Ashley Cole joined the Italian Serie B side following his departure from the coaching staff at Birmingham City. The 45-year-old former full-back succeeds Michele Mignani, who left the club after a run of poor results. Cesena currently sits in 14th place in the Serie B table after 29 matches, according to Sky Sports.
Cole previously held coaching roles at Chelsea, Everton, and with the England under-21 team. He also worked alongside Wayne Rooney during his brief tenure at Birmingham City last year. This appointment marks Cole's first role as a head coach in senior professional football.
Per the Guardian, the contract lasts until June 2026. The club hierarchy expects Cole to secure the team's position in the division and avoid a relegation battle in the final nine games of the campaign. Cole spent two seasons playing in Italy with Roma between 2014 and 2016 before moving to the United States. He is expected to take charge of his first training session on Monday morning.
