Legendary defender joins England coaching staff

Ashley Cole will assist Lee Carsley in his role as interim head coach of the England national team. The former left-back has joined Joleon Lescott in the coaching staff.

The Football Association has confirmed that Cole, who earned 107 caps for England, will work alongside Carsley with the senior team. Cole previously worked with Carsley at the U21 level and has also coached at Derby, Chelsea, Everton, and Birmingham. Joining the coaching staff will also be Joleon Lescott, another former England player, and FA head of coaching Tim Dittmer.

Carsley, who previously managed the England U21 team, has temporarily taken over from Gareth Southgate, who stepped down after the European Championship in Germany this summer. Carsley's first match in charge will be against the Republic of Ireland, a team he represented as a player, in the Nations League in Dublin on September 7. England will then face Finland at Wembley three days later.