Arsenal and Chelsea legend blasts English clubs over lack of coaching opportunities

Callum Vurley
Thu, 16 Apr 2026 19:04:35 +0000

Ashley Cole has opened up about feeling "discouraged" by English football clubs when he tried to land a head coach position.

The former England defender, who earned 107 caps for his country, says clubs kept telling him he lacked experience – despite spending nearly seven years working as an assistant.

"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?"

He's now taken his first senior management job at Italian second-division club Cesena.

Cole's coaching education began at Derby County, where he worked under his former Chelsea teammate Frank Lampard while completing his badges.

From there, he moved into Chelsea's academy setup before taking on assistant roles elsewhere.

He went on to work alongside Wayne Rooney at Birmingham City and also spent time with the England national team under Lee Carsley.

It's quite the CV he's built up over the years.

"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," Cole explained.

And it turns out Italy was willing to make that leap.

Cole is clearly proud that an Italian club was prepared to take a chance on him.

"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," he said.

The move brings him back to a country he knows well, having played for Roma towards the end of his playing career.

And he's feeling genuinely optimistic about what lies ahead.

"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," Cole added.