Ashley Cole is an English football manager and former player widely regarded as one of the best defenders of his generation.
He began his youth career at Arsenal and made his official debut for the club in November 1999.
During his time at Arsenal, Cole made 228 appearances and scored nine goals for the North London club.
Cole primarily plays as a left-back and is known for his outstanding defensive ability, pace and attacking contributions on the wing.
His performances for Arsenal earned him widespread recognition and acclaim from both critics and professional players.
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- Full name: Ashley Cole
- Stage name: Ashley Cole
- Date of birth: December 20, 1980
- Age: 43 years old
- Place of birth: Stepney, London, UK
- Nationality: English
- Occupation: English football coach and former player
- Height: 1.76 m
- Parents: Ron Callender and Sue Cole
- Siblings: Matthew Cole
- Spouse: Sharon Canu, Cheryl (m. 2006–2010)
- Children: Jaxon and Grace
- Relationship: Married
- Net worth: £37 million or $50 million
Early life and education
Ashley Cole was born on December 20, 1980 in Stepney, London, United Kingdom. His parents are Ron Callender and Sue Cole. His father, Ron Callender, is from Barbados.
When Ashley was 7, his father left the family and moved to Australia. Ashley and her younger brother Matthew were raised by their mother, Sue Cole. They attended Bow School in the Tower Hamlets area of London.
Ashley Cole began his football career at a young age, joining Arsenal’s youth academy in 1997. He developed his skills there before making his professional debut for Arsenal in 1999. Ethnically, Ashley Cole is white. His religion is Christianity.
Career
Cole began his youth career at Arsenal and made his official debut for the club in November 1999. Over the next few years, he became a fixture in Arsenal’s starting lineup, making played 228 times and scored 9 goals for the North London club.
During his time at Arsenal, Cole was integral to the team’s success, winning two Premier League titles and three FA Cups. He mainly played an important role in the 2003-04 season when Arsenal’s “Invincible” team was undefeated the entire season.
Cole’s performances for Arsenal also earned him a place in the starting line-up in the club’s first UEFA Champions League final in 2006, although they eventually lost 1–2 to Barcelona. This would be his last season with Arsenal, as after a lengthy transfer period he completed a move to rival club Chelsea in August 2006.
Cole enjoyed great success at Chelsea, winning many more trophies, including the 2009–10 Premier League title, four additional FA Cups, one Football League Cup and the UEFA Champions League.
With seven FA Cup winners’ medals, Cole has won the competition more times than any other player in history. He is one of only two players to win the domestic double (Premier League and FA Cup) with two different clubs, the other being Nicolas Anelka.
After being released by Chelsea at the end of the 2013–14 season, Cole joined Championship side Derby County in January 2019. He reunited with his former Chelsea teammate, Frank Lampard, the club’s manager. He signed a contract until the end of the 2018-19 season before being released at the end of the season.
On August 18, 2019, Cole officially announced his retirement from professional football. Before that, he had a very successful international career with England, earning 107 caps between 2001 and 2014 – the most of any England full-back.
He represented his country at three World Cups (2002, 2006, 2010) and two European Championships (Euro 2004, Euro 2012) and was voted England Footballer of the Year in 2010.
Following his retirement, Cole turned to coaching, first joining the staff at Derby County and then following Lampard to Chelsea, where he worked as academy coach. In July 2021, he was appointed assistant coach of the England U21 team, combining this role with his position at Chelsea.
In February 2022, Cole linked up with Frank Lampard again, this time joining his staff at Everton as first-team coach. However, this reunion was short-lived as he left Everton in January 2023 after Lampard was sacked as manager.
Most recently, in October 2023, Cole joined the Birmingham City coaching staff under the guidance of new coach Wayne Rooney. He held this post until September 2024, when he left to take up a full-time role supporting Lee Carsley as interim head coach of the England senior team following the departure of Gareth Southgate.
Social Media
- Instagram handle: @theofficialac3
- Facebook manager: Ashley Cole
- Twitter name: @TheRealAC3
Personal life
Former English professional footballer Ashley Cole is married to Italian model Sharon Canu. After nearly eight years of dating, the couple tied the knot in a lavish ceremony in Italy and they share two children, Jaxon and Grace.
Before his current marriage, Cole was married to singer Cheryl Tweedy from 2006 until their divorce in 2010. Their divorce was said to have been marred by allegations of infidelity from Cole’s side, in which Cheryl cited “unreasonable behavior” as the reason for their breakup.
Net worth
Ashley Cole, the famous English professional soccer player, is estimated to have a net worth of around £37 million or $50 million. This considerable wealth was mainly accumulated through his successful career as a senior player, representing prestigious clubs such as Arsenal and Chelsea.
Throughout his illustrious career, Cole earned substantial salaries and endorsement deals, which contributed significantly to his impressive net worth.
