english football player

Ashley Cole ( wear 20 December 1980 ) is an english former football player who played as a left-back, most notably for Premier League clubs Chelsea and Arsenal, the erstwhile with whom he soon serves in the coach staff for the U15 team. Cole is considered by many critics and colleague professional players as one of the best defenders of his generation, [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ] and by some, for the better part of his career, as the best left-back in the world. [ 7 ] [ 8 ] Born in Stepney, London, Cole began his young career at Arsenal and made his full moon 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 two Premier League titles, three FA Cups, and was an built-in penis of the “ Invincibles “ team of the 2003–04 season, who went the integral league season undefeated. Cole besides made an appearance in Arsenal ‘s first gear UEFA Champions League final in 2006 ; the baseball club lost 2–1 to Barcelona. In August 2006, after a prolong transfer saga, Cole completed a move to rival club Chelsea, with whom he won further honours, including the Premier League in the 2009–10 season, four FA Cups, one Football League Cup and one UEFA Champions League. He was released by Chelsea at the end of the 2013–14 season. [ 9 ] [ 10 ] With seven winners ‘ medals, Cole has won the FA Cup more times than any other player in history, [ 11 ] and is one of two players to have won the double with two clubs, along with Nicolas Anelka. [ 12 ]

Reading: Ashley Cole

Cole was an England international from 2001 to 2014, playing at the 2002, 2006 and 2010 World Cups, a well as Euro 2004 and Euro 2012. He was voted England Player of the year in 2010. When he retired from international football in 2014, he had won 107 caps, making him England ‘s most-capped full-back. [ 13 ]

early biography

Cole ‘s father, Ron Callender, is from Barbados. He left the kin after seven years of marriage [ 14 ] and late moved to Australia. [ 15 ] Cole and his younger brother Matthew were brought up by their mother Sue Cole, [ 16 ] going to Bow School in Tower Hamlets. [ 17 ]

Club career

armory : 1999–2006

Cole started his career by joining his local golf 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 the League Cup fourth cycle against Middlesbrough ; Arsenal lost 1–3 on penalties after the match ended 2–2 at the end of excess fourth dimension at the Riverside Stadium. [ 18 ] On 25 February 2000, he signed his first master contract. His Premier League debut came on 14 May 2000 against Newcastle United, as part of an experimental side that lost 4–2 away on the final examination day of the season. [ 19 ] Before he fully broke into the Arsenal side, he spent part of the 1999–2000 season on loan at Crystal Palace, where he played 14 league matches and scored one finish, a long-range half-volley against Blackburn Rovers. When Sylvinho, Arsenal ‘s established left-back, suffered an wound in the fall of the 2000–01 season, Cole took the opportunity to establish himself in the foremost team and remained first-choice even after the Brazilian ‘s recovery. [ 20 ] With Arsenal, he won the FA Premier League doubly ( in 2002 and 2004 ), and the FA Cup three times ( in 2002, 2003 and 2005, scoring in the penalty gunfight in the final of the latter ). Although injure for much of the 2005–06 temper, he recovered in time to play in Arsenal ‘s UEFA Champions League Final defeat to Barcelona at the end of the temper. In total he made 228 first-team appearances for the Gunners, scoring nine goals. Cole had a identical good season in 2004–05. He was a regular at left-back for both England and Arsenal despite Gaël Clichy ‘s claim for a place in the first gear team team. Cole scored his foremost goal of the season in the seventh game in a tough trip to Manchester City in which he scored the opening and only goal to give Arsenal an significant win. He scored his second goal in a 3–1 away win to Aston Villa, scoring Arsenal ‘s third base in entirely the 28th minute .

transfer saga : 2005–2006

Cole was found guilty of making contact with league rivals Chelsea over a potential move, without informing Arsenal. He was fined £100,000 by the Premier League on 2 June 2005 for a tapping-up meet at a hotel in January 2005. Cole, his agent Jonathan Barnett, the Chelsea director José Mourinho and chief executive Peter Kenyon, and agent Pini Zahavi were portray at the meet. [ 21 ] An appeal in August 2005 did not reject the guilty verdict, but his fine was reduced to £75,000. Chelsea were besides fined £300,000 and Mourinho was fined £200,000, reduced on entreaty in August 2005 to £75,000. Barnett ‘s license was suspended for 18 months and he was besides fined £100,000. [ 22 ] On 18 July 2005, Cole signed a annual extension to his narrow with Arsenal, but just a class late departed from the club in acrimonious circumstances. On 15 July 2006, Cole launched a verbal approach on Arsenal ; in his autobiography, he claimed that the Arsenal display panel 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 measuredly left out of Arsenal ‘s 2006–07 team photograph, [ 23 ] fuelling press guess that he would leave. On 28 July 2006, Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein confirmed that Arsenal and Chelsea had been in “ civil talks ” about the player. [ 24 ] Chelsea insisted they would not raise their £16million bid for Cole, but Arsenal held out for at a higher valuation of £25 million. [ 25 ] Negotiations continued throughout August and looked to be heading for deadlock, but finally Cole signed for Chelsea on 31 August for a fee of £5 million, with William Gallas being transferred from Chelsea to Arsenal as function of the lapp 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. [ 26 ] The go angered Arsenal fans, who dubbed him “ Cashley ” and waved imposter £20 notes with Cole ‘s face on them at him when the two clubs faced each early on 10 December 2006. [ 27 ] Arsenal had offered Cole a longer abridge to stay at the club, but he had been left “ trembling with anger ” when they offered him wages of £55,000 per week. [ 28 ] His wage increased to £120,000 a week when he signed a newly contract in September 2009. [ 29 ]

Chelsea : 2006–2014

Cole was given the number 3 shirt at Chelsea, and made his first appearance for the club as a alternate for Wayne Bridge in their 2–1 win over Charlton Athletic on 9 September. He issued a public instruction concerning his transfer saying he “ forgave ” Arsenal for how he felt he was treated during his time there. [ 30 ] On 31 January 2007, Cole suffered a serious knee wound in the 3–0 victory over Blackburn Rovers in a Premier League game at Stamford Bridge, although after a scan it was revealed to be not arsenic bad as first gear think, with Chelsea affirmative that he would return before the end of the 2006–07 season. [ 31 ] Cole did indeed make a return at the end of the temper, playing in the last twelve minutes of the 2007 FA Cup Final at the new Wembley Stadium against Manchester United. Chelsea emerged triumphant 1–0 after extra-time with a goal scored by Didier Drogba, to win the 2007 FA Cup. [ 32 ]
kale lining up for a Champions League game at Spartak Moscow in October 2010 Cole was reportedly one of the players upset when José Mourinho was relieved of his position as Chelsea coach. He was dropped in favor of Wayne Bridge for the 2008 Football League Cup Final, which Chelsea lost 2–1 to Tottenham Hotspur. however, Cole scored his first Chelsea goal in Chelsea ‘s very future game, on 1 March 2008, the fourth goal in a 4–0 away victory against West Ham United. On 19 March 2008, Cole was involved in a controversial incident in a Premier League game against Tottenham at White Hart Lane where he performed a high harness on Tottenham ‘s Alan Hutton. Referee Mike Riley gave Cole a yellow batting order, a decision which was judged as besides indulgent by some analysts. [ 33 ] Cole allegedly besides “ turned his back on the referee ” and the sequence renewed debate in the media over the plot ‘s rules on disagree towards officials. After starting Chelsea ‘s first six games in the league, Cole scored his third base, one-fourth and fifth Chelsea goals at home to Burnley, Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland respectively. [ 34 ] On 2 September 2009, he signed a new four-year softwood which will sign him to Chelsea until 2013. [ 35 ] On 10 February 2010, he suffered a fracture left ankle in the 2–1 get the better of against Everton that kept him out of action for three months. [ 36 ] He finally made his tax return against Stoke City, a plot which Chelsea won 7–0. [ 37 ] Cole scored a goal against Wigan Athletic on the last day of the Premier League in an 8–0 gain as Chelsea claimed the title. [ 38 ] He then played in the 2010 FA Cup Final, where Chelsea rhythm Portsmouth to give Cole the moment league and cup bivalent of his career. [ 39 ] He started all 38 league games for Chelsea in the 2010–11 season, and was awarded the Chelsea F.C. Player ‘s Player of the Year award for the second base prison term .
In the 2011–12 season, Cole won the seventh FA Cup of his career after Chelsea beat Liverpool 2–1 in the 2012 FA Cup Final. [ 39 ] In the Champions League semi-finals against Barcelona, Cole was pivotal in Chelsea ‘s 1–0 victory which included a goal-line clearance that denied Barça an away goal. [ 40 ] Cole besides received praise for his function in the final against Bayern Munich on 19 May 2012, both for his defending, and for scoring in the decisive punishment shoot-out as Chelsea won the club ‘s first european Cup. [ 41 ] kale scored his first goal for over two years against Stoke City on 22 September 2012, proving to be the winner. [ 42 ] On 1 December 2012, Cole made his 350th Premier League appearance, [ 43 ] in a 3–1 away loss to West Ham United. [ 44 ] On 22 January 2013, Cole signed a annual extension to his abridge with Chelsea. [ 45 ] Cole again helped the club win a european deed during the 2012–13 season, playing in a 2–1 victory over Benfica in the 2013 UEFA Europa League Final on 15 May. [ 46 ] During the 2013–14 season, Cole was dropped from the Chelsea team, with César Azpilicueta replacing him as the club ‘s first choice left-back in the month of November. [ 47 ] Cole captained the team on the final match sidereal day against Cardiff 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. [ 9 ] [ 10 ] Cole ‘s abridge expired on 30 June 2014. [ 48 ]

rome

Cole defending for Roma against Liverpool in 2014 On 7 July 2014, Cole signed a biennial deal with Roma. [ 49 ] [ 50 ] He made his competitive introduction on 30 August in their first crippled of the Serie A season, playing the wax 90 minutes of a 2–0 winnings over Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico. [ 51 ] On 19 January 2016, Cole terminated his contract with Roma with one year of his abridge remaining. [ 52 ]

LA Galaxy

Cole signed with LA Galaxy of Major League Soccer on 27 January 2016. [ 53 ] On 24 February, he made his introduction in a scoreless home draw against Santos Laguna in the CONCACAF Champions League ; on 6 March, he made his league introduction in the first game of the 2016 season, playing the full moon 90 minutes of a 4–1 win over D.C. United at the StubHub Center. Manager Bruce Arena praised Cole and fellow seasoned newfangled signing Nigel de Jong after the result. [ 54 ] On 1 May, he was sent off for a second book in a 1–1 draw at Sporting Kansas City. Cole was ejected following a gawky rigging on Benny Feilhaber after being cautioned merely 32 seconds earlier. [ 55 ] [ 56 ] He received his second base dismissal of the temper on 25 June in the match against San Jose Earthquakes. Cole had been booked for a foolhardy tackle and as emotions were high, a melee ensued. The reviewer deemed Cole ‘s chemical reaction desirable of another engagement and as a result he received his marching orders for the second time in eight league games. [ 57 ] On 7 August 2016, Cole scored his first goal for the Galaxy, a last-minute counterweight in a 2–2 home drawing card against the New York Red Bulls. [ 58 ] His team qualified for the 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs, where they lost the western Conference semi-finals to the Colorado Rapids on penalties. Cole ‘s attempt was saved by Colorado goalkeeper Tim Howard, and after the game he apologised publicly to his long-time England teammate Steven Gerrard, who was playing his final examination professional match for the Galaxy that night. [ 59 ] In his second season in California, Cole saw another red card on 23 August 2017 after 18 minutes of a 2–0 personnel casualty at Columbus Crew SC for a cheating on Pedro Santos. [ 60 ] He played 29 matches for the Galaxy, scoring once in a 6–2 base passing to Real Salt Lake, [ 61 ] as the team came dead last and missed out on the play-offs for the first time since 2008. [ 62 ] Head bus Sigi Schmid named Cole as captain ahead of the 2018 season. [ 63 ] The Galaxy missed the play-offs again. [ 64 ] He was released by LA Galaxy at the end of their 2018 season. [ 65 ]

Derby County

On 21 January 2019, Cole joined Championship side Derby County, reuniting with coach Frank Lampard who was his teammate at Chelsea and with England. [ 66 ] He signed a contract until the end of the 2018–19 season. [ 67 ] He was released at the end of the season. [ 68 ] On 18 August 2019, Cole formally announced his retirement. [ 69 ]

Coaching career

Cole became a coach at Derby after retiring from playing, and has since followed Frank Lampard to Chelsea where he is an academy coach. [ 70 ] [ 71 ] On 27 July 2021, Cole was named as assistant coach of the England U21s alongside mind coach Lee Carsley. [ 72 ] and combine his duties with his function at Chelsea ‘s academy .

International career

Cole has played for England at youth and elder levels. He was capped for the England U-20 team at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship alongside Stuart Taylor, Peter Crouch, Andrew Johnson and Matthew Etherington. however, the team finished bottom of their group, suffering three defeats without scoring any goals. He besides made four appearances for England under-21s, scoring once. After good four appearances for the Under-21s, Cole was fast-tracked into the England elder team and Sven-Göran Eriksson handed Cole his senior international debut against Albania, on 28 March 2001. He played for England at the 2002, 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cups, UEFA Euro 2004 ( where he was named as one of four England players in the all-star police squad for the tournament ) and UEFA Euro 2012. Cole was besides an ever-present for England in the 2006 World Cup ; in their second round couple against Ecuador he made a crucial block, deflecting Carlos Tenorio ‘s shot onto the crossbar. The match ended with England winning 1–0, but the team were knocked out on penalties by Portugal in the quarter-finals. By the end of 2008, Cole had achieved 68 caps for England, all of which were starting appearances. [ 73 ] He made his 79th appearance for England on 12 June 2010 in the 1–1 draw against the United States in the 2010 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 ) [ 74 ] when he played against Algeria late that calendar month. He has played more internationals without scoring than any other outfield player in England history. He won his 86th capital against Montenegro in October 2010, and aboard Kenny Sansom, Cole is now England ‘s most-capped full-back in history, an accomplishment which helped him pick up the England Player of the Year award for 2010, as voted for by fans. [ 75 ] On 6 February 2013, he earned his hundredth hood as England beat Brazil 2–1 at Wembley. [ 76 ] On 11 May 2014, he announced his retirement from external football after being omitted from the England police squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. [ 77 ]

style of looseness

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 ampere soon as you won the ball binding, he was up there to attack .

–Arsène Wenger [ 78 ]
Cole ‘s game incorporates an attacking approach to his play, which supports his teams ‘ forth play. As a youth, he “ always liked score goals and attacking ”, but grew to love the character of defending, as being a left-back was the only opportunity of breaking into the seniors. [ 79 ] Prior to his inclusion in the Arsenal first team, Cole studied the behavior of companion defender Nigel Winterburn to improve his play ; Winterburn concurrently offered pointers to improve his put. [ 80 ] He modelled his bet on on brazilian Roberto Carlos : “ He ‘s got natural talent, but I think if you train hard adequate you can be about a good as that. ” [ 80 ] Liam Brady described Cole as a actor with “ great character and decision ” [ 81 ] and his former teammate Sylvinho 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. ” [ 80 ] The rapid progress made by Cole in his debut season for Arsenal “ surprised ” Wenger and prompted him to make the defender his first woof. Sylvinho, the player displaced, commented that Wenger ‘s impression in Cole helped him to develop as a musician : “ He spoke to [ Cole ] and said : ‘After Silvinho you can play left-back. You are one of the best left-backs at the golf club and one day will be one of the best in the world. ‘ ” [ 82 ] Cole ‘s link-up fun with winger Robert Pires and chief striker Thierry Henry in a 4–4–2 formation efficaciously made him “ a wing-back or winger play in a back four ” because Arsenal ‘s game emphasised attacking football. [ 83 ] Under José Mourinho at Chelsea, Cole ‘s attacking threat was restrained, meaning it allowed the player to focus more on defending and marking. This was a “ side of his bet on ” Cole improved the most according to Winterburn, given he was criticised in the past for being caught out of position. [ 84 ] [ 85 ] The arrival of Luiz Felipe Scolari however ensured Cole made forth runs in the opposition ‘s one-half ; Aston Villa director Martin O’Neill believed the liberation of Cole was a sign that he was “ rear playing to his very best ”. [ 84 ] Cole is renowned for making time goal-line clearances and “ cutting out danger ”. [ 86 ] In a league match against Tottenham Hotspur in December 2002, he made two celebrated clearances, which demonstrated to him that his defensive game had improved. [ 87 ] He besides made two goal line clearances in Chelsea ‘s 2011–12 Champions League winning crusade. The beginning was against Napoli, in a 3–1 round-of-16 first leg defeat, and the second in Chelsea ‘s semi-final first leg 1–0 gain against Barcelona. Both were vital as Chelsea went on to win the ties with a margin of one finish on aggregate, finally lifting the Champions League. [ 88 ] [ 89 ] Cole is said to have a “ beggarly mottle ”, [ 81 ] and has been labelled a “ dirty actor ”, something which he himself and his former coaches have powerfully denied. [ 90 ] [ 91 ]

personal biography

Cole began a relationship with Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Tweedy in September 2004, when they were living in the same auction block of flats in London ; they married on 15 July 2006 in Wrotham Park, Hertfordshire. [ 92 ] In January 2008, the couple about separated after allegations were made that Cole had affairs with three other women. He, however, disputed the allegations and the couple stayed together. [ 93 ] It was announced on 23 February 2010 that the pair would separate following newly allegations of adultery. [ 94 ] Three months late, it was announced that Cheryl was filing for disassociate. They formally divorced on 3 September 2010. [ 95 ] Cole has a son ( wear 2016 ) and a daughter ( bear 2018 ) with the italian exemplar Sharon Canu. [ 96 ] In 2006, Cole sued the News of the World and The Sun newspapers for libel after they printed allegations that he was involved in a “ homosexual orgy “. [ 97 ] Both papers retracted the allegations. The same year, Cole released an autobiography titled My Defence, which sold 4,000 copies in the first six weeks of release. [ 98 ] Cole ‘s former teammate, Jens Lehmann, criticised Cole for writing an autobiography when he was 25. [ 99 ] Cole has had a couple of child brushes with the police. On 4 March 2009 he was held after swearing in front of a patrol officeholder outside a South Kensington cabaret. He was taken to a police station and issued with an £80 fixed punishment detect before being released. [ 100 ] On 4 January 2010, Cole was convicted of a accelerate discourtesy committed on 17 November 2009. He was recorded exceeding the amphetamine limit by doing 104 miles per hour in a 50 miles per hour zone on the A3 road in Kingston upon Thames, a residential stretch. His defense mechanism at Kingston Magistrates ‘ Court, opposing the charge in his absence, argued unsuccessfully that the police speed grease-gun was defective. Cole besides claimed that his actions were excuseable because he was trying to evade the paparazzo. [ 101 ] On 29 January he was fined £1000 and disqualified from driving for four months. [ 102 ] On 27 February 2011, Cole incidentally shot Tom Cowan, a 21-year-old sports skill student on solve experience at Chelsea, with a twenty-two bore air out rifle from only five feet away at the club ‘s Cobham Training Centre, apparently unaware that the rifle was loaded. Cole formally apologised to Cowan, and discussed the incidental with Chelsea officials. [ 103 ]

career statistics

club

International

Cole play for England against Slovenia, 2009
Appearances and goals by national team and year[106]

National team
Year
Apps
Goals

England

2001
7
0

2002
9
0

2003
7
0

2004
13
0

2005
8
0

2006
13
0

2007
4
0

2008
7
0

2009
9
0

2010
9
0

2011
7
0

2012
6
0

2013
7
0

2014
1
0

Total
107
0

Honours

Arsenal
Chelsea
Individual

See besides

References