Ashley Cole has stepped down from his position as an England Under-21 coach, bringing to a close a five-year spell in the role that included two European title successes.
The 45-year-old former Chelsea and Arsenal left-back had been a key member of Lee Carsley's coaching setup, contributing to the Young Lions' consecutive European Under-21 Championship triumphs.
Paying tribute to his departing colleague, Carsley praised Cole's influence on the group, describing him as having made a "positive, inspirational impact on his players." The England Under-21 boss added: "I want to pay tribute to Ashley who played a major part in our two Euro wins and also had a key role in the current campaign with his tactical and technical knowledge. I am certain he will have even more success in his coaching career whatever the future holds."
Cole's coaching journey began after he hung up his boots in 2019, having enjoyed a decorated playing career that brought him 107 England caps and a host of domestic and European honours. During his time as a player, Cole won three Premier League titles, the Champions League, the Europa League, seven FA Cups and one League Cup while representing Arsenal and Chelsea.
His transition into coaching started with badge qualifications completed under Frank Lampard at Derby County. From there, Cole gained experience working within Chelsea's academy setup before taking on assistant roles at Everton and at Birmingham City, where he worked alongside Wayne Rooney. He later joined the England set-up during Carsley's short tenure as interim manager of the senior national team in 2024.
Earlier this year, Cole took his first steps into senior management when he was appointed head coach of Italian Serie B side Cesena in March. He explained that he had felt "discouraged" by the lack of opportunities within English football to progress into a top managerial position, prompting him to look abroad for his next challenge.
However, his time in Italy proved short-lived. Cole left Cesena in June following discussions with the club's sporting director over a "change in the club's strategy," bringing an abrupt end to his first managerial venture.
Cole's exit from the England Under-21 set-up marks the end of a productive chapter that saw him help develop some of the country's brightest young talents while contributing to sustained success at international youth level. His departure leaves Carsley to reshape his coaching staff as the Under-21s look to build on their recent triumphs and continue producing players capable of stepping up to the senior side.
While no immediate details have emerged regarding Cole's next career move, his blend of playing pedigree and growing coaching experience is likely to keep him in demand, whether that be back in England or in another European league. His spell at Cesena, though brief, offered him valuable exposure to first-team management, something he may look to build upon in the future.
For now, attention turns to how Carsley reshapes his backroom staff following the loss of a coach who played such an integral part in the Under-21s' recent golden era, as the team continues its preparations for future international commitments.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.