Ashley Cole has announced his retirement from his 20-year playing career at the age of 38.
The former Arsenal, Chelsea and England left-back made the announcement on Sky Sports’ Super Sunday this afternoon.
After coming through the youth ranks at Arsenal, he made a controversial switch to Chelsea in 2006 before finishing his career with spells at Roma, LA Galaxy and finally Derby at the end of last season. Working under former Chelsea team-mate Frank Lampard, the Rams reached the Championship play-off final but lost to Aston Villa at Wembley.
He will now pursue a career in coaching and is already working towards his badges. He said: “After hard thinking and consideration, it was obviously time to hang my boots up. I can look forward to my next chapter which will hopefully be coaching. I’m doing a course at the moment.”
The defender went on loan to Palace in 2000 and scored his first professional goal with a half-volley against Blackburn, managed by fellow pundit .
He made 697 club appearances, winning 13 major trophies including three Premier Leagues and the Champions League. Cole also notched up a total of 107 appearances for England, with only five players representing the Three Lions on more occasions.
He was widely regarded as one of the best left-backs of his generation and took the attacking full-back game to another level. Earlier in the summer, Cole was linked with joining Chelsea as part of Lampard’s new coaching set-up at Stamford Bridge.
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