Ashley Cole

Ashley Cole is an English professional football player who currently plays for London club Chelsea and is also the regular left back for the England national team.

According to many football writers, critics, fans as well as his fellow professionals, Cole is seen as one of the best left backs of his generation and is seen as an able protégé for the Brazilian legend Roberto Carlos who made the term ‘marauding wing back’ a reality in modern football.

Cole spent his youth career at North London side Arsenal before being handed his debut by manager Arsene Wenger when he turned 18 years old in 1998. He spent the 1999/2000 season on loan at another London club Crystal Palace where he was seen as one of the stars of a struggling side and when he returned from his successful loan spell, he immediately nailed down a first team spot at Arsenal going on to make over 150 league appearances for the North London side.

Ashley Cole was part of the famous ‘Invincible’ side of the club that went an entire league season unbeaten and he finished with two Premier League and three FA Cup titles under his belt with the Gunners. During the summer of 2006, according to the football blog, Cole made a highly controversial and protracted transfer deal to London rivals Chelsea and he has had unprecedented success at the club since then, leading them to four FA Cup titles, a Premier League title as well as one UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League title.

Having made his debut with the England national team in 2001, Ashley Cole has gone on to make 103 appearances for the Three Lions and has represented the team in three FIFA World Cups and two European Championships as well, adding to his already glittering CV as a professional.