Ashley Cole has been appointed as the head coach of Cesena, effective March 15, 2026. This marks Cole’s first management role after retiring from professional football in 2019.
Cole has signed a short-term deal with the club that will last until the end of June 2026. He will be assisted by Jack Mesure, a former Chelsea academy coach, as he steps into this new position.
Currently, Cesena sits eighth in the Serie B table, having not won any of their last seven games. The team recently parted ways with Michele Mignani, paving the way for Cole’s appointment.
In his playing career, Cole made 107 appearances for the England national team and won 13 domestic trophies, including three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups. He also played for AS Roma in Serie A from 2014 to 2016.
Since retiring, Cole has been developing his coaching skills, having previously worked alongside notable figures such as Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney.
The club expressed their enthusiasm for Cole’s appointment, stating, “The entire Cesena FC family is thrilled to welcome manager Ashley Cole to lead the Bianconeri first team and extends a warm welcome to him and his staff in Cesena, wishing them all the best of luck in this new adventure.”
At 45 years old, Cole brings a wealth of experience to the coaching role, and fans will be eager to see how he can turn around the fortunes of the struggling Cesena side.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the specific strategies Cole plans to implement as he takes charge of the team.