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Former Arsenal and Chelsea defender Ashley Cole has been inducted into the Premier League Corridor of Fame.
The previous England worldwide, extensively considered the perfect left-back in Premier League historical past, gained three titles throughout a 15-year profession within the top-flight.
Cole, the twenty second inductee into the Corridor of Fame, was a part of Arsenal’s well-known Invincibles that gained the title in 2003/04, nonetheless the one facet in league historical past to go unbeaten for a complete season.
Having come by means of Arsenal’s academy, Cole signed for Chelsea in 2006 and gained his third Premier League title in 2009/10 as Carlo Ancelotti’s facet scored a then-record 103 targets.
“I am honoured to hitch the Premier League Corridor of Fame. It is humbling and fulfilling to be rewarded on the finish of your profession,” mentioned Cole.
“I went by means of my profession simply making an attempt to offer my greatest and be ok. You’re taking it day-to-day and sport by sport. As a younger child, you by no means dream of any of this and also you simply do it for the love of the sport of soccer.
“I performed for some unbelievable golf equipment with unbelievable followers. Successful trophies with my boyhood membership Arsenal and with Chelsea are superb recollections that may all the time be with me.
“It is emotional to replicate as a result of numerous arduous work has been put in. To affix the Corridor of Fame alongside the likes of Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry, Didier Drogba and Rio Ferdinand, I am privileged to be of their firm.”
Cole completed his Premier League profession with a win fee of 62 per cent, preserving 147 clear sheets in 385 appearances. The total-back additionally scored 15 targets and offered 31 assists.
Premier League chief government Richard Masters mentioned: “If you happen to ask folks for the perfect full-back in Premier League historical past, lots of them would identify Ashley Cole. He excelled for title-winning Arsenal and Chelsea sides and helped to redefine the place due to his defensive and attacking qualities.
“After breaking by means of as a teen at Arsenal, he’ll all the time be remembered as a part of the enduring ‘Invincibles’ group, whose achievements stay unprecedented to at the present time.
“He continued his successful methods at Chelsea, forming a key a part of one of many highest-scoring sides now we have ever seen, and we’re delighted to welcome him as the most recent inductee into the Premier League Corridor of Fame.”
The stats behind Cole’s magnificent PL profession
- Ashley Cole made 385 Premier League appearances between 2000 and 2014, successful three Premier League titles – two with Arsenal (2001/02, 2003/04) and one with Chelsea (2009/10).
- He was instantly concerned in 46 targets from left-back – solely two defenders had extra targets and assists mixed throughout the identical time interval, whereas solely Leighton Baines assisted extra targets.
- Solely three defenders registered greater than Cole’s 147 clear sheets (John Terry, Jamie Carragher and Rio Ferdinand) between his first and final appearances, whereas it was essentially the most of any full-back in that point.
- Throughout his time at Chelsea between 2006/07 and 2013/14, Cole ranked within the top-five for possibilities created, (total and in open play) tackles and profitable passes (total and within the opposition half) amongst Premier League defenders.
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