November 27th 2024.
Ashley Cole, a former professional footballer for Chelsea, Arsenal, and England, recently shared his admiration for his former teammate and fellow Cole, Joe Cole. The two had grown up playing against each other in school and continued to face each other at their respective academies.
Joe Cole was highly regarded as one of the top young players in England, with Manchester United even making a bid of £10m for him at the age of 16. He made his debut for West Ham at the age of 17 and went on to play 150 games for the team. In 2003, he was brought over to Chelsea by owner Roman Abramovich, where he won multiple Premier League titles and FA Cups.
Meanwhile, Ashley Cole was also experiencing success with Arsenal, playing a key role in their 2003-04 unbeaten season. In 2006, he joined Joe at Chelsea and solidified his position as one of the best left-backs in Premier League history. He won another league title and four more FA Cups, making him the player with the most FA Cups in history at seven, and also won the Champions League before Joe's departure.
During a podcast, Ashley fondly remembered watching Joe play as a young player and being in awe of his skills and technical abilities. He recalled the first time he heard the name "Joe Cole" and saw him play in person, realizing he was on a different level.
Joe Cole was known for his incredible talent and even received praise from Brazilian football legend Pele during his career. Since retiring in 2018, he has become a popular football pundit, while Ashley has pursued a coaching career and is currently working with the England youth players at the FA.
The two Coles may have had different paths after their playing days, but their admiration and respect for each other's talents remain. They will always be remembered as two of the top football players of their generation.
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