Stick to Football Ashley Cole: Arsenal Exit, Chelsea Success & Dealing With Media Criticism | Stick to Football EP 104
Nov 27, 2025
Former England international and Premier League legend Ashley Cole shares a wealth of insights from his career. He reflects on his transition from striker to left-back and the pivotal role of mentors like Tony Adams. Ashley discusses the media fallout from his controversial move from Arsenal to Chelsea and addresses the challenges of racism he faced on the pitch. He also reveals his coaching aspirations and the tactical issues that hindered England's golden generation. A candid and humorous dive into the life of one of football's greats!
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From Garden Games To Gritty Loan Spell
- Ashley Cole describes growing up in East London and playing in his aunt's garden before joining Arsenal's youth setup.
- A loan to Crystal Palace forced him to mature quickly and taught him how to fight for results in senior football.
Defensive Coaching Built An Attacking Full‑Back
- Don Howe and Don Givens instilled disciplined defensive detail in Ashley Cole at Arsenal youth level.
- That defensive coaching turned a quick winger into a world-class defensive full-back.
Train Defensive Basics Deliberately
- Coaches should spend time on the defensive basics like heading technique and 1v1 defending even with limited sessions.
- Practice purposeful defensive actions, not just clearing the ball, so teams keep possession after defending.