–12 season, Cole won the seventh FA Cup of his career after Chelsea beatLiverpool 2–1 in the2012 FA Cup final.[45] In theChampions League semi-final againstBarcelona, Cole was pivotal in Chelsea's 1–0 victory which included a goal-line clearance that deniedBarça an away goal.[46] Cole also received praise for his role inthe final againstBayern Munich on 19 May 2012, both for his defending and for scoring in the decisive penalty shoot-out as Chelsea won their first European title.[47]
Cole scored his first goal for over two years against Stoke City on 22 September 2012, proving to be the winner.[48] On 1 December 2012, Cole made his 350th Premier League appearance,[49] in a 3–1 away loss to West Ham United.[50]
On 22 January 2013, Cole signed a one-year extension to his contract with Chelsea.[51] Cole again helped the club win a European title during the2012–13 season, playing in a 2–1 victory overBenfica in the2013 UEFA Europa League final on 15 May.[52]
During the2013–14 season, Cole was dropped from the Chelsea team, withCésar Azpilicueta replacing him as the club's first-choice left-back in the month of November.[53] Cole captained the team on the last match day againstCardiff City in a 2–1 away win which turned out to be his last in a Chelsea shirt. On 23 May 2014, after the end of the season, he was included on the list of players released by Chelsea.[15][16] Cole's contract expired on 30 June 2014.[54]
On 7 July 2014, Cole signed a two-year deal withRoma.[55][56] He made his competitive debut on 30 August in their first game of theSerie A season, playing the full 90 minutes of a 2–0 win overFiorentina at theStadio Olimpico.[57] On 19 January 2016, Cole terminated his contract with Roma with one year of his contract remaining.[58]
LA Galaxy
Cole signed withLA Galaxy ofMajor League Soccer on 27 January 2016.[59] On 24 February, he made his debut in a goalless home draw againstSantos Laguna in theCONCACAF Champions League; on 6 March, he made his league debut in the first game of the2016 season, playing the full 90 minutes of a 4–1 win overD.C. United at theStubHub Center. ManagerBruce Arena praised Cole and fellow veteran new signingNigel de Jong after the result.[60] On 1 May, he was sent off for a second booking in a 1–1 draw atSporting Kansas City. Cole was ejected following a clumsy tackle onBenny Feilhaber after being cautioned just 32 seconds earlier.[61][62] He received his second dismissal of the season on 25 June in the match againstSan Jose Earthquakes. Cole had been booked for a reckless tackle and as emotions were high, a melee ensued. The referee deemed Cole's reaction worthy of another booking and as a result he received his marching orders for the second time in eight league games.[63]
Cole with LA Galaxy in June 2018
On 7 August 2016, Cole scored his first goal for the Galaxy, a last-minute equaliser in a 2–2 home draw against theNew York Red Bulls.[64] His team qualified for the2016 MLS Cup Playoffs, where they lost the Western Conference semi-finals to theColorado Rapids on penalties. Cole's attempt was saved by Colorado goalkeeperTim Howard, and after the game he apologised publicly to his long-time England teammateSteven Gerrard, who was playing his final professional match for the Galaxy that night.[65]
In his second season in California, Cole saw another red card on 23 August 2017 after 18 minutes of a 2–0 loss atColumbus Crew SC for a foul onPedro Santos.[66] He played 29 matches for the Galaxy, scoring once in a 6–2 home loss toReal Salt Lake,[67] as the team came dead last and missed out on the play-offs for the first time since 2008.[68]
Head coachSigi Schmid named Cole as captain ahead of the2018 season.[69] The Galaxy missed the play-offs again.[70] He was released by LA Galaxy at the end of their 2018 season.[71]
Derby County
On 21 January 2019, Cole joinedChampionship sideDerby County, reuniting with managerFrank Lampard who was his teammate at Chelsea and withEngland.[72] He signed a contract until the end of the2018–19 season.[73] He was released at the end of the season.[74] On 18 August 2019, Cole officially announced his retirement.[75]
Coaching career
Cole became a coach at Derby after retiring from playing, and later followed Frank Lampard to Chelsea where he was an academy coach.[76][77]
On 27 July 2021, Cole was named as assistant coach of theEngland U21s alongside head coachLee Carsley,[78] combining his duties with his role at Chelsea's academy.
On 3 February 2022, Cole joinedEverton as a first-team coach, again joining up with Frank Lampard who had recently been appointed as manager.[79]
On 23 January 2023, Cole left Everton as a result of Frank Lampard leaving the club.[80]
On 23 August 2024, it was confirmed that Cole would assist Carsley in his role as interim head coach of theEngland senior team following the departure ofGareth Southgate.[83]
On 14 September 2024, it was confirmed that Cole had left Birmingham City to joinThe FA on a full-time basis.[84]
After just four appearances for the Under-21s, Cole was fast-tracked into the England senior team andSven-Göran Eriksson handed Cole his senior international debut againstAlbania, on 28 March 2001. He played for England at the2002,2006 and2010FIFA World Cups,UEFA Euro 2004 (where he was named as one of four England players in the all-star squad for the tournament) andUEFA Euro 2012.
Cole was also an ever-present for England in the 2006 World Cup; in their second round match againstEcuador he made a crucial block, deflectingCarlos Tenorio's shot onto the crossbar. The match ended with England winning 1–0, but the team were knocked out onpenalties byPortugal in the quarter-finals. By the end of 2008, Cole had achieved 68 caps for England, all of which were starting appearances.[85]
He made his 79th appearance for England on 12 June 2010 in the 1–1 draw against theUnited States in the2010 World Cup Group stage match. He beat the record of 79 caps by a black English international (John Barnes, who appeared for England from 1983 to 1995)[86] when he played againstAlgeria later that month. He has played more internationals without scoring than any other outfield player in England history. He won his 86th cap againstMontenegro in October 2010, and alongsideKenny Sansom, Cole is now England's most-cappedfull-back in history, an achievement which helped him pick up the England Player of the Year award for 2010, as voted for by fans.[87] On 6 February 2013, he earned his100th cap as England beatBrazil 2–1 atWembley.[88]
On 11 May 2014, he announced his retirement from international football after being omitted from the England squad for the2014 FIFA World Cup.[89]
Style of play
He is a defender who simply loves to attack. Defends, because he has to defend and because it is part of his job. Everybody loves to play with [him] because as soon as you won the ball back, he was up there to attack.
Cole's game incorporates an attacking approach to his play, which supports his teams' forward play. As a youth, he "always liked scoring goals and attacking", but grew to love the role of defending, as being a left-back was the only opportunity of breaking into the seniors.[91] Prior to his inclusion in theArsenal first team, Cole studied the conduct of fellow defenderNigel Winterburn to improve his play; Winterburn concurrently offered pointers to improve his positioning.[92] He modelled his game on BrazilianRoberto Carlos: "He's got natural talent, but I think if you train hard enough you can be nearly as good as that."[92]
Liam Brady described Cole as a player with "great character and determination"[93] and his former teammateSylvinho noted that one of Cole's qualities was being competent: "Ashley does not need people saying, 'Do this' or 'Go there'. He knows, he knows."[92] The rapid progress made by Cole in his debut season for Arsenal "surprised" Wenger and prompted him to make the defender his first pick. Sylvinho, the player displaced, commented that Wenger's belief in Cole helped him to develop as a player: "He spoke to [Cole] and said: 'After Silvinho you can play left-back. You are one of the best left-backs at the club and one day will be one of the best in the world.'"[94] Cole's link-up play with wingerRobert Pires and main strikerThierry Henry in a4–4–2 formation effectively made him "awing-back or winger playing in a back four" because Arsenal's game emphasised attacking football.[95]
UnderJosé Mourinho atChelsea, Cole's attacking threat was restrained, meaning it allowed the player to focus more on defending and marking. This was a "side of his game" Cole improved the most according to Winterburn, given he was criticised in the past for being caught out of position.[96][97] The arrival ofLuiz Felipe Scolari however ensured Cole made forward runs in the opposition's half;Aston Villa managerMartin O'Neill believed the liberation of Cole was a sign that he was "back playing to his very best".[96]
Cole is renowned for making timed goal-line clearances and "cutting out danger".[98] In a league match againstTottenham Hotspur in December 2002, he made two notable clearances, which demonstrated to him that his defensive game had improved.[99] He also made two goal line clearances in Chelsea's2011–12 Champions League winning campaign. The first was againstNapoli, in a 3–1 round-of-16 first leg defeat, and the second in Chelsea's semi-final first leg 1–0 win againstBarcelona. Both were vital as Chelsea went on to win the ties with a margin of one goal on aggregate, eventually lifting the Champions League.[100][101] Cole is said to have a "mean streak",[93] and has been labelled a "dirty player", something which he himself and his former coaches have strongly denied.[102][103]
Personal life
Cole began a relationship withGirls Aloud singerCheryl Tweedy in September 2004, when they were living in the same block of flats in London; they married on 15 July 2006 inWrotham Park, Hertfordshire.[104] In January 2008, the couple almost separated after allegations were made that Cole hadaffairs with three other women. He, however, disputed the allegations and the couple stayed together.[105] It was announced on 23 February 2010 that the couple wouldseparate following new allegations ofadultery.[106] Three months later, it was announced that Cheryl was filing for divorce. They officially divorced on 3 September 2010.[107] Cole has a son (born 2016) and a daughter (born 2018) with the Italian model Sharon Canu.[108]
In 2006, Cole sued theNews of the World andThe Sun newspapers forlibel after they printed allegations that he was involved in a "homosexualorgy".[109] Both papers retracted the allegations. The same year, Cole released an autobiography titledMy Defence, which sold 4,000 copies in the first six weeks of release.[110] Cole's former teammate,Jens Lehmann, criticised Cole for writing an autobiography when he was 25.[111]
Cole has had a couple of minor brushes with the police. On 4 March 2009 he was held afterswearing in front of a police officer outside aSouth Kensingtonnightclub. He was taken to a police station and issued with an £80fixed penalty notice before being released.[112] On 4 January 2010, Cole was convicted of a speeding offence committed on 17 November 2009. He was recorded exceeding thespeed limit by doing 104 mph in a 50 mph zone on theA3 road inKingston upon Thames, a residential stretch. His defence at KingstonMagistrates' Court, opposing the charge in his absence, argued unsuccessfully that the policespeed gun was faulty. Cole also claimed that his actions were excusable because he was trying to evade thepaparazzi.[113] On 29 January he was fined £1000 and disqualified from driving for four months.[114]
On 27 February 2011, Cole accidentally shot Tom Cowan, a 21-year-old sports science student on work experience at Chelsea, with a .22 calibreair rifle from only five feet away at the club'sCobham Training Centre, apparently unaware that the rifle was loaded. Cole formally apologised to Cowan, and discussed the incident with Chelsea officials.[115]
Career statistics
Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[116][117]
^Lipton, Martin (12 October 2004). "Football: I'm the New Carlos; Cole: I always wanted to be a striker, but I have to model myself".Daily Mirror. London. pp. 54–55.
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