Ashley Cole inducted into Premier League Hall of Fame (2024)

Legendary left-back Ashley Cole has been inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame.

Cole won three Premier League titles during a 15-season career at Arsenal and Chelsea, combining attacking prowess with formidable defensive qualities to become one of the greatest defenders the competition has ever seen.

Part of the record-breaking "Invincibles" Arsenal team who went unbeaten through the 2003/04 season, Cole made 385 Premier League appearances in total, contributed to 147 clean sheets, scored 15 goals and made 31 assists.

The moment Ashley Cole received his #PLHallOfFame medallion 🏅

@TheRealAC3

— Premier League (@premierleague) March 25, 2024

“I’m honoured to join the Premier League Hall of Fame," said Cole. "It’s humbling and fulfilling to be rewarded at the end of your career.

“I went through my career just trying to give my best and be good enough. You take it day by day and game by game. As a young kid, you never dream of any of this and you just do it for the love of the game of football.

“I played for some fantastic clubs with incredible fans. Winning trophies with my boyhood club Arsenal and with Chelsea are amazing memories that will always be with me.

“It’s emotional to reflect because a lot of hard work has been put in. To join the Hall of Fame alongside the likes of Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry, Didier Drogba and Rio Ferdinand, I’m privileged to be in their company.”

Hall of Fame 'I never dreamed of this' - Ashley Cole in his own words
'I never dreamed of this' - Ashley Cole in his own words Former Arsenal and Chelsea star reflects on his career and reveals pride at being inducted into the Hall of Fame

Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said: “If you ask people for the best full-back in Premier League history, many of them would name Ashley Cole. He excelled for title-winning Arsenal and Chelsea sides and helped to redefine the position thanks to his defensive and attacking qualities.

"After breaking through as a youngster at Arsenal, he will always be remembered as part of the iconic ‘Invincibles’ team, whose achievements remain unprecedented to this day.

“He continued his winning ways at Chelsea, forming a key part of one of the highest-scoring sides we have ever seen, and we are delighted to welcome him as the latest inductee into the Premier League Hall of Fame.”

Cole's career in numbers
CategoryAshley Cole
Appearances385
Goals15
Assists31
Clean sheets147
PL titles3
Vote for who to join Cole

Cole is the first of three 2024 inductees to the Hall of Fame. Who will join him in the home of the greats is down to you.

A shortlist of 15 nominees has been revealed, with fans from across the world invited to vote for two further inductees.

Voting will take place at premierleague.com/halloffame and on the official Premier League app, closing at 12:00 BST on Monday 8 April. The two inductees chosen will be announced on Monday 22 April.

Hall of Fame

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What is the Hall of Fame?

The Hall of Fame recognises and celebrates individuals who have an exceptional record of success and have made a significant contribution to the Premier League since its inception in 1992. It is the highest individual honour awarded by the League.

The Hall of Fame launched in 2021, with inaugural inductees David Beckham, Dennis Bergkamp, Eric Cantona, Thierry Henry, Roy Keane, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Alan Shearer.

In 2022, Sergio Aguero, Didier Drogba, Vincent Kompany, Wayne Rooney, Peter Schmeichel, Paul Scholes, Patrick Vieira and Ian Wright were inducted.

Last year, Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger were named as the first managerial inductees, with Tony Adams, Petr Cech and Rio Ferdinand also voted in.

All inductees receive a medallion engraved with their name and the year of their induction, along with a £10,000 donation made by the Premier League to a charity of their choice.

To be eligible for this season’s Premier League Hall of Fame, individuals must have been retired as of 1 January 2024, and only an individual’s career achievements in the Premier League are considered in their candidacy.

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Wright-Phillips: Cole's legacy can still be felt today Shaun Wright-Phillips says 2024 Hall of Fame inductee Ashley Cole was toughest left-back a Premier League winger could face
Ashley Cole inducted into Premier League Hall of Fame (2024)

FAQs

Who are the Premier League Hall of Fame inductees for 2024? ›

Stars from the world of football and beyond gathered in London on Tuesday to honour the three 2024 Premier League Hall of Fame inductees, Andrew Cole, Ashley Cole and John Terry. The former players received medallions engraved with their names in front of an audience which included members of their families.

Who has been inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame? ›

Ashley Cole inducted into Premier League Hall of Fame

In 2022, Sergio Aguero, Didier Drogba, Vincent Kompany, Wayne Rooney, Peter Schmeichel, Paul Scholes, Patrick Vieira and Ian Wright were inducted.

How many Premier Leagues did Ashley Cole win? ›

Cole won three Premier League titles during a 15-season career at Arsenal and Chelsea, combining attacking prowess with formidable defensive qualities to become one of the greatest defenders the competition has ever seen.

Who is eligible for the PL Hall of Fame? ›

Only players who have retired are eligible for the Premier League Hall of Fame and only their career in the Premier League will be taken into consideration during the selection process. Each Hall of Fame inductee receives a personalised medal engraved with their induction year.

Who was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2024? ›

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Announces 2024 Inductees: Cher, Jimmy Buffett, Mary J. Blige, Dave Matthews, Peter Frampton, Foreigner and More.

How many people are in the Premier League Hall of Fame? ›

The Hall of Fame was launched in 2021 and 19 players have already been inducted, along with two managers.

Who has the best history in the Premier League? ›

Since inception in 1992 there have been 51 clubs who have played in the Premier League. Seven clubs have won the Premier League: Manchester United (13 times), Manchester City (eight times), Chelsea (five times), Arsenal (three times), Blackburn Rovers (once), Leicester City (once) and Liverpool (once).

Who has the most football players in the Hall of Fame? ›

The Chicago Bears have the most inductees, with 32 (40, including players with minor portion of their career with team).

What team has the most Pro football Hall of Fame? ›

With 39 Hall of Famers, the Bears still own the most HOFs in the NFL. Here are all 40 members from the Bears franchise who are in the Hall of Fame, coaches included: Doug Atkins. George Blanda.

Did Ashley Cole ever score for England? ›

Cole never scored for England, playing more often than any other outfield player without finding the net. - Cole made 22 appearances for England at major tournaments, an all-time record for the Three Lions. He featured at the 2002, 2006 and 2010 World Cups and played at the 2004 and 2012 European Championships.

Why did Cole leave Arsenal? ›

On 15 July 2006, Cole launched a verbal attack on Arsenal; in his autobiography, he claimed that the Arsenal board had treated him as a "scapegoat" and that they had "fed him to the sharks" over the tapping-up affair while Arsenal, from their part, insisted that they were legally obliged to punish Cole for his illegal ...

How many goals did Ashley Cole score for Chelsea? ›

Stats by club
Club
Chelsea33737
Arsenal22822
Los Angeles9411
AS Roma16-
2 more rows

Why is Ryan Giggs not in the Premier League Hall of Fame? ›

The Premier League Hall of Fame was launched in 2021 with Giggs not considered in any of the first three induction cycles due to the ongoing legal proceedings.

How do you get into the Premier League Hall of Fame? ›

Hall of Fame eligibility requirements
  1. Appeared in more than 200 Premier League appearances for one club.
  2. Selected to any of the Teams of the Decade.
  3. Won the Golden Boot or Golden Glove.
  4. Been voted as Player of the Season.
  5. Won three Premier League titles.

How are Hall of Famers chosen? ›

In order to be elected, a Finalist must receive a minimum of 80% of the vote. All ballots are collected and counted by an accounting firm. No vote totals are announced – only the winners of the various reduction ballots are revealed to the Selectors and the Hall's representatives.

Is John Terry in the Hall of Fame? ›

Chelsea legend John Terry has been inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame following a public and panel vote.

How many Hall of Famers are selected each year? ›

Current rules of the committee stipulate that between four and eight individuals are selected each year. Any person may nominate an individual to the hall, provided the nominee has been retired for at least five years.

How many footballers are in the Hall of Fame? ›

Established in 2002, to date 190 players, managers and teams have been inducted into England's football Hall of Fame in recognition of the impact they have made on the game and its ongoing development.

How many Chelsea players are in the Premier League Hall of Fame? ›

Ashley Cole has already become the 22nd player to be added to the Premier League Hall of Fame, bringing the number of Chelsea legends to be included up to four, alongside Petr Cech, Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard.

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