Ashley Cole was among the finest left-backs of his generation, an England defender whose pace, positioning and one-on-one defending set the standard for the position. He rarely gave opposing wingers a moment’s peace and contributed intelligently in attack.
He was a product of Arsenal, part of the celebrated unbeaten league-winning side, before a move to Chelsea brought a wealth of trophies including multiple FA Cups and a Champions League. A durable international, he served England across many years and tournaments.