Ashley Cole set to become manager of second tier club in shock first job

Ashley Cole is closing in on becoming manager of Serie B side Cesena, talkSPORT understands.

This would be the 45-year-old’s first senior managerial job of his career.

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The Chelsea and England legend has held various coaching roles since hanging up his boots in 2019.

Cole was a coach at Chelsea and Everton alongside former teammate Frank Lampard.

He worked with their Under-15s and 16s at Chelsea.

He also held a similar role with Derby County before being part of Wayne Rooney’s backroom staff at Birmingham.

When Lee Carsley was England interim boss, he was named as his assistant.

Cole had previously worked with Carsley on his coaching team at the Under-21 Euros in 2023 and 2025.

Cole was also named a full time national coach by the FA in 2024.

Cesena pushing for promotion

Cesena currently sit eighth in Serie B having sacked their manager, Michele Mignani, on Saturday afternoon.

Two teams are automatically promoted to Serie A, with a play-off involving teams from third to eighth deciding the final spot.

Teams that finish third and fourth automatically go through to the semi-finals, with fifth to eighth having to play a preliminary round.

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Cesena are currently 17 points behind Palermo in fourth, meaning it will be the hard way to promotion if Cole can keep them there.

Venezia and Monza are currently leading the way at the top of the table.

Cole: ‘Want to give it a go’

Cole made 384 Premier League appearances for Arsenal and Chelsea in a hugely decorated career.

He won three Premier League titles and a Champions League.

He was also capped 107 times for England.

Speaking on The Overlap in December, Cole said: “I definitely want to give it a go [being a manager].

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“It’s quite hard when you’re a number two to be measured if I’m good or not.

“You only know by people and what they think of you. I worked with Wayne at Birmingham, I don’t know what he thinks of me as a coach. Am I good or am I bad?

“I can only get that through feedback, so it’s quite hard to know if I’m half decent or not.

“I’m definitely feeling I’m nearly ready and I’m getting there.

“I am different. I don’t speak as well as certain managers. I have to find my way in the game. I have to find my own personality. Be authentic.

“As a player, maybe I didn’t lead in the dressing room, but going back to the start of my journey as a coach I’ve found a way to lead, push people, and bring people on a journey with me.”