Ashley Cole, the former Chelsea defender, has expressed his disappointment over the scarcity of managerial roles in England, and he is thankful to Serie B team Cesena for their decision to appoint him as head coach—a “massive leap of faith.”
Cole, 45, took the reins at Cesena last month, marking his first full-time managerial position. Previously, he had served as an assistant manager for Everton, Birmingham City, and the England national team; however, his background was not seen as adequate for a head coaching role in England.
“I became somewhat discouraged by the limited opportunities from some clubs in England that I reached out to,” Cole mentioned in a BBC interview.
“They often cite the lack of experience. While I understand their point, I can’t help but wonder how I could gain that experience.”
“This is the challenge for a number two for six or seven years—you have to take a leap of faith, and a club must also be willing to do the same.”
“There aren’t many black English coaches working in Italy, so this indeed is a significant leap of faith from them, and I am very proud to be here.”
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to begin this journey. I’m excited to make an impact—we’re aiming to create something special.”
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Cole suffered his first defeat as Cesena’s manager in mid-March but bounced back to secure his inaugural win against Catanzaro the following week. However, his team has only been able to draw and lose in their next two matches.
Currently, they are sitting in the last promotion playoff position with four games remaining, but Cole acknowledges that his squad is not quite prepared for the leap to the top tier just yet.
He emphasized the importance of developing their unique playing style and integrating the lessons he has learned from the various coaches throughout his playing career.
“I won’t try to be a Jose Mourinho—I don’t have that level of stature or respect since I haven’t won anything. Carlo Ancelotti is composed and has achieved success as both a player and a manager, so I can’t emulate him either. I cannot be a Rafa Benitez.”
“What I need to do is take little insights from them, stay true to myself, and focus on my process at Cesena. I want to keep working hard, and hopefully, one day, I’ll be able to lift a trophy.”