Lee Carsley has been appointed as the head coach of the England Under-21 team, with former left-back Ashley Cole as his assistant. Carsley, a former Everton midfielder, steps up from his role with the Under-20s and replaces Aidy Boothroyd, who left in April after the team's elimination from the European Under-21 Championships.
Cole, who earned 107 caps for England, takes on his first major coaching role since retiring as a player in August 2019. He will continue his work with Chelsea's academy alongside his new duties. Cole expressed his enthusiasm, stating: 'I am really happy to get this opportunity to support Lee and work with the best youngsters in the country.'
Carsley described the appointment as 'a massive honour and achievement' and praised Cole's coaching credentials, noting they had attended courses together during lockdown. 'He is committed to coaching and player development so a lot of our thoughts are aligned,' Carsley said. Cole's coaching career began at Derby County in 2019 before moving to Chelsea's academy later that year.
