Ashley Cole was surprisingly appointed as manager of Serie B side Cesena last month and has revealed the battle he faced securing his first managerial job.
Ashley Cole was appointed Cesena manager last month (Image: Getty Images)
Chelsea icon Ashley Cole has said he was “disappointed” at the lack of employment opportunities in English football ahead of his surprise move to Cesena. The former England left-back was appointed head coach of the Serie B club last month, making this his first managerial role.
Cole has won one of his four matches as manager so far, and his form has seen Cesena sit eighth in Italy’s second division. In explaining his decision to move to Italy, Cole suggested that he was forced to look abroad as a result of his dissatisfaction with the opportunities offered in England.
Cole told BBC Sport: “There were some clubs in England that I spoke to who were a bit disappointed they didn’t get the chance. “They want to throw out the line, ‘You don’t have experience,’ and I’m like, I see what you’re saying, I agree, but how do you get experience?”
“This is a battle you have to fight as number two for six or seven years. You have to take a leap of faith, but the club also has to take a leap of faith.
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“I don’t think there are that many black British coaches working in Italy, so it’s certainly a huge leap of faith for them and I’m very proud to be here.
“This is a great place to start. I’m glad to be back. We’re going to do something different, something a little special.”
Cole was having trouble finding work in the UK, but this problem was not unique to him. He suggested that this is a problem faced by many up-and-coming coaches.
He added: “There are a lot of former black players, but obviously there aren’t that many former black coaches. Are they wearing coaching badges? Yes, they are. Are they applying for jobs? Yes, they are.”
Ashley Cole has won once as Cesena manager (Image: Getty Images)
“That’s clear. That’s a fact. If that’s the case, there’s certainly a problem. But I can’t comment on something I don’t know.”
Cole’s mission is to lead Cesena into Serie A, but the former England international is ultimately hoping to win a silver medal in his managerial career.
“I’m not going to be Jose Mourinho. I don’t have that status or respect because I haven’t won anything. Carlo Ancelotti is cool, calm and successful as a player and a manager, so I can’t be him. I can’t be Rafa Benitez.”
“I have to take bits from them, be myself, trust my process and focus on Cesena. I want to work and hope that one day we can win a trophy.”
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