One of the finest left-backs to grace the Premier League, Ashley Cole defined the evolution of full-backs from focusing primarily on defending to becoming an integral part of the attack, with his tireless running up and down the length of the pitch.~After being part of Arsenal's 2001/02 and 2003/04 title-winning teams, Cole moved to Chelsea in 2006, where he completed a personal hat-trick by lifting the Premier League Trophy in 2009/10.
I think any good winger, especially in the Premier League, will tell you that Ashley was the hardest defender they ever came up against, without a shadow of a doubt.
In many ways he was before his time. He was probably the best defender England ever had and he was playing a different style of football
When he played his first game, you feel straight away this guy is made to be at this level. You think straight away, I will have a problem to take him out again. That's what you want from players. He had that.
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