Ashley Cole takes first managerial role at Italian Serie B club Cesena
Cesena, a Serie B club in Italy, has appointed Ashley Cole as its new head coach. The move comes just days after the team dismissed Michele Mignani from the same position. Cole, a former England and Premier League defender, now takes on his first full managerial role since retiring in 2019.
Cole's appointment follows a short period of coaching experience. He previously worked as an assistant under Wayne Rooney at Derby County in 2021 and later assisted Frank Lampard with Chelsea's U18 side in 2022. Before this, he had no formal coaching roles.
His contract with Cesena runs until June 30, 2023, with an option to extend. The club acted quickly after parting ways with Mignani over the weekend. Cole, best known for his time as a full-back at Arsenal and Chelsea, also briefly worked alongside Lampard again at Everton. His playing career included 107 England caps and multiple Premier League titles.
The former defender now faces the challenge of leading Cesena in Italy's second division. His contract includes a potential extension, depending on performance. This marks his first independent managerial position after years as a player and short-term assistant.
