Ashley Cole Opens Up on 'Whirlwind' Start as Cesena FC Manager
Ashley Cole has candidly shared his experiences during the initial two weeks in charge of Serie B side Cesena FC, describing the period as a 'whirlwind' and highlighting the difficulties of settling into his new role. The former England defender took his first step into management in mid-March, leaving his position as Lee Carsley's assistant with the England Under-21s to lead Cesena until June 2026.
Proving Doubters Wrong in New Role
Cole, who boasts a 50 per cent win rate from his first two matches, has previously served as an assistant to Frank Lampard at Everton and Chelsea, and held a similar role at Birmingham City under Wayne Rooney. However, he is now determined to establish himself as a top manager and 'prove a lot of people wrong' in his new capacity as the number one.
'It's been quite a whirlwind but an enjoyable one,' Cole revealed on the Could It Be Magic? podcast. 'Lost my first game, an eye opener, but got the opportunity three days later to play at home in front of our fans, and a good three points were needed. Keeps us in the playoffs. I am really enjoying it so far.'
Challenges and Adaptations in Italy
One of Cole's closest allies, Carsley, noted that he had observed 'frustration' from the former Chelsea full-back due to a lack of managerial opportunities in English football before his move to Italy. The retired England international, who earned 107 caps, is keen to carve out his own managerial identity.
'I have to be different,' Cole emphasized. 'I can't be like the other managers out there. It was important that I have to find my way in the game a little bit. But the players have got to believe in me and trust me.'
Reflecting on his second game, Cole added: 'The second game didn't start as well as we wanted. We had moments in the game where we looked good, and then you go 1-0 down, and you feel like, oh, here we go again. You get a little respite at half-time. It was important for me to give a team talk and get the players to still trust in what I'm asking them to do, but just do it better and quicker. Second half, we come out and see a lot of positives, and then we win the game 3-1.'
Language Barriers and Personal Life
Despite having lived in Italy before during his playing career at Roma from 2014 to 2016, and being married to Italian model Sharon Canu for 12 years, with whom he shares two children, Cole admits that adapting to life back in the country has been challenging, particularly due to language issues.
'I think the language is massive. It is important, and I struggled to get a number two,' Cole explained. 'I literally jumped in the puddle, jumped in the mud, and just went… I'm just going to have to go. It was an opportunity I couldn't turn down. And I was like, that is what it is. You know, you have to sink, or you swim, and right now it's looking all right. It's tough because I've never been in this position. I didn't know what to expect.'
He continued: 'It's been hard getting around the language a little bit. I lived in Italy for a year and a bit. My wife is Italian, but I don't really practice speaking it. So you know going back to the basics again of understanding the little words to get me by. But now I need to continue to have conversations with players and just tighten up on my language a bit.'
Managerial Learning Curve and Future Prospects
Cole highlighted the transition from assistant to head coach, noting the increased responsibilities in tactical setups. 'But doing the 11 v 11 stuff, I didn't do too much 11 v 11 as an assistant. So that would probably be the main difference, really, where you set up your team, how you are going to press, when you get in a mid-block? Are you going to set up. Are you going to be aggressive. Defend your box? It's like a lot of details to get in.'
Despite the hurdles, Cole remains optimistic, drawing on his experience from working with various coaches. 'But like I said you know it is a challenge. But I've watched and been around enough coaches and managers to understand it and pick it up quite quickly. So yeah, it's been good for you.'
Cesena currently sit eighth in Serie B, with only six games left in the regular season, as Cole aims to steer the team towards playoff success and solidify his managerial credentials.
