Ashley Cole Retires From Professional Football, Wants To Be Coach

Former England international Ashley Cole has decided to end his professional football career that has lasted for 20 years, which he started at Arsenal under Arsene Wenger.

Cole's last move was a season spell at EFL Championship side Derby County under his former teammate and manager Frank Lampard - he ran out of contract with Rams after the 2018-19 season.

In between Arsenal and Derby, the 38-year-old also played for Chelsea, AS Roma and the American side LA Galaxy. He enjoyed a trophy-ladden seasons in England where he won the Premier League twice at Arsenal and once at Chelsea plus a Champions League and Europa League title.

"After hard thinking it was time to hang up my boots," he told Sky Sports. "And look forward to my next chapter. I am doing the course at the moment and now I want to be great as a coach."

He is understood to be working on his licence to be a football coach and has reportedly been tipped for a coaching role with Lampard at Chelsea.