Ashley Cole

Legendary left-back and FA Cup record holder.

Ashley Cole (born 20 December 1980) is an English professional football coach and former player who was most recently the head coach of Serie B club Cesena. As a player, he played as a left-back, most notably for Arsenal and Chelsea. Cole is considered one of the best defenders of his generation, one of the greatest English players of all time as well as one of the greatest left-backs in the history of the sport.

Quick Facts

Born: 20 December 1980
Birthplace: Stepney, England
Height: 1.76 m / 5 ft 9 in
Position: Left-back
Total caps: 508
Total goals: 19

Lore & Background

Born in Stepney, London, Cole began his youth career at Arsenal 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 two Premier League titles, three FA Cups, and was an integral member of the 'Invincibles' team of the 2003–04 season. Cole also made an appearance in Arsenal's first UEFA Champions League final in 2006; the club lost 2–1 to Barcelona. In August 2006, after a protracted 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. With seven winners' medals, Cole has won the FA Cup more times than any other player in history, and is one of two players to have won the Double with two clubs, along with Nicolas Anelka. Cole was an England international from 2001 to 2014, playing at the 2002, 2006 and 2010 World Cups, as 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.

Reader's Guide

Cole was found guilty of making contact with league rivals Chelsea over a possible move, without informing Arsenal. He was fined £100,000 by the Premier League on 2 June 2005 for a tapping-up meeting at a hotel in January 2005. 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.

Did You Know?

Cole's father, Ron Callender, is from Barbados and left the family after seven years of marriage.
Cole made his first-team debut for Arsenal on 30 November 1999 in the League Cup against Middlesbrough.
Cole scored his first Chelsea goal on 1 March 2008 in a 4–0 away victory against West Ham United.
Cole started all 38 league games for Chelsea in the 2010–11 season.