Ashley Cole retires from football

Former Arsenal and Chelsea full-back, Ashley Cole, has announced his retirement from football, bringing to an end a 20-year playing career.

Ashley,38, made the announcement on Sunday August 18, on Sky Sports’ Sunday programme.

“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, now I want to be great at being a coach”, he revealed.

“It’s been incredible. As a young kid, I never expected to play one game or to be a professional so to look back now and be able to say I’ve played in World Cups, Champions League finals, been lucky enough to lift Premier League titles is a young kid’s dream.

“I’ve fulfilled my dream and now I look to the future, hopefully to be a great coach.

“I’m most proud of my England caps. I didn’t grasp it as much as I probably should, I look back now and I’m like, ‘I’ve played for my country’ but not just once, I’ve played over 100 times.

“It’s just a little bit disappointing I didn’t get to a final or even a semi-final,” he said.

Ashley made his first appearance at the age of 18 with boyhood club Arsenal in 1999 and went on to represent Crystal Palace on loan, Chelsea, Roma, LA Galaxy and Derby.

He made 697 club appearances through his career, 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.