Former England international Ashley Cole has opened to the idea of coaching once he calls time on his playing career. The 37-year-old has been appointed as the club-captain for the upcoming season, and he is presently working with the team's young players and coaching staff during film sessions.
LA Galaxy are in discussions with Ashley Cole towards securing another year for the former Chelsea defender, according to head coach Sigi Schmid. Galaxy come on the back of a disastrous campaign as the club finished well away from the play-off places. As a result, there is a lot of pressure on Sigi Schmid, who was appointed midway through the campaign, and the players to get a positive start to the upcoming campaign. Ashley Cole was an ever present for the club after making 29 appearances throughout the whole campaign. The 36-year-old, though, may not stay at the club for much longer, even if he has admitted that he is interested in rejoining LA Galaxy.
Galaxy have lost a number of influential players over the years like Landon Donovan, Steven Gerrard, and David Beckham. Continuing to lose such stars has been one of the factors behind Galaxy failing to hit the heights during the 2017 campaign. Apart from Ashley Cole, Sigi Schmid is also keen on bringing Baggio Husidic back to the club for a fifth consecutive campaign. Even though Baggio Husidic was not a key player for the club during the 2017 campaign after making only 10 appearances, it was down to the left fibula injury to the player.
Former Arsenal and Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole is hoping to extend his contract with Los Angeles Galaxy rather than making a switch to his homeland in the New Year. The veteran has a contract with the Galaxy until December, but there are suggestions that the club are planning for wholesale changes following one of their worst campaigns in Major League Soccer.
Speaking to The Independent, Cole said: "I want to be here. We’re speaking. It’s in their court with me. There’s going to be a big change with the club and I think maybe it will happen next season. If I’m in those plans, we’ll find out. Who knows? I’m 37 so maybe they want to look a little younger. I’m just disappointed we’re losing, but I want to keep going until my legs actually give out. Thankfully they haven’t given up just yet. I only want to stop when my heart for it finishes."
Former Arsenal and Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole is hoping to extend his contract with Los Angeles Galaxy rather than making a switch to his homeland in the New Year.
Speaking to The Independent, Cole said: "I want to be here. We’re speaking. It’s in their court with me. There’s going to be a big change with the club and I think maybe it will happen next season. If I’m in those plans, we’ll find out. Who knows? I’m 37 so maybe they want to look a little younger. I’m just disappointed we’re losing, but I want to keep going until my legs actually give out. Thankfully they haven’t given up just yet. I only want to stop when my heart for it finishes."
Former Chelsea defender Michael Mancienne has insisted that he has no regrets over his decision to leave Chelsea as he did not want to rot in the reserves with other young players.
LA Galaxy head coach Sigi Schmid has begun the club's rebuilding plans for the next campaign after they were ousted from the playoff race.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with ESPN FC, Schmid admitted that the evaluating period of his players is ongoing following a dismal campaign in Major League Soccer, he said: "There needs to be some work done down the middle of the field. We started the looking process [for new players]. Certainly, it's not completed at this stage, but we have started the process of looking at things."
LA Galaxy manager Sigi Schmid has brought in Dominic Kinnear as the assistant manager. This is widely seen as a move designed to help the club recover from an astonishingly poor run of form.
Ashley Cole has confirmed that he would consider the option of returning to English football with Birmingham City prepared to acquire his services.
Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy are unlikely to permit the sale of defender Ashley Cole to Birmingham City this summer as he is considered as a key part of their first-team plans.
LA Galaxy coach Curt Onalfo said that his team has no intention of letting Ashley Cole leave the club. He said that the former Arsenal and Chelsea defender is an important member of the team and that he is still counting on him.
This statement will reassure LA Galaxy fans after reports suggested that the player might be returning to England with Birmingham City amongst the clubs interested in the player.