Ashley Cole Joins England Coaching Staff

Ashley Cole has officially joined Lee Carsley’s backroom staff as he assists the interim manager during his temporary tenure with the England national team. The former Chelsea and Arsenal left-back, who boasts 100 international caps, is stepping into a coaching role with the senior team for the first time. Cole previously collaborated with Carsley at the England Under-21s, where they celebrated victory in the 2023 European Championships. Their partnership will continue as they prepare for upcoming Nations League matches against the Republic of Ireland, Greece, and Finland. In addition to Cole, Carsley’s support team includes Joleon Lescott, who earned 26 caps and was part of the Euro 2012 squad, and Tim Dittmer, the FA’s head of coaching. Lescott and Carsley share a history from their time at Everton, while Dittmer has experience as a goalkeeping coach. However, the coaching staff has seen some departures, including Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who was brought in by Gareth Southgate in 2023, and goalkeeping coach Martyn Margetson. In a broader restructuring of the age-group coaching teams, Tom Huddlestone has been appointed to Ben Futcher’s staff for the Under-21s. The 37-year-old, who has 33 caps at the Under-21 level, previously served as a player-coach for Manchester United’s Under-21s. His appointment is part of the England Elite Coach Programme, aimed at increasing diversity and representation within coaching roles.