Ashley Cole has said he is honoured and humbled to have been inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame.
The former Arsenal and Chelsea left-back made 385 appearances in the Premier League and cemented a reputation as arguably the division’s greatest-ever full-back, winning a wealth of honours with the London rivals.
He came through the academy system at Arsenal and won two league titles with the Gunners, including forming part of the club’s famous ‘Invincibles’ campaign in 2003/04. Cole’s departure for Chelsea saw his reputation damaged in north London, though he has insisted it was a ‘dream’ to represent the club.
“I’m honoured to join the Premier League Hall of Fame. It’s humbling and fulfilling to be rewarded at the end of your career,” Cole said, as per Arsenal’s official website.
“Being a boyhood Arsenal fan, I was living out a dream just pulling on the shirt and playing for the first team. Playing in front of amazing fans so close to the pitch at Highbury, so intimate and for me one of the most beautiful stadiums.
“Winning my first Premier League title was certainly special. To lift that trophy in front of my friends and family and celebrate with your teammates after a gruelling 38-game season is amazing.
That feeling is hard to explain. Growing up, all I knew was loving Arsenal Football Club.”
Cole moved to Chelsea in a controversial deal in 2006, and won a third Premier League title in 2009/10. He ended his career with 107 England caps and 13 major trophies, including the 2012 Champions League at Chelsea and a record-breaking seven FA Cup medals.
On Cole’s achievements, former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said: “He has spent a lot of time in the Premier League and always with success, so overall he has his just rewards.
“He’s honestly one of the few players who I always say that moved on and continued to develop, and that shows remarkable intelligence and remarkable consistency in the effort. It’s always difficult to make a hierarchy, but he’s certainly the best left-back.”
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