Ashley Cole Poised To Become Cesena Head Coach In Serie B, Triggers Coaching Change
Italian second-tier club Cesena are confident of appointing former defender ashley cole as their new head coach, a development that would mark his first senior managerial role and follows the dismissal of the club’s previous boss.
Cesena Move Comes After Coaching Vacancy
Cesena, based on Italy’s east coast, are eighth in Serie B after 30 games and were promoted from Serie C after the 2023-24 season. The club dismissed Michele Mignani following a 2-2 home draw on Saturday, leaving the club without a head coach and reinforcing the ownership’s promotion-focused ambitions. The club’s American owners have signalled an intention to push for top-tier return this season, and the decision to change managers is presented as part of that plan.
Ashley Cole’s Coaching Path
The 45-year-old Ashley Cole has built experience in coaching and assistant roles with multiple clubs and national setups since retiring as a player in 2019. He has worked at Chelsea’s academy and held assistant positions with Everton, Chelsea, Birmingham City and with England setups. He left Birmingham in September 2024 and then took a full-time coaching role with the national association, assisting Lee Carsley during a temporary spell in charge of the men’s senior team. Taking charge of Cesena would be his first appointment as a senior number one.
Playing and Early Coaching Background
Cole made 384 Premier League appearances as a left-back, playing for Arsenal and then Chelsea. He won two league titles with Arsenal before moving to Chelsea, where his honours included the Champions League and another Premier League title. He earned 107 caps for England, the second-most for a defender behind Bobby Moore. His interest in coaching developed late in his playing career while at LA Galaxy; following a short spell at Derby County, he returned to Chelsea to work in the academy with under-15 and under-16 squads and later joined England’s under-21 coaching setup. He was part of a coaching team that won the European Championship in 2023 and again in 2025.
Squad and Practical Details Awaiting Confirmation
Should the appointment be finalised, Cole would inherit a squad including goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann, midfielder Gaetano Castrovili and forwards Alberto Cerri and Cristian Shpendi. One account indicates he is already in Italy and holding physical meetings with the club to finalise terms, and that he has left the staff of the England Under-21 team. At this stage the club’s confidence has been reported but a formal contract signing and official confirmation remain outstanding.
What Happens Next
Cesena’s next steps are expected to focus on concluding contractual terms and announcing a permanent appointment. If the move is confirmed, it will mark the start of Cole’s first senior head-coaching stint and represent a rapid escalation from youth and assistant roles into the pressures of a promotion-chasing Serie B campaign. Officials and the coach himself have yet to issue a formal public statement, leaving particulars of the contract and immediate plans for the squad unconfirmed.
