View source for Ashley Cole

{{short description|English footballer (born 1980)}}
{{For|the American lawyer|Ashley T. Cole}}
{{pp-blp|small=yes}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Ashley Cole
| image = ACole.JPG
| upright = 
| caption = Cole with [[England national football team|England]] at [[UEFA Euro 2012|Euro 2012]]
| full_name = Ashley Cole<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2010/PDF_BackUp_2010_06_13/FWC_2010_SquadLists.pdf |title=FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010: List of Players: England |publisher=FIFA |page=10 |date=12 June 2010 |access-date=22 November 2025}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|12|20|df=y}}<ref name="PL"/>
| birth_place = [[Stepney]], England
| height = {{convert|1.76|m|order=flip}}<ref name="PL"/>
| position = [[Left-back]]
| currentclub = {{ublist|[[England national football team|England]] (interim assistant coach)}}
| youthyears1 = 1997–1999
| youthclubs1 = [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]
| years1 = 1999–2006 
| clubs1 = [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]
| caps1 = 156 
| goals1 = 8
| years2 = 2000
| clubs2 = → [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]] (loan) 
| caps2 = 14
| goals2 = 1
| years3 = 2006–2014 
| clubs3 = [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]]
| caps3 = 229 
| goals3 = 7
| years4 = 2014–2016 
| clubs4 = [[A.S. Roma|Roma]]
| caps4 = 11
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2016–2018 
| clubs5 = [[LA Galaxy]]
| caps5 = 89
| goals5 = 3
| years6 = 2019
| clubs6 = [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]]
| caps6 = 9
| goals6 = 0
| totalcaps = 508 
| totalgoals = 19
| nationalyears1 = 1999
| nationalteam1 = [[England national under-20 football team|England U20]] 
| nationalcaps1 = 2
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2002
| nationalteam2 = [[England national under-21 football team|England U21]] 
| nationalcaps2 = 5
| nationalgoals2 = 1
| nationalyears3 = 2001–2014 
| nationalteam3 = [[England national football team|England]]
| nationalcaps3 = 107
| nationalgoals3 = 0
}}
'''Ashley Cole''' (born 20 December 1980) is an English [[association football|football]] coach and former player. As a player, he played as a [[left-back]], most notably for [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] and [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]]. Cole is considered by many critics and fellow professional players as one of the best defenders of his generation,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://worldsoccer.about.com/od/internationals/tp/worldcupdefenders.htm|title=Ten of the Best Defenders in the World|publisher=About Sports|access-date=7 July 2016|archive-date=14 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100514201832/http://worldsoccer.about.com/od/internationals/tp/worldcupdefenders.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://talksport.com/radio/drivetime/130205/poll-ashley-cole-englands-best-ever-defender-1966-191027|title=Poll: Is Ashley Cole England's best ever defender since 1966?|date=5 February 2013|publisher=Talksport|access-date=5 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2012/feb/24/ashley-cole-chelsea-england |location=London |work=The Guardian |first=Barney |last=Ronay |title=Hail Cashley Ashley Cole, the epitome of undervalued excellence |date=24 February 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/477/euro-2012/2010/10/12/2161540/england-manager-fabio-capello-ashley-cole-is-one-of-the-best|title=England Manager Fabio Capello: Ashley Cole Is One Of The Best Left-Backs In The World|publisher=Goal.com|access-date=12 October 2010}}</ref> one of the greatest English players of all time<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.90min.com/posts/the-greatest-england-internationals-footballers-of-all-time-ranked |work=90min |title= The greatest England internationals of all time - ranked |access-date=3 March 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/ranked-the-25-best-english-players-ever |work=Four Four Two |title= Ranked! The 25 best English players ever |access-date=3 March 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/ashley-cole-the-century-100-greatest-players-countdown-nobodys-hero-a9159381.html |work=The Independent |title= Ashley Cole was nobody's hero and there were ugly undercurrents in the way he was perceived |access-date=3 March 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2060476-the-highs-and-lows-of-ashley-coles-remarkable-england-career |work=Beacher Report |title= The Highs and Lows of Ashley Cole's Remarkable England Career |access-date=3 March 2023 }}</ref> as well as one of the greatest left-backs in the history of the sport.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://thesporting.blog/blog/the-5-greatest-left-backs-of-all-time |work=The Sporting Blog |title= The 5 Greatest Left-Backs of All-Time |access-date=2 March 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.90min.com/posts/the-best-left-backs-of-all-time |work=90min |title= The Best Left-Backs of All Time |access-date=2 March 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/8056924/England-v-Montenegro-Ashley-Cole-is-our-best-ever-left-back-says-Stuart-Pearce.html |location=London |work=The Daily Telegraph |first=Jeremy |last=Wilson |title=England v Montenegro: Ashley Cole is our best-ever left-back, says Stuart Pearce |date=12 October 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espnfc.com/story/837241/carlo-ancelotti-ashley-cole-is-the-best-left-back-in-the-world|title=Ancelotti: Cole is the best left-back in the world|publisher=ESPN FC|access-date=30 October 2010 }}</ref> Born in [[Stepney]], London, Cole began his youth career at [[Arsenal F.C.|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 Cup]]s, and was an integral member of the "[[2003–04 Arsenal F.C. season|Invincibles]]" team of the 2003–04 season, who went the entire league season undefeated. Cole also made an appearance in Arsenal's first [[UEFA Champions League]] final in [[2006 UEFA Champions League final|2006]]; the club lost 2–1 to [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]].

In August 2006, after a protracted transfer saga, Cole completed a move to [[Arsenal F.C.-Chelsea F.C. rivalry|rival club]] [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]], with whom he won further honours, including the Premier League in the [[2009–10 Premier League|2009–10]] season, four [[FA Cup]]s, one [[Football League Cup]] and one [[UEFA Champions League]]. He was released by Chelsea at the end of the [[2013–14 Premier League|2013–14 season]].<ref name=Released>{{cite news|title=Clubs submit retained and released lists |url=http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2013-14/may/premier-league-clubs-submit-retained-and-released-lists.html |access-date=23 May 2014 |work=[[Premier League]] |date=23 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150504185633/http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2013-14/may/premier-league-clubs-submit-retained-and-released-lists.html |archive-date=4 May 2015 }}</ref><ref name=ReleasedITV>{{cite news|title=Chelsea let Lampard and Cole leave club |url=http://www.itv.com/sport/football/article/2014-05-23/chelsea-let-lampard-and-cole-leave-club/ |access-date=23 May 2014 |website=itv.com |date=23 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140524004120/http://www.itv.com/sport/football/article/2014-05-23/chelsea-let-lampard-and-cole-leave-club/ |archive-date=24 May 2014 }}</ref> With seven winners' medals, Cole has won the FA Cup more times than any other player in history,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/may/08/sports-diary-chelsea-mayweather |title=Di Matteo's magic brings Chelsea FA Cup victory |work=The Guardian |access-date=21 May 2012 |date=8 May 2012 |location=London |first=Barney |last=Ronay}}</ref> and is one of two players to have won the [[Double (association football)|Double]] with two clubs, along with [[Nicolas Anelka]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://football.uk.reuters.com/leagues/uk/news/2010/05/15/LDE64E07A.php |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104115925/http://football.uk.reuters.com/leagues/uk/news/2010/05/15/LDE64E07A.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 January 2013 |title=Ashley Cole wins sixth winners' medal and a double Double |work=Reuters |access-date=16 June 2012 |date=15 May 2010 }}</ref>

Cole was an England international from 2001 to 2014, playing at the [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002]], [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006]] and [[2010 FIFA World Cup|2010]] World Cups, as well as [[UEFA Euro 2004|Euro 2004]] and [[UEFA Euro 2012|Euro 2012]]. He was voted [[England Player of the Year]] in 2010. When he retired from international football in 2014, he had won [[List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps|107 caps]], making him England's most-capped full-back.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/England/News/match-centre/2011/Denmark-v-England/Post-Match-Reports/AshLampsCap |title=Cheers for England, Ash and Lamps |access-date=21 May 2012 |work=TheFA.com |publisher=The Football Association }}</ref>

==Early life==
Cole's father, Ron Callender, is from [[Barbados]]. He left the family after seven years of marriage<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/world-cup-familiesand-now-for-the-mads-the-mums-and-dads-405269.html |title=World Cup families...And Now for the Mads (The Mums and Dads) |work=The Independent |date=24 June 2006 |location=London }}</ref> and later moved to Australia.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2005/jun/05/sport.features |title=I don't want to go |work=The Guardian |date=5 June 2005 |location=London |first=Jamie |last=Jackson}}</ref> Cole and his younger brother Matthew were brought up by their mother Sue Cole,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/nov/27/sport.comment1 |title=Defender cast in unwanted role of target man |work=The Guardian |date=27 November 2004 |location=London |first=Michael |last=Walker}}</ref> going to [[Bow School]] in [[London Borough of Tower Hamlets|Tower Hamlets]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/arsenal/feature/otd-ashley-cole-was-born_194676.html|title=On this day: Ashley Cole was born|publisher=Sports Mole|date=20 December 2014|access-date=7 July 2016}}</ref>

==Club career==

===Arsenal: 1999–2006===
Cole started his career by joining his local club, [[Arsenal F.C.|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 [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] fourth round against [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]; Arsenal lost 1–3 on penalties after the match ended 2–2 at the end of extra time at the [[Riverside Stadium]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/544175.stm|title=Gunners misfire in shoot-out|website=BBC Sport|date=30 November 1999|access-date=2 May 2012}}</ref> On 25 February 2000, he signed his first professional contract. His Premier League debut came on 14 May 2000 against [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]], as part of an experimental side that lost 4–2 away on the final day of the season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Shearer on song as Magpies win|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/748072.stm|access-date=8 May 2018|website=BBC Sport|date=14 May 2000}}</ref> Before he fully broke into the Arsenal side, he spent part of the [[1999–2000 in English football|1999–2000 season]] on loan at [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]], where he played 14 league matches and scored one goal, a long-range half-volley against [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]]. When [[Sylvinho]], Arsenal's established left-back, suffered an injury in the autumn of the [[2000–01 FA Premier League|2000–01 season]], Cole took the opportunity to establish himself in the first team and remained first-choice even after the Brazilian's recovery.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Carter|first1=Jon|title=For a few dollars more|url=http://en.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/118073.html|access-date=8 May 2018|publisher=ESPN FC|date=26 October 2011}}</ref>

With Arsenal, he won the [[Premier League|FA Premier League]] twice (in [[2001–02 FA Premier League|2002]] and [[2003–04 FA Premier League|2004]]), and the [[FA Cup]] three times (in [[2001–02 FA Cup|2002]], [[2002–03 FA Cup|2003]] and [[2004–05 FA Cup|2005]], scoring in the penalty shootout in the final of the latter). Although injured for much of the [[2005–06 Arsenal F.C. season|2005–06]] season, he recovered in time to play in Arsenal's [[2006 UEFA Champions League final|UEFA Champions League final]] defeat to [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] at the end of the season. In total he made 228 first-team appearances for the ''Gunners'', scoring nine goals.

Cole had a very 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-team squad. Cole scored his first goal of the season in the seventh game in a tough trip to [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester 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 to [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]], scoring Arsenal's third in only the 28th minute.

===Transfer saga: 2005–2006===
Cole was found guilty of making contact with league rivals [[Chelsea F.C.|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|tapping-up]] meeting at a hotel in January 2005. Cole, his agent [[Jonathan Barnett (sports agent)|Jonathan Barnett]], the Chelsea manager [[José Mourinho]] and chief executive [[Peter Kenyon]], and agent [[Pini Zahavi]] were present at the meeting.<ref>{{cite web |last=Scott |first=Matt |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2005/mar/12/newsstory.sport8 |title=Cole made the first move, claim Chelsea |date=12 March 2005 |access-date=27 June 2021 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/5382332.stm|title=Cole's agent handed FA suspension|website=BBC Sport|date=26 September 2006|access-date=1 January 2010}}</ref>

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's [[2006–07 in English football|2006–07]] team photograph,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/aug/11/newsstory.sport9|title=Abramovich ready to dictate terms of Cole's Chelsea move|work=The Guardian|location=UK|date=11 August 2006|access-date=15 November 2006|first=Matt|last=Scott}}</ref> fuelling press speculation 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/jul/29/newsstory.sport4|title=Arsenal drive hard bargain with Chelsea over £30m Cole|work=The Guardian|location=London|first=Jon|last=Brodkin|date=29 July 2006}}</ref> Chelsea insisted they would not raise their £16 million bid for Cole, but Arsenal held out for at a higher valuation of £25&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/tm_objectid=17441553&method=full&siteid=94762&headline=gunners-battle-for-cole-cash-name_page.html|title=Gunners Battle for Cole Cash|work=The Mirror|date=25 July 2006}}</ref> 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&nbsp;million, with [[William 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/5297616.stm|title=Blues beat deadline to sign Cole|website=BBC Sport|date=1 September 2006|access-date=20 November 2009}}</ref> The move angered [[Arsenal F.C. supporters|Arsenal 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://metro.co.uk/2006/12/07/cashley-cole-set-to-be-in-the-money-again-450453/|title=Cashley Cole set to be in the money again|work=Metro|date=7 December 2006|access-date=4 August 2016}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/jan/29/ashley-cole-la-galaxy-field-notes |work=The Guardian |first=Scott |last=Murray |date=29 January 2016 |title=A brief guide to … LA Galaxy's Ashley Cole, once the world's finest left-back |access-date=3 September 2023}}</ref> His wage increased to £120,000 a week when he signed a new contract in September 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/sep/02/ashley-cole-chelsea-contract1|location=London|work=The Guardian|first=David|last=Hytner|title=Ashley Cole signs new Chelsea deal to boost wages to £120,000 a week|date=2 September 2009}}</ref>

===Chelsea: 2006–2014===
Cole was given the number 3 shirt at Chelsea, and made his first appearance for the club as a substitute for [[Wayne Bridge]] in their 2–1 win over [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton 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.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/cole-unwilling-to-look-back--for-a-day-or-two-at-least-415212.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111119233455/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/cole-unwilling-to-look-back--for-a-day-or-two-at-least-415212.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 November 2011 |title=Cole unwilling to look back ... for a day or two, at least |newspaper=The Independent |date=9 September 2006 |location=London |first=Sam |last=Wallace |access-date=6 July 2011}}</ref>

On 31 January 2007, Cole suffered a serious knee injury in the 3–0 victory over [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn 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.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/football/article.html?in_article_id=35707&in_page_id=43 |title=Cole injury fears eased |work=Metro |date=2 February 2007 }}</ref> Cole did indeed make a return at the end of the season, playing in the last twelve minutes of the [[2007 FA Cup final]] at the new [[Wembley Stadium]] against [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]. Chelsea emerged victorious 1–0 after extra-time with a goal scored by [[Didier Drogba]], to win the [[2006–07 FA Cup|2007 FA Cup]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.eurosports.com/football/premiership/2006-2007/sport_sto1185640.shtml |title=Cole "dropped for final" |work=Eurosport |date=19 May 2007 }}</ref>

[[File:Ashley Cole 4577.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Cole lining up for a Champions League game at [[FC Spartak Moscow|Spartak Moscow]] in October 2010]]
Cole was reportedly one of the players upset when [[José Mourinho]] was relieved of his position as Chelsea manager. He was dropped in favour of Wayne Bridge for the [[2008 Football League Cup final]], which Chelsea lost 2–1 to [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham 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 against [[West Ham United F.C.|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 tackle on Tottenham's [[Alan Hutton]]. Referee [[Mike Riley (referee)|Mike Riley]] gave Cole a yellow card, a decision which was judged as too lenient by some analysts.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/03/23/sfngue123.xml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080326174820/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fsport%2F2008%2F03%2F23%2Fsfngue123.xml |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 March 2008 |title=Officials should have sent off Ashley Cole |work=The Telegraph |date=23 March 2008 |location=London |first=Keith |last=Hackett |access-date=15 December 2021 }}</ref> 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 to [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]], Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland respectively.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/8222096.stm|title=Chelsea 3–0 Burnley|website=BBC Sport|date=29 August 2009}}</ref> On 2 September 2009, he signed a new four-year deal which will contract him to Chelsea until 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/8233997.stm|title=Defender Cole signs Chelsea deal|website=BBC Sport|date=2 September 2009 |access-date=2 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903101126/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/8233997.stm |archive-date=3 September 2009|url-status=live}}</ref>
On 10 February 2010, he suffered a fractured left ankle in the 2–1 defeat against [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] that kept him out of action for three months.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/8511556.stm|title=Ankle fracture rules Ashley Cole out for three months |date=11 February 2010|website=BBC Sport |access-date=11 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100212053856/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/8511556.stm |archive-date=12 February 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> He eventually made his return against [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]], a game which Chelsea won 7–0.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8632297.stm|title=Chelsea 7–0 Stoke|date=25 April 2010|website=BBC Sport |access-date=26 April 2010 |first=Chris |last=Bevan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112231033/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8632297.stm |archive-date=12 January 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> Cole scored a goal against [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]] on the last day of the [[2009–10 Premier League|Premier League]] in an 8–0 win as Chelsea claimed the title.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/7700659/Chelsea-8-Wigan-Athletic-0-match-report.html|title=Chelsea 8 Wigan Athletic 0|date=9 May 2001|work=Daily Telegraph|access-date=1 March 2011|location=London|first=Henry|last=Winter}}</ref> He then played in the [[2010 FA Cup final]], where Chelsea beat [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]] to give Cole the second league and cup double of his career.<ref name=contract>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21105158|title=Chelsea defender Ashley Cole signs contract extension|date=22 January 2013|access-date=19 April 2014|website=BBC Sport}}</ref> He started all 38 league games for Chelsea in the [[2010–11 Chelsea F.C. season|2010–11 season]], and was awarded the Chelsea F.C. Player's Player of the Year award for the second time.

[[File:AshleyColeFinale12.jpg|thumb|upright|Cole playing for Chelsea during the [[2012 UEFA Champions League final]]]]
In the [[2011–12 Chelsea F.C. season|2011–12 season]], Cole won the seventh FA Cup of his career after Chelsea beat [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] 2–1 in the [[2012 FA Cup final]].<ref name=contract/> In the [[2011–12 UEFA Champions League#Semi-finals|Champions League semi-final]] against [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]], Cole was pivotal in Chelsea's 1–0 victory which included a goal-line clearance that denied ''Barça'' an away goal.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/17673812|title=Chelsea 1–0 Barcelona|work=BBC Sport|access-date=17 November 2020}}</ref> Cole also received praise for his role in [[2012 UEFA Champions League final|the final]] against [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/may/19/bayern-munich-chelsea-ratings|date=19 May 2011|title=Chelsea beat Bayern in shootout|work=The Observer|access-date=19 July 2024|location=London|first=Louise|last=Taylor}}</ref>

Cole scored his first goal for over two years against Stoke City on 22 September 2012, proving to be the winner.<ref>{{cite web|last=Smith |first=Ben |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19615097 |title=Chelsea 1–0 Stoke |website=BBC Sport |date=22 September 2012 |access-date=5 October 2012}}</ref> On 1 December 2012, Cole made his 350th Premier League appearance,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=531019516922468&set=a.408877845803303.98644.220832481274508&type=1&theater |title=Congratulations to Chelsea Football Club defender Ashley Cole as he makes his 350th Barclays Premier League appearance today. |publisher=Premier League Official Facebook Page |date=1 December 2012 }}</ref> in a 3–1 away loss to West Ham United.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/20474474 |title=West Ham 3-1 Chelsea |website=BBC Sport |date=1 December 2012 }}</ref>

On 22 January 2013, Cole signed a one-year extension to his contract with Chelsea.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/3049950/title/new-contract-for-cole|title=NEW CONTRACT FOR COLE|date=22 January 2013|access-date=22 January 2013|publisher=Chelsea F.C. Official Website}}</ref> Cole again helped the club win a European title during the [[2012–13 Chelsea F.C. season|2012–13 season]], playing in a 2–1 victory over [[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]] in the [[2013 UEFA Europa League final]] on 15 May.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/ashley-cole-praises-chelseas-neversaydie-mentality-after-europa-league-triumph-8618363.html |title=Ashley Cole praises Chelsea's never-say-die mentality after Europa League triumph |publisher=London Evening Standard |date=16 May 2013 }}</ref>

During the [[2013–14 Chelsea F.C. season|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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/apr/18/ashley-cole-chelsea-atletico-madrid-sunderland|title=Ashley Cole fears end as Chelsea look to future for Atlético Madrid semi-final|date=19 April 2014|work=The Guardian}}</ref> Cole captained the team on the last match day against [[Cardiff City F.C.|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.<ref name=Released/><ref name=ReleasedITV/> Cole's contract expired on 30 June 2014.<ref>{{cite news|date=7 July 2014|title=Ashley Cole and Samuel Eto'o leave Chelsea after contracts end|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/28106568|website=BBC Sport}}</ref>

===Roma===
[[Image:Fabio Borini, Martin Kelly, Ashley Cole 2014 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Cole defending for [[AS Roma|Roma]] against Liverpool in 2014]]
On 7 July 2014, Cole signed a two-year deal with [[AS Roma|Roma]].<ref>{{cite news|date=7 July 2014|title=Ashley Cole: Roma sign former Chelsea defender on two-year deal|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/28182668|website=BBC Sport}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=7 July 2014|title=Ashley Cole signs two-year contract to join Roma|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jul/07/roma-ashley-cole-proposed-move|newspaper=[[theguardian.com|The Guardian]]}}</ref> He made his competitive debut on 30 August in their first game of the [[Serie A]] season, playing the full 90 minutes of a 2–0 win over [[ACF Fiorentina|Fiorentina]] at the [[Stadio Olimpico]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/28989198|title=Roma 2–0 Fiorentina|website=BBC Sport|date=30 August 2014|access-date=31 August 2014}}</ref> On 19 January 2016, Cole terminated his contract with Roma with one year of his contract remaining.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asroma.com/en/news/2016/1/ashley-cole-leaves-roma|title=Ashley Cole leaves Roma|publisher=AS Roma|date=19 January 2016|access-date=19 January 2016|archive-date=6 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106081053/http://www.asroma.com/en/news/2016/1/ashley-cole-leaves-roma|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===LA Galaxy===
Cole signed with [[LA Galaxy]] of [[Major League Soccer]] on 27 January 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lagalaxy.com/post/2016/01/27/la-galaxy-acquire-defender-ashley-cole|title=LA Galaxy acquire defender Ashley Cole|publisher=LA Galaxy|date=27 January 2016|access-date=27 January 2016}}</ref> On 24 February, he made his debut in a goalless home draw against [[Santos Laguna]] in the [[CONCACAF Champions League]]; on 6 March, he made his league debut in the first game of the [[2016 Major League Soccer season|2016 season]], playing the full 90 minutes of a 4–1 win over [[D.C. United]] at the [[StubHub Center]]. Manager [[Bruce Arena]] praised Cole and fellow veteran new signing [[Nigel de Jong]] after the result.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://soccer.nbcsports.com/2016/03/07/mls-snapshot-la-galaxy-4-1-dc-united-video/|title=MLS Snapshot: LA Galaxy 4–1 DC United (video)|date=7 March 2016|access-date=17 November 2020}}</ref> On 1 May, he was sent off for a second booking in a 1–1 draw at [[Sporting Kansas City]]. Cole was ejected following a clumsy tackle on [[Benny Feilhaber]] after being cautioned just 32 seconds earlier.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/12096/10266658/watch-ashley-coles-quickfire-red-card-for-la-galaxy|title=Ashley Cole booked twice in 32 seconds for LA Galaxy|website=Sky Sports|date=2 May 2016|access-date=7 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/66/united-states/2016/05/02/23018302/mls-review-cole-sees-red-in-galaxy-stalemate-valeri-stunner?ICID=AR_RS_1|title=MLS Review: Cole sees red in Galaxy stalemate, Valeri stunner lifts Timbers|last1=Pisani|first1=Sacha|publisher=Goal.com|date=2 May 2016|access-date=2 May 2016}}</ref> He received his second dismissal of the season on 25 June in the match against [[San 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/12096/10325413/ashley-cole-sees-red-for-la-galaxy-in-california-clasico|title=Ashley Cole sees red for LA Galaxy in California Clasico|publisher=Sky Sports|date=26 June 2016|access-date=7 July 2016}}</ref>

[[File:Ashley Cole LA Galaxy (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|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 the [[New York Red Bulls]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wiebe|first1=Andrew|title=LA Galaxy 2, New York Red Bulls 2|url=https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2016-08-07-la-galaxy-vs-new-york-red-bulls/recap|access-date=7 May 2018|publisher=Major League Soccer|date=8 August 2016}}</ref> 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 professional match for the Galaxy that night.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ashley Cole apologises to Steven Gerrard after LA Galaxy shootout loss|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/football/la-galaxy/story/2991665/ashley-cole-apologises-to-steven-gerrard-after-la-galaxy-shootout-defeat|access-date=7 May 2018|publisher=ESPN FC|date=7 November 2016}}</ref>

In his second season in California, Cole saw another red card on 23 August 2017 after 18 minutes of a 2–0 loss at [[Columbus Crew SC]] for a foul on [[Pedro Miguel Martins Santos|Pedro Santos]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Match Report: 10-man LA Galaxy suffer 2–0 loss on the road to Columbus Crew|url=https://www.lagalaxy.com/post/2017/08/23/match-report-10-man-la-galaxy-suffer-2-0-loss-road-columbus-crew|access-date=7 May 2018|publisher=LA Galaxy|date=23 August 2017}}</ref> He played 29 matches for the Galaxy, scoring once in a 6–2 home loss to [[Real Salt Lake]],<ref>{{cite news|last1=Baxter|first1=Kevin|title=Real Salt Lake scores five unanswered goals in 6–2 victory over Galaxy|url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-sp-galaxy-20170704-story.html|access-date=8 May 2018|work=Los Angeles Times|date=4 July 2017}}</ref> as the team came dead last and missed out on the play-offs for the first time since 2008.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Tolmich|first1=Ryan|title=SBI MLS Season Preview: LA Galaxy|url=https://sbisoccer.com/2018/02/sbi-mls-season-preview-la-galaxy-3|access-date=8 May 2018|publisher=SBI|date=26 February 2018}}</ref>

Head coach [[Sigi Schmid]] named Cole as captain ahead of the [[2018 Major League Soccer season|2018 season]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Serrano |first1=Adam |title=Ashley Cole named LA Galaxy captain: "I'm ready to lead this team to win" |url=https://www.lagalaxy.com/post/2018/03/01/ashley-cole-named-la-galaxy-captain-im-ready-lead-team-win |access-date=5 August 2018 |publisher=LA Galaxy |date=1 March 2018}}</ref> The Galaxy missed the play-offs again.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Carlisle |first1=Jeff |title=LA Galaxy have Zlatan and are the most decorated club in MLS. So why did they miss the playoffs again? |url=http://www.espn.co.uk/soccer/club/la-galaxy/187/blog/post/3683487/la-galaxy-have-zlatan-and-are-the-most-decorated-club-in-mls-so-why-did-they-miss-the-playoffs-again |access-date=6 November 2018 |publisher=ESPN FC |date=31 October 2018}}</ref> He was released by LA Galaxy at the end of their 2018 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lagalaxy.com/post/2018/11/26/la-galaxy-exercise-2019-contract-options-four-players|title=LA Galaxy exercise 2019 contract options on four players|date=26 November 2018|publisher=LAGalaxy.com}}</ref>

===Derby County===
On 21 January 2019, Cole joined [[EFL Championship|Championship]] side [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]], reuniting with manager [[Frank Lampard]] who was his teammate at Chelsea and with [[England national football team|England]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46938485 |title=Ashley Cole: Derby County sign veteran ex-England defender |website=BBC Sport |date=21 January 2019|access-date=21 January 2019}}</ref> He signed a contract until the end of the [[2018–19 Derby County F.C. season|2018–19]] season.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/2019/01/derby-bolster-defensive-options-with-cole-signing|title=Derby Bolster Defensive Options With Cole Signing |publisher=Derby County F.C. |access-date=21 January 2019}}</ref> He was released at the end of the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/2019/06/derby-county-confirm-201819-end-of-season-retained-list|title=Derby County Confirm 2018/19 End Of Season Retained List|date=3 June 2019|access-date=3 June 2019|publisher=[[Derby County F.C.]]}}</ref> On 18 August 2019, Cole officially announced his retirement.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ashley Cole: Ex-Arsenal, Chelsea and England full-back retires |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49386282 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=18 August 2019 |language=en |date=18 August 2019}}</ref>

==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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/12014325/frank-lampard-questions-raheem-sterlings-comments-on-manager-progression|title=Frank Lampard questions Raheem Sterling's comments on manager progression|publisher=Sky|work=Sky Sports|date=25 June 2020|access-date=25 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2019/10/17/ashley-cole-on-his-return-to-chelsea-as-academy-coach--taking-th |title = Ashley Cole on his return to Chelsea as academy coach |publisher = Chelsea F.C. |date = 17 October 2019 |access-date = 16 October 2020}}</ref>

On 27 July 2021, Cole was named as assistant coach of the [[England national under-21 football team|England U21s]] alongside head coach [[Lee Carsley]],<ref name="Eng U21 assistant">{{Cite web |title=Lee Carsley named England MU21s coach |url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2021/Jul/27/20210727-lee-carsley-named-england-mu21s-head-coach-with-ashley-cole-as-assistant-coach |access-date=27 July 2021 |website=www.englandfootball.com}}</ref> combining his duties with his role at Chelsea's academy.

On 3 February 2022, Cole joined [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] as a first-team coach, again joining up with Frank Lampard who had recently been appointed as manager.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.evertonfc.com/news/2470746/cole-joins-everton-coaching-team|title=Cole Joins Everton Coaching Team|website=www.evertonfc.com|date=3 February 2022}}</ref>

On 23 January 2023, Cole left Everton as a result of Frank Lampard leaving the club.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Club Statement |url=https://www.evertonfc.com/news/3035655/club-statement}}</ref>

When [[Wayne Rooney]] was appointed manager of [[EFL Championship]] club [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]] in October 2023, Cole joined his staff as a first-team coach.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/all/wayne-rooneys-staff-introduced |title=Wayne Rooney's staff introduced |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=12 October 2023 |access-date=20 October 2023}}</ref> He departed the club in September 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bcfc.com/pages/en/media-article/ashley-cole-leaves-blues|title=Ashley Cole leaves Blues|website=www.bcfc.com|date=14 September 2024|accessdate=14 September 2024}}</ref>

On 23 August 2024, it was confirmed that Cole would assist Carsley in his role as interim head coach of the [[England national football team|England senior team]] following the departure of [[Gareth Southgate]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2024/Aug/23/lee-carsley-coaching-team-development-coaches-confirmed-20242308 |title=England men's coaching teams confirmed |publisher=EnglandFootball.com |date=23 August 2024 |access-date=27 August 2024}}</ref>

On 14 September 2024, it was confirmed that Cole had left Birmingham City to join [[The Football Association|The FA]] on a full-time basis.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2024/Sep/14/ashley-cole-appointed-national-coach-20241409 |title=Ashley Cole appointed full-time national coach |publisher=EnglandFootball.com |date=14 September 2024 |access-date=16 September 2024}}</ref>

==International career==
[[File:Ashley Cole Euro 2012 vs Italy.JPG|thumb|Cole playing for England at [[UEFA Euro 2012]]]]
Cole has played for [[England national football team|England]] at youth and senior levels. He was capped for the [[England national under-20 football team|England U-20]] team at the 1999 [[FIFA U-20 World Cup|FIFA World Youth Championship]] alongside [[Stuart Taylor (footballer, born 1980)|Stuart Taylor]], [[Peter Crouch]], [[Andrew Johnson (footballer, born 1981)|Andrew Johnson]] and [[Matthew Etherington]]. However, the team finished bottom of their group, suffering three defeats without scoring any goals. He also made four appearances for [[England national under-21 football team|England under-21s]], scoring once.

After just four appearances for the Under-21s, Cole was fast-tracked into the England senior team and [[Sven-Göran Eriksson]] handed Cole his senior international debut against [[Albania national football team|Albania]], on 28 March 2001. He played for England at the [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002]], [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006]] and [[2010 FIFA World Cup|2010]] [[FIFA World Cup]]s, [[UEFA Euro 2004]] (where he was named as one of four England players in the all-star squad for the tournament) and [[UEFA Euro 2012]].

Cole was also an ever-present for England in the 2006 World Cup; in their second round match against [[Ecuador national football team|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 [[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|penalties]] by [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]] in the quarter-finals. By the end of 2008, Cole had achieved 68 caps for England, all of which were starting appearances.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2009/02/SpaEng_CapelloSquad.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714181247/http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2009/02/SpaEng_CapelloSquad.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 July 2020|title=Capello Names Squad|access-date=9 February 2009|date=6 February 2009|publisher=The Football Association}}</ref>

He made his 79th appearance for England on 12 June 2010 in the 1–1 draw against the [[United States men's national soccer team|United States]] in the [[2010 FIFA World Cup Group C|2010 World Cup Group stage]] match. He beat the record of 79 caps by a black English international ([[John Barnes (footballer)|John Barnes]], who appeared for England from 1983 to 1995)<ref name="mostcappedblackplayers">{{cite web|url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamBlack/PlyrsBlckMtchUsage/PlyrsBlackMostCapped.html|title=England's most capped black players|publisher=englandfootballonline|access-date=21 May 2012}}</ref> when he played against [[Algeria national football team|Algeria]] later that month. He has played more internationals without scoring than any other outfield player in England history. He won his 86th cap against [[Montenegro national football team|Montenegro]] in October 2010, and alongside [[Kenny Sansom]], Cole is now England's most-capped [[Full-back (association football)|full-back]] in history, an achievement which helped him pick up the England Player of the Year award for 2010, as voted for by fans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/England/All-Teams/Players/C/Ashley-Cole |title=Ashley Cole |website=TheFA.com |access-date=5 October 2012}}</ref> On 6 February 2013, he earned his [[List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps|100th cap]] as England beat [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] 2–1 at [[Wembley Stadium|Wembley]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21317048|title=England 2–1 Brazil|website=BBC Sport|date=6 February 2013|access-date=6 February 2013}}</ref>

On 11 May 2014, he announced his retirement from international football after being omitted from the England squad for the [[2014 FIFA World Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Ashley Cole quits England duty after World Cup omission|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27368711|website=BBC Sport|access-date=11 May 2014|date=11 May 2014}}</ref>

==Style of play==
{{Quote box |width=30em |quoted=true |bgcolor=#c6dbf7 |salign=left |quote=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. |source=–Arsène Wenger<ref>{{cite video |people=Wenger, Arsène |date=2007 |title=Arsène's XI |medium=DVD |publisher=ITV }}</ref>}}

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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Football: I'm the New Carlos; Cole: I always wanted to be a striker, but I have to model myself |newspaper=Daily Mirror |first=Martin |last=Lipton |location=London |date=12 October 2004 |pages=54–55}}</ref> Prior to his inclusion in the [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] first team, Cole studied the conduct of fellow defender [[Nigel Winterburn]] to improve his play; Winterburn concurrently offered pointers to improve his positioning.<ref name="style">{{cite news |title=Boy Cole comes up a peg or two |first=Amy |last=Lawrence |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/may/06/sport.facup1 |newspaper=The Observer |location=London |date=6 May 2001 |access-date=5 February 2013}}</ref> He modelled his game on Brazilian [[Roberto Carlos (footballer)|Roberto Carlos]]: "He's got natural talent, but I think if you train hard enough you can be nearly as good as that."<ref name="style"/>

[[Liam Brady]] described Cole as a player with "great character and determination"<ref name="sunday">{{cite news |title=Cole flies off starting blocks |first=Patrick |last=Barclay |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/3002120/Cole-flies-off-starting-blocks.html |newspaper=The Sunday Telegraph |location=London |date=31 March 2001 |access-date=5 February 2013}}</ref> 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."<ref name="style"/> 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.'"<ref>{{cite news |title=How Wenger turned Cole into a diamond |first=Matt |last=Scott |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/may/16/newsstory.championsleague3 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=16 May 2006 |access-date=5 February 2013}}</ref> Cole's link-up play with winger [[Robert Pires]] and main striker [[Thierry Henry]] in a [[Formation (association football)#4.E2.80.934.E2.80.932|4–4–2]] formation effectively made him "a [[wing-back (association football)|wing-back]] or winger playing in a back four" because Arsenal's game emphasised attacking football.<ref>{{cite news |title=World-class Cole is leader of the left-wing schemes for Gunners and England |first=Gordon |last=Strachan |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/oct/18/sport.comment |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=18 October 2004 |access-date=5 February 2013}}</ref>

Under [[José Mourinho]] at [[Chelsea F.C.|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 game" Cole improved the most according to Winterburn, given he was criticised in the past for being caught out of position.<ref name="sco">{{cite news |title=Revitalised Cole revels in Scolari's forward thinking |first=Stuart |last=James |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/may/16/newsstory.championsleague3 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=7 October 2008 |access-date=5 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Cole left in need of help |newspaper=Daily Express |location=London |date=8 June 2004 |page=70}}</ref> The arrival of [[Luiz Felipe Scolari]] however ensured Cole made forward runs in the opposition's half; [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] manager [[Martin O'Neill]] believed the liberation of Cole was a sign that he was "back playing to his very best".<ref name="sco"/>

Cole is renowned for making timed goal-line clearances and "cutting out danger".<ref>{{cite news |title=Del Horno tipped to show his mettle in battle of No3s |first=Pete |last=Jenson |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2005/aug/06/newsstory.sport2 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=6 August 2005 |access-date=5 February 2013}}</ref> In a league match against [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] in December 2002, he made two notable clearances, which demonstrated to him that his defensive game had improved.<ref>{{cite news |title=Football: So where has it all gone wrong? |newspaper=Daily Mirror |first=Martin |last=Lipton |location=London |date=12 December 2004 |pages=52–53}}</ref> He also made two goal line clearances in Chelsea's [[2011–12 UEFA Champions League|2011–12 Champions League]] winning campaign. The first was against [[S.S.C. Napoli|Napoli]], in a 3–1 round-of-16 first leg defeat, and the second in Chelsea's semi-final first leg 1–0 win against [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]]. Both were vital as Chelsea went on to win the ties with a margin of one goal on aggregate, eventually lifting the Champions League.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/17023190|title=Napoli 3–1 Chelsea|website=BBC Sport|date=21 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/17673812|title=Chelsea 1–0 Barcelona|website=BBC Sport|date=18 April 2012}}</ref> Cole is said to have a "mean streak",<ref name="sunday"/> and has been labelled a "dirty player", something which he himself and his former coaches have strongly denied.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ashley Cole apologises for foul on Alan Hutton |first1=Giles |last1=Mole |first2=Steve |last2=Wilson |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/mar/22/newsstory.sport7 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=20 March 2008 |access-date=5 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Grant praises Cole for his maturity as criticism mounts |first=David |last=Jenson |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/mar/22/newsstory.sport7 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=22 March 2008 |access-date=5 February 2013}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Cole began a relationship with [[Girls Aloud]] singer [[Cheryl Cole|Cheryl Tweedy]] in September 2004, when they were living in the same block of flats in London; they married on 15 July 2006 in [[Wrotham Park, Hertfordshire]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/7301693/Cheryl-and-Ashley-Cole-diary-of-a-doomed-marriage.html|title=Cheryl and Ashley Cole: diary of a doomed marriage|website=The Daily Telegraph|date=24 February 2010 |access-date=17 November 2020}}</ref> In January 2008, the couple almost separated after allegations were made that Cole had [[extramarital sex|affair]]s with three other women. He, however, disputed the allegations and the couple stayed together.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/3445730/Chelsea-star-Ashley-Cole-sues-over-sex-claims.html |title=Chelsea star Ashley Cole sues over sex claims |first=Anita |last=Singh |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=UK |date=12 November 2008 |access-date=22 March 2009 }}</ref> It was announced on 23 February 2010 that the couple would [[legal separation|separate]] following new allegations of [[adultery]].<ref name="bbc_separation">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8531260.stm |title=Cheryl Cole is to separate from husband Ashley Cole |date=23 February 2010 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=23 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100225032610/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8531260.stm |archive-date=25 February 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> Three months later, it was announced that Cheryl was filing for divorce. They officially divorced on 3 September 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11173177 |title=Cheryl Cole 'set to be granted divorce from Ashley' |publisher=BBC News |access-date=3 September 2010 |date=3 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100903194843/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11173177 |archive-date=3 September 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> Cole has a son (born 2016) and a daughter (born 2018) with the Italian model Sharon Canu.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kelly|first1=Emma|title=Ashley Cole welcomes daughter with Italian model Sharon Canu |url=http://metro.co.uk/2018/02/27/ashley-cole-welcomes-daughter-italian-model-sharon-canu-7344785/|access-date=7 May 2018|work=Metro|date=27 February 2018}}</ref>

In 2006, Cole sued the ''[[News of the World]]'' and ''[[The Sun (United Kingdom)|The Sun]]'' newspapers for [[libel]] after they printed allegations that he was involved in a "homosexual [[orgy]]".<ref name="pressgazette">{{cite news|url=http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/article/020306/cole_sues_over_tabloid_gay_orgy_stories |title=Cole sues over tabloid 'gay orgy' stories |work=Press Gazette |date=2 March 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060926194343/http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/article/020306/cole_sues_over_tabloid_gay_orgy_stories |archive-date=26 September 2006 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/books/news/article1956552.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061210173843/http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/books/news/article1956552.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 December 2006 |title=Inflated & talentless (not you, Jordan, you're worth it) |work=The Independent |date=5 November 2006 |location=London |first1=Anthony |last1=Barnes |first2=Martin |last2=Hodgson}}</ref> Cole's former teammate, [[Jens Lehmann]], criticised Cole for writing an autobiography when he was 25.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=394966&cc=4716 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061208194525/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=394966&cc=4716 |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 December 2006 |title=Lehmann lampoons Cole over autobiography |work=Soccernet |date=7 December 2006}}</ref>

Cole has had a couple of minor brushes with the police. On 4 March 2009 he was held after [[Profanity|swearing]] in front of a police officer outside a [[South Kensington]] [[nightclub]]. He was taken to a police station and issued with an £80 [[fixed penalty notice]] before being released.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/7925963.stm |title=Footballer Ashley Cole arrested |website=BBC News |date=5 March 2009 |access-date=1 January 2010}}</ref> On 4 January 2010, Cole was convicted of a speeding offence committed on 17 November 2009. He was recorded exceeding the [[speed limit]] by doing 104&nbsp;mph in a 50&nbsp;mph zone on the [[A3 road]] in [[Kingston upon Thames]], a residential stretch. His defence at Kingston [[magistrates' court (England and Wales)|Magistrates' Court]], opposing the charge in his absence, argued unsuccessfully that the police [[speed gun]] was faulty. Cole also claimed that his actions were excusable because he was trying to evade the [[paparazzi]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/6931514/Ashley-Cole-blames-paparazzi-for-speeding.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100108062655/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/6931514/Ashley-Cole-blames-paparazzi-for-speeding.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 January 2010 |title=Ashley Cole blames paparazzi for speeding |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=UK |date=4 January 2010 |access-date=18 December 2010 }}</ref> On 29 January he was fined £1000 and disqualified from driving for four months.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/8486666.stm |title=Chelsea's Ashley Cole banned for speeding
|website=BBC News |access-date=29 January 2010 |date=29 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201224250/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8486666.stm |archive-date=1 February 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 27 February 2011, Cole accidentally shot a 21-year-old sports science student on work experience at Chelsea, with a .22 calibre [[Air gun|air rifle]] from only five feet away at the club's [[Cobham Training Centre]], apparently unaware that the rifle was loaded. Cole formally apologised to the student and discussed the incident with Chelsea officials.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/feb/27/ashley-cole-chelsea-air-rifle |title=Chelsea defender Ashley Cole shoots student at club's training ground |work=The Guardian |location=UK |date=27 February 2011 |access-date=27 February 2011 |first=James |last=Orr}}</ref>

==Career statistics==

===Club===
{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd |title=Statistics |publisher=Soccerbase |access-date=1 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081001232532/http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd |archive-date=1 October 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="soccerway">{{cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/ashley-cole/178/ |title=Ashley Cole profile |publisher=Soccerway|access-date=7 July 2023}}</ref>
|-
!rowspan="2"|Season
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Division
!colspan="2"|League
!colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes [[FA Cup]], [[Coppa Italia]], [[U.S. Open Cup]]}}
!colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes [[Football League Cup]]}}
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals 
|-
|rowspan="8"|[[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]
|[[1999–2000 Arsenal F.C. season|1999–2000]]
|[[Premier League]]
|1||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||2||0
|-
|[[2000–01 Arsenal F.C. season|2000–01]] 
|Premier League
|17||3||6||0||1||0||9{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in [[UEFA Champions League]]}}||0||colspan="2"|—||33||3
|-
|[[2001–02 Arsenal F.C. season|2001–02]]
|Premier League
|29||2||4||0||0||0||7{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||colspan="2"|—||40||2
|-
|[[2002–03 Arsenal F.C. season|2002–03]]
|Premier League
|31||1||3||0||0||0||9{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||1{{efn|name=CS}}||0||44||1
|-
|[[2003–04 Arsenal F.C. season|2003–04]]
|Premier League
|32||0||4||0||1||0||9{{efn|name=UCL}}||1||1{{efn|name=CS|Appearance in [[FA Community Shield]]}}||0||47||1
|-
|[[2004–05 Arsenal F.C. season|2004–05]]
|Premier League
|35||2||3||0||0||0||8{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||1{{efn|name=CS}}||0||47||2
|-
|[[2005–06 Arsenal F.C. season|2005–06]]
|Premier League
|11||0||0||0||0||0||3{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||1{{efn|name=CS}}||0||15||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!156!!8!!20!!0!!3!!0!!45!!1!!4!!0!!228!!9 
|-
|[[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]] (loan)
|[[1999–2000 Crystal Palace F.C. season|1999–2000]]
|[[Football League First Division|First Division]]
|14||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||14||1
|-
|rowspan=9|[[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] 
|[[2006–07 Chelsea F.C. season|2006–07]] 
|Premier League
|23||0||5||0||3||0||9{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||0||0||40||0
|-
|[[2007–08 Chelsea F.C. season|2007–08]]
|Premier League
|27||1||1||0||2||0||10{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||1{{efn|name=CS}}||0||41||1
|-
|[[2008–09 Chelsea F.C. season|2008–09]]
|Premier League
|34||1||7||0||0||0||8{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||colspan="2"|—||49||1
|-
|[[2009–10 Chelsea F.C. season|2009–10]]
|Premier League
|27||4||2||0||1||0||4{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||1{{efn|name=CS}}||0||35||4
|-
|[[2010–11 Chelsea F.C. season|2010–11]]
|Premier League
|38||0||2||0||0||0||7{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||1{{efn|name=CS}}||0||48||0
|-
|[[2011–12 Chelsea F.C. season|2011–12]]
|Premier League
|32||0||4||0||0||0||12{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||colspan="2"|—||48||0
|-
|[[2012–13 Chelsea F.C. season|2012–13]]
|Premier League
|31||1||5||0||3||0||8{{efn|name=CH|Five appearances in UEFA Champions League, three in [[UEFA Europa League]]}}||0||4{{efn|name=CH2|One appearance in [[FA Community Shield]], two in [[FIFA Club World Cup]], one in [[UEFA Super Cup]]}}||0||51||1
|-
|[[2013–14 Chelsea F.C. season|2013–14]]
|Premier League
|17||0||2||0||1||0||5{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||1{{efn|name=USC|Appearance in UEFA Super Cup}}||0||26||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!229!!7!!28!!0!!10!!0!!63!!0!!8!!0!!338!!7 
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[AS Roma|Roma]] 
|[[2014–15 AS Roma season|2014–15]]
|[[Serie A]]
|11||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||3{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||colspan="2"|—||16||0
|-
|[[2015–16 AS Roma season|2015–16]]
|Serie A
|0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!11!!0!!2!!0!!0!!0!!3!!0!!0!!0!!16!!0 
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[LA Galaxy]] 
|[[2016 LA Galaxy season|2016]] 
|[[Major League Soccer]]
|29||1||2||0||colspan="2"|—||1{{efn|name=CCL|Appearance in [[CONCACAF Champions League]]}}||0||colspan="2"|—||32||1
|-
|[[2017 LA Galaxy season|2017]] 
|Major League Soccer
|29||1||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||30||1
|-
|[[2018 LA Galaxy season|2018]] 
|Major League Soccer
|31||1||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||32||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!89!!3!!4!!0!!0!!0!!1!!0!!0!!0!!94!!3 
|-
|[[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]]
|[[2018–19 Derby County F.C. season|2018–19]]
|[[EFL Championship|Championship]]
|9||0||1||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||2{{efn|name=PO|Appearances in [[EFL Championship play-offs|Championship play-offs]]}}||0||12||1
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!508!!19!!55!!1!!13!!0!!112!!1!!14!!0!!702!!21 
|}

{{notelist}}

===International===
[[File:England - Slovenia friendly football match in 2009 2.jpg|thumb|right|Cole playing for England against [[Slovenia national football team|Slovenia]], 2009]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref>{{NFT player|2152|name=Ashley Cole|accessdate=5 October 2012}}</ref>
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="14"|[[England national football team|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
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!107!!0
|}

==Honours==
'''Arsenal'''
*[[Premier League]]: [[2001–02 FA Premier League|2001–02]], [[2003–04 FA Premier League|2003–04]]<ref name="PL"/>
*[[FA Cup]]: [[2001–02 FA Cup|2001–02]], [[2002–03 FA Cup|2002–03]], [[2004–05 FA Cup|2004–05]]; runner-up: [[2000–01 FA Cup|2000–01]]<ref name="soccerway"/>
*[[FA Community Shield]]: [[2002 FA Community Shield|2002]], [[2004 FA Community Shield|2004]]<ref name="soccerway"/>
*[[UEFA Champions League]] runner-up: [[2005–06 UEFA Champions League|2005–06]]<ref name="soccerway"/>

'''Chelsea'''
*Premier League: [[2009–10 Premier League|2009–10]]<ref name="PL">{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/1494/Ashley-Cole/overview |title=Ashley Cole: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=16 April 2018}}</ref>
*FA Cup: [[2006–07 FA Cup|2006–07]], [[2008–09 FA Cup|2008–09]], [[2009–10 FA Cup|2009–10]], [[2011–12 FA Cup|2011–12]]<ref name="soccerway"/>
*[[Football League Cup]]: [[2006–07 Football League Cup|2006–07]];<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/league_cup/6371613.stm |title=Chelsea 2–1 Arsenal |website=BBC Sport |date=24 February 2008 |access-date=26 March 2024}}</ref> runner-up: [[2007–08 Football League Cup|2007–08]]<ref name="soccerway"/>
*FA Community Shield: [[2009 FA Community Shield|2009]]<ref name="soccerway"/>
*[[UEFA Champions League]]: [[2011–12 UEFA Champions League|2011–12]]; runner-up: [[2007–08 UEFA Champions League|2007–08]]<ref name="soccerway"/>
*[[UEFA Europa League]]: [[2012–13 UEFA Europa League|2012–13]]<ref name="soccerway"/>

'''Individual'''
*[[PFA Team of the Year]]: [[PFA Team of the Year (2000s)#FA Premier League 4|2002–03 Premier League]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/2978177.stm |title=Henry honoured by peers |website=BBC Sport |date=27 April 2003 |access-date=23 May 2018}}</ref> [[PFA Team of the Year (2000s)#FA Premier League 5|2003–04 Premier League]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3628905.stm |title=Henry retains PFA crown |website=BBC Sport |date=25 April 2004 |access-date=23 May 2018}}</ref> [[PFA Team of the Year (2000s)#FA Premier League 6|2004–05 Premier League]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4478329.stm |title=Terry claims player of year award |website=BBC Sport |date=24 April 2005 |access-date=23 May 2018}}</ref> [[PFA Team of the Year (2010s)#Premier League 2|2010–11 Premier League]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/13110874 |title=Spurs' Gareth Bale wins PFA player of the year award |website=BBC Sport |date=17 April 2011 |access-date=23 May 2018}}</ref>
*[[UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament]]: [[UEFA Euro 2004#Awards|2004]]
*[[UEFA Team of the Year]]: [[UEFA Team of the Year#Team of the Year 2004|2004]], [[UEFA Team of the Year#Team of the Year 2010|2010]]
*Chelsea Players' Player of the Year: [[2008–09 Chelsea F.C. season|2008–09]], [[2010–11 Chelsea F.C. season|2010–11]]
*[[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] Goal of the Season: [[2009–10 Chelsea F.C. season#Individuals|2009–10]] vs [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]
*[[England Player of the Year]]: 2010
*[[Premier League 20 Seasons Awards]] (1992–93 to 2011–12):<ref name=":32">{{Cite news |date=14 May 2012 |title=Man Utd dominate 20 Seasons Fantasy Teams |publisher=Premier League |url=http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/man-utd-dominate-20-seasons-fantasy-team.html |url-status=dead |access-date=14 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120518075822/http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/man-utd-dominate-20-seasons-fantasy-team.html |archive-date=18 May 2012}}</ref>
**[[Premier League 20 Seasons Awards#Fantasy Teams of the 20 Seasons|Fantasy Teams of the 20 Seasons]] (Public and Panel choice)
*[[Premier League Hall of Fame]]: 2024<ref>{{cite web |title=Ashley Cole inducted into Premier League Hall of Fame |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/3936970 |website=premierleague.com |date=19 March 2024 |access-date=25 March 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of footballers with 100 or more UEFA Champions League appearances]]
* [[List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{UEFA player}}
*{{FIFA player}}

{{Navboxes
| title = England squads
| bg = white
| fg = #0B0B3F
| bordercolor = #0B0B3F
| list1 = 
{{England squad 2002 FIFA World Cup}}
{{England squad UEFA Euro 2004}}
{{England squad 2006 FIFA World Cup}}
{{England squad 2010 FIFA World Cup}}
{{England squad UEFA Euro 2012}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| list1 = 
{{2002–03 FA Premier League PFA Team of the Year}}
{{2003–04 FA Premier League PFA Team of the Year}}
{{2004–05 FA Premier League PFA Team of the Year}}
{{2010–11 Premier League PFA Team of the Year}}
{{UEFA Euro 2004 Team of the Tournament}}
{{England national football team Player of the Year}}
{{2004 UEFA Team of the Year}}
{{2010 UEFA Team of the Year}}
{{Premier League Hall of Fame}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cole, Ashley}}
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