Ashley Cole has decided to quit as manager of Italian side Cesena after only eight games in charge. Cole, 45, was appointed by the Serie B club in March, stepping into his first managerial role.
The former England left-back and Premier League legend signed a contract until the end of the 2025-26 season with the aim of finishing in the play-offs. Under Cole, Cesena managed to win just one of their eight games.
Brief discussions over his future took place at the end of the season, but according to various reports, Cole has now chosen to leave. The ex-Chelsea and Arsenal star took charge with Cesena eighth in the Serie B table, occupying the league’s final play-off spot as they aimed to reach the top flight for the first time since 2015.
Cole’s side ended up finishing in 11th, recording one win, three draws and four defeats in their final eight games. His appointment, along with that of former Chelsea academy coach Jack Mesure, was met with scepticism from Cesena’s fan base.
Get the latest World Cup 2026 news in your inbox with our Make Football Great Again newsletter
The club had sacked Michele Mignani, who’d been in charge for nearly two years, after losing eight of his last 13 games. At the time, it was reported that Cesena sporting director Filippo Fusco disagreed with the decision to sack Mignani, while some players were said to have been in tears upon learning the news.
American co-owner Mike Melby was a driving force behind Cesena’s move for Cole, having gotten to know the three-time Premier League winner from his time with LA Galaxy. Cole is expected to be on the lookout for his next coaching position.
He worked with Frank Lampard at both Chelsea and Everton, and alongside Wayne Rooney at Birmingham City. Cole also assisted Lee Carsley during his time as interim England manager.
Will Ashley Cole have a successful career as a manager? Give us your prediction in the comments section.
View 2 ImagesAshley Cole only managed one win as Cesena manager(Image: Gabriele Maricchiolo/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
His wife, Sharon Canu, is from Italy, and they met during Cole’s spell playing for Roma. “It was always in our plans to live in Italy because we love the food and the calmness of the country,” Cole told the Guardian in April.
“She [Canu] told me the fans here are passionate about their team and their city. I had to embrace that, understand what makes them tick, so we can represent them properly.”
Article continues below
Cole went on to say: “I feel ready and that I should be a head coach. I am definitely thankful to Cesena for the opportunity, but I have more than enough experience.”
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Upgrade your World Cup TV setup with the Sky Glass ‘designed for football’This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
from £4.50SkyGet the deal here
Sky is knocking 20% off its entire range of Glass TVs to mark the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Until June 17, shoppers can upgrade to the Sky smart TV that’s ‘designed for football’ from £4.50 per month when taken alongside a Sky TV and Netflix package.