Cole would like to return to old club Chelsea once retired

Ashley Cole

ASHLEY Cole says he would be interested in a return to Chelsea as a scout or a coach when he finally hangs up his boots.

The 36-year-old left the Blues after eight years and 338 matches for Roma, where he spent just one season before joining the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2016.

While he remains happy in the MLS, the former England left-back says he would be keen to return to his former club as he begins the next chapter in his football career.

Speaking to FourFourTwo, Cole said: “I’m enjoying it here at the moment, but I would like to go back to England and work for Chelsea in some capacity if I could, so that would be my first choice.

“Coaching or being a scout is something I’ve always considered and enjoyed while watching games. 

“I try to nurture young players coming through, so it’s something I have in the back of my mind for after I finish playing. But I want to play for as long as I possibly can, because once you finish playing, you are done for life.”

Cole added that the MLS is improving, but says the long travel times for matches takes its toll on the players.

“MLS is demanding. You have to travel a lot, which is the main problem for older guys – you’re on the plane for five to seven hours and it’s not easy. But the younger guys are learning from the marquee players: in five or six years it will be a very big league.” – kickoff.com