I’ve got 100 caps for England, my country. Being the first black player is just amazing COLE’S PRIDE ON BEING A THREE LIONS CENTURION, BUT IT’S NOT ALWAYS BEEN EASY FOR HIM IN NATIONAL SHIRT
HE should be seen as one of the most celebrated and respected players of his generation.
In fact, Ashley Cole should be in English football’s hall of fame having won everything there is to win at club level.
What a shame then, that the LA Galaxy left-back has never really had the credit he deserved.
What a shame that some England fans would take issue with the word ‘legend’ being used to describe the man who earned a total of 107 caps when it remains entirely appropriate.
Cole, who appears in a new ITV documentary, Out Of Their Skin, rose above the stick to smash down barriers and inspire a generation.
“I’ve not just played for England,” he said.
“I’ve done it for all the black players out there, to prove that they can do it.
“I’ve earned 100 caps for England, for my country.
And being the first black player to do that is amazing.
“I have represented my country and played in major tournaments. I’ve never let the country down in terms of playing. One hundred caps is No.1, playing for your country. I miss it to this day.”
It was on February 7, 2013, that Cole became England’s first black centurion in a rare win over Brazil.
In that 100 club he joined Peter Shilton, David Beckham, Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton, Billy Wright and Steven Gerrard.
Cole had already lifted three Premier League titles – two with Arsenal and another with Chelsea – seven FA Cups (also split between the two clubs) and one League Cup.
He’d been part of Arsenal’s legendary Invincibles side under Arsene Wenger and went on to crown his glittering CV with the
Champions League and Europa League. Yet, his critics homed in on his private life and the kind of mistakes made by many of the stars we currently regard as national treasures.
Among them was Cole’s well-documented reaction to a low-ball contract offer from Arsenal, suggesting he had almost swerved off the North Circular. How dare he want his talent to be appreciated?
He said: “When I left Arsenal, that whole situation, I got the name of ‘Cashley’. And of course with the stuff off the field, in my private life, I was their guy at the time.
“But I wanted to improve as a player, I wanted to make my career better.
“Whether that came with money, everyone else does it in every other job.”
Others have achieved less England four years ago – had aspects of his private life scrutinised and was singled out for criticism. He was also booed on international duty.
Cole said: “Now I see it going on with Raheem. I don’t see it going on with anyone else apart from him. There’s a different agenda to that I feel.”
Asked why he feels that yet are more fondly remembered. Cole (being presented with his 100th cap by Roy Hodgson, below) has had to move to the MLS to escape the kind of unforgiving scrutiny he believes Raheem Sterling is suffering now.
Recalling a World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan in 2008, which England won 5-1, Cole – now 37 – said: “We were 3-0 up. I gave the ball away and they went on a counter attack and scored.
“Then, every time I got the ball, I was hearing boos (bottom left). I was like, ‘Woah, is that really for me? For giving the ball away?’.
“At the time I thought, ‘I’m done’. Why am I gonna try to give my all to help a country that didn’t care?
“For me, it wasn’t is, Cole added: “There’s nothing else left apart from his skin colour.”
The former
Arsenal and Chelsea star, 37, made the comments in ITV’S hard-hitting new documentary, Out Of Their Skin, which airs on ITV4 at 10pm next Tuesday and Wednesday. football. That’s why I wanted to stop.” He didn’t, of course, instead going on to show the kind of character instilled in him by single-mum Sue.
“I was brought up with just my mom in east London,” Cole added. “She looked after me and my brother. She worked three or four jobs at the time to put food on the table. It was a difficult time.”
It was on May 11, 2014, when he announced his England retirement after boss Hodgson chose to take Luke Shaw to the World Cup ahead of him.
The truth, though, is that no other left-back has come close to the impact Cole made on the national side.