Former Ashley Cole has taken up his first senior head coaching role in Italy, joining Cesena FC after expressing frustration over the lack of managerial opportunities in England.
The former England left back, who earned 107 caps for the national team, said he became discouraged by repeated rejections from clubs despite spending several years building coaching experience across different teams and age groups.
Cole revealed that he worked under several managers after retirement, including roles at Derby County, Chelsea academy, Everton, Birmingham City and within the England setup, steadily progressing through his coaching qualifications.
However, he said clubs often questioned his readiness to take on a senior role, repeatedly pointing to his lack of head coaching experience.
He explained that breaking into management as an assistant coach is difficult, noting that while clubs demand experience, opportunities to gain that experience are rarely offered.
Cole said his journey has required patience, describing the challenge of waiting for a breakthrough after years of working as a number two across different environments.
His appointment at Cesena marks a significant milestone and a return to Italian football, having previously played for AS Roma during his playing career.
He also acknowledged the significance of his new role, noting that there are few Black English coaches working in Italy and describing the appointment as an important step.
Cole added that Cesena offers the right environment for him to begin his managerial journey, expressing optimism about building soing unique at the club.
He described the opportunity as a “leap of faith” for both himself and the club, saying he is eager to make an impact in his first senior managerial position.
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