Ashley Cole discusses challenges finding coaching roles in England
Ashley Cole has opened up about feeling “discouraged” by English football clubs when he tried to land a head coach position, reports BritPanorama.
The former England defender, who earned 107 caps for his country, highlighted clubs’ reluctance to hire him, citing a lack of experience as a recurring theme. Despite nearly seven years spent as an assistant coach, Cole’s applications often met with the same response.
“I was getting kind of discouraged by a lack of opportunities, from some clubs in England I spoke to,” Cole said. “They like to throw the ‘you don’t have experience’ line. And I’m like, I get what you’re saying, I agree – but how am I going to get experience?”
Having now taken his first senior management job at Italian second-division club Cesena, Cole reflects on this transition. He began his coaching education at Derby County, working under his former Chelsea teammate Frank Lampard while completing his badges. Subsequent roles included involvement in Chelsea’s academy, alongside Wayne Rooney at Birmingham City, and with the England national team under Lee Carsley.
With a robust coaching CV established, Cole acknowledged the challenge of breaking the cycle of assistant coaching. “That’s the battle you have to fight as a number two for six or seven years – you have to take a leap of faith, but a club also has to take a leap of faith,” he explained. Italy, it seems, was prepared to invest in his potential.
Cole expressed pride in being given an opportunity by an Italian club, noting, “I don’t think there are too many black English coaches working in Italy, so yes, it is a massive leap of faith from them and I’m very proud to be here.” His past experience with Roma has also given him a sense of familiarity as he embarks on this new chapter.
Optimistic about the future, he stated, “It is a great place to be and to start. I’m glad I’m back. We’re going to do something different – a bit special.”
