Ashley Cole: Arsenal Exit, Chelsea Success & Dealing With Media Criticism | Stick to Football EP 104

Welcome back to Stick to Football, brought to you by ARNE. This week, Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Wayne Rooney, Roy Keane and Ian Wright are joined by one of the Premier League’s greatest ever full backs, Ashley Cole, for a brilliant episode full of big reveals and funny moments. We start by looking back at Ashley’s early days at Arsenal and how he went from a young prospect at Highbury to one of the best full backs we have ever seen. He talks about the ups and downs, the moments that shaped him and how a loan spell at Crystal Palace changed everything. The conversation then turns to coaching. Ashley talks about the work he has already done alongside Wayne and with England, and why he sees himself stepping into management sooner rather than later. We also revisit his incredible playing career, from the Invincibles and working under Arsene Wenger to joining Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea team. Ash speaks openly about leaving Arsenal for Chelsea, one of the most talked about moves English football has ever seen, and the reaction that followed in the media and beyond. To finish, the table look back at England’s golden generation. Why didn’t that group achieve what many expected and was that England’s best chance of winning something major? Where do you see Ashley Cole managing in the future? Don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss an episode- and please leave a review to help others find us too. Thanks! 00:00 - Intro 05:49 - Early Football Memories 08:43 - Transition to Fullback 22:12 - Coaching Ambitions 36:26 - Breaking into the Arsenal Team 44:00 - Influential Figures in the Dressing Room 52:02 - Leaving Arsenal for Chelsea 1:05:46 - Toughest Opponents 1:07:45 - Battling Against Racism and Backlash 1:13:20 - Media Agenda & Criticism 1:17:19 - England 1:21:18 - Tuchel’s Midfield Dilemma This episode is sponsored by Huel. Gary Neville and the Stick to Football team know - when your day’s full-on, you need fuel that’s fast and actually good for you. Huel is the ultimate meal on the go - high protein, packed with 26 essential vitamins & minerals, and ready in seconds. 🏆 Exclusive for The Overlap listeners: Get your first Huel with a special discount AND a free gift. That goes for all of their range, including the brand new Huel Lite! 👉 Claim Your Offer Now – and see why millions have made the switch. Go to https://huel.com/theoverlap This episode is sponsored by Sky Bet’s Super 6. Visit super6.skysports.com for your chance to win £250k. Terms and conditions apply: https://super6.skysports.com/terms Stick to Football is brought to you by our partners ARNE clothing https://arneclo.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.