Ashley Cole

Ashley Cole is widely considered by critics and fellow professional players as one of the best left-backs of his generation. In august 2006 after a huge transfer saga involving Chelsea and his then club Arsenal, the English man finally moved to Stamford Bridge .

Cole started his career by joining his local club, Arsenal, whome he had supported as a child. He went on to make his debut at the age of 18 against Middlesbrough in the League Cup. With Arsenal he won the Premier League twie along with three FA Cup’s. He was fined 100,000 by the Premier League on 2 June 2005 for a meeting at a hotel in January 2005 with Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho and chief executive, Peter Kenyon.

Cole then moved to Chelsea for 5 million plus William Gallas.

Ashley soon became a first team regular but injuries limited his appearances but he came back by playing in the last 12 minutes of the FA Cup Final of 2007 against Manchester United as Chelsea won 2-1 . Cole was reportedly upset about Mourinho’s departure from the club and was not chosen to play in the 2008 Champions League final, with Wayne Bridge making the cut.

He started all 38 league games for Chelsea in the 2010–11 season. He was awarded the Chelsea F.C. Player’s Player of the Year award for the second time.In the 2011–12 season, during the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals against FC Barcelona, Cole was pivotal in Chelsea’s 1–0 victory which included a goalline clearance that denied Barca an away goal. Cole also received praise for his role in the 2012 UEFA Champions League Final against Bayern Munich, both for his defending, and for scoring in the decisive penalty shootout.

Strengths – A very reliable defender. Has good reading of the game and could even make a good captain. Always the first player in the team-sheet due to his stature.

Weakness – His temper happens to be one of his only weaknesses.

Career high – Achieving the holy grail in Munich after scoring a penalty and putting in a good defensive performance.

Career low – On 27 February 2011, Cole accidentally shot a 21-year-old student on work experience with a .22 calibre air rifle, at Chelsea’s Cobham training ground. He fired at Tom Cowan, a sports science student, from only five feet away, apparently unaware that the rifle was loaded. Cole has formally apologized to Cowan, and has discussed the incident with Chelsea officials.

Style – Quick and very pacy. He is the best at what he does and is getting better by the age. Loves to get forward to attack and can get in a decent cross.

Quotes: “When I heard Jonathan [Cole’s agent] repeat the figure of £55k-a-week, I nearly swerved off the road. ‘He is taking the p**s, Jonathan!’ I yelled down the phone. I was so incensed. I was trembling with anger. I couldn’t believe what I’d heard.” Ashley Cole after being offered a mere £55,000-a-week by Arsenal.

Trivia – He has 99 caps for England.