Chelsea legend Ashley Cole is ‘the target of many Championship clubs’ as the 43-year-old prepares to take on a managerial role for the first time next season.
- Chelsea and England legend reportedly eyed for head coaching job
- Ashley Cole previously held assistant roles at Birmingham and Everton
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Ashley Cole could be set to make his managerial debut after being targeted by a host of English clubs keen to give him a first opportunity in the dugout, according to reports.
The Chelsea and England legend forged a career as one of the greatest full-backs in English football and has been working to gain his coaching qualifications since his retirement.
Cole has enjoyed spells working in assistant roles alongside other ex-professionals and is now being eyed for a head coaching role chasing Championship clubs, as reported by The Mirror.
Time spent working in a supporting role to former Everton boss Frank Lampard at Goodison Park was followed by another spell under his former teammate during an interim stint at Chelsea , before joining Wayne Rooney at Birmingham for a 15-match spell.
He was also part of Lee Carsley’s coaching unit with the England Under-21 team which won the European Championship last summer.
Ashley Cole could make managerial debut after being targeted by English clubs
Cole previously worked as an assistant at Everton during Frank Lampard’s reign at the club
Cole played a supporting role at Birmingham during Wayne Rooney’s short spell at the club.
Cole was expected to be able to replace Rooney at the Midlands club after the Man United legend was sacked after just 83 days, before Birmingham managers opted to appoint Tony Mowbray and later Gary Rowett.
However, Cole could return to Birmingham this summer following the club’s relegation to League One, with Rowett set to leave after a third spell at the club.
Testing the St Andrews club’s return to the Championship is the priority, but Cole would take on one of the EFL’s most volatile roles if he decides to pursue the opportunity.
Nine different people have held a mix of permanent and temporary roles in Birmingham over the past four years.
Three-time Premier League winner Cole has ambitions to become a top manager after the Football Association backed him by completing his coaching badges.
Cole was a legend during his career at Chelsea, winning three Premier League titles and the Champions League.
Cole’s playing career saw him work under many legendary managers, including José Mourinho, Arsene Wenger and Carlo Ancelotti, and has previously spoken about how he wants to use the qualities learned under them to become a top manager.
“It’s something I really want to get into. I hope that in a few years I can move into a management role,” he said three years ago.
“I would love to get advice from all my managers. If I could take all three of these together and crush them into one, I hope it would be me! A difficult task.
“Carlo Ancelotti played a key role in man management, in understanding the person and trying to get the best out of them. He organized sessions in such a way that as soon as you step onto the pitch you training, you wanted to get out and be on that field,” he added.
