Ashely Cole Admits He Might Retire From Professional Football At The End Of Season
Ashley Cole has revealed that he is likely to retire at the end of this season.
Cole, 38, has linked up with his former Chelsea and England team-mate Frank Lampard to try to help Derby County win promotion to the Premier League.
But when the campaign ends, Cole admits that he is likely to call it a day.
He said: “Probably, after this season, it’s going to be Ashley Cole finished. I still love it, but the body can’t handle it. I’m not the same Ashley Cole as when I was 26, everyone knows that, so there’s got to be a kind of expectation as well.
“I am 38, I’ve not played here for a long time. It’s more for the bigger picture of what I can bring to a team with kids. It’s not just about how I can play.”
Cole had his best years with Arsenal and Chelsea, winning 13 major trophies including seven FA Cups, before he left the Blues to join Roma in 2014.
Most recently, he played for LA Galaxy in the MLS, who parted company with him last year.
Cole, who won 107 caps for England between 2001 and 2014, added: “I thought after I left Roma in 2016 that was kind of it for Europe.
“As I came towards the end of my career it was always in the back of my mind that I wanted to come and work back in England in terms of a coach, manager, whatever it might be.
“I thought it was time to come back and start to work on a different way of life.
“I think Frank Lampard is doing a great job considering it’s his first job. For me, it was a no-brainer to come here and try and be involved in something big for Derby County.
“It’s a difficult league to come out of, so to achieve promotion would be great.”