According to reports coming in today, Chelsea stars Ashley Cole, Joe Cole and Michael Essien have returned to Stamford Bridge to train with their old club. Chelsea have welcomed all three players back and are helping them regain fitness during the off-season in the United States.
Both English players were part of the Blues’ Premier League and FA Cup double-winning campaign in 2009/10 while Joe Cole won two back to back Premier League titles in 2004/05 and 2005/06 in Jose Mourinho’s first spell at the London club.
Ashley Cole later helped Chelsea win the Champions League in 2011/12 playing in the final against Bayern Munich and even scored in the penalty shoot-out that won the Blues the trophy that eluded them for years.
Ashley Cole currently plies his trade for MLS heavyweights LA Galaxy, David Beckham’s old club, while Joe Cole plays for the Tampa Bay Rowdies and both the players are looking to stay in shape for the new season in the MLS.
Meanwhile, according to Goal, the pair have joined Michael Essien back at Stamford Bridge with the Ghanian defensive midfielder recently confirming that he is in fact training with the Chelsea development squad.
It’s safe to say that all three players are legends in their own right with a long history at Stamford Bridge and will surely be glad to be back at Cobham training with their old club. Andrea Pirlo also visited Cobham yesterday with his son to meet current Blues boss Antonio Conte, who was his manager at Juventus.
Both the Coles, the former England Internationals, have reunited with their old teammate John Terry and reportedly, the FA have offered the three players a start to their coaching badges with a view of coaching the national side as the trio prepare for life after football.
Chelsea have a number of their former players in coaching and non-coaching roles currently employed at the club with the likes of Carlo Cudicini, Paulo Ferrera and Jody Morris working behind the scenes and the club have said they are willing to employ more of their old players who represented the club after Roman Abramovich took over.
However, Frank Lampard was not part of the reunion with the former midfielder announcing his departure from New York City FC in November. Lampard is Chelsea’s all-time highest goal scorer and despite much speculation about him re-joining his old club he is yet to make a decision regarding his future.
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