Everton appoint Ashley Cole as first team coach - what does it mean for Duncan Ferguson?

Everton have confirmed the appointment of former England, Arsenal and Chelsea full-back Ashley Cole as the club’s first-team coach.

The 41-year-old is reunited with Toffees manager Frank Lampard having worked on his coaching staff at Derby County and Stamford Bridge.

He leaves his role at Chelsea’s academy to join Everton’s burgeoning backroom team.

He will join assistant managers Duncan Ferguson and Joe Edwards, along with first-team coach Paul Clement, to bolster the depth of the club’s coaching department.

Ashley Cole’s coaching career

A former team-mate of Lampard’s at Chelsea during his playing days, Cole became a coach at Derby under his old pal after hanging up his boots at the Rams.

He followed Lampard to Cheslea in 2019, where he was installed as academy coach.

In July last year, Cole was named as assistant to England Under-21s coach and former Everton midfielder Lee Carsley.

What’s been said

Speaking at his first pre-match press conference as Everton manager, Lampard said: “We don’t need to talk about Ashley the player, we all know his record. He’s probably the greatest left-back we have produced in this country.

“What I brought Ashley for is the great coach that he’s going to be at the club. And for the work ethic he has put in - and I have seen it behind the scenes - to become a very good young coach.

“I brought him in for the person that he is and how great he will be around the group; to offer his experience but to also work alongside them to improve them.”

Cole said: “I was thrilled when Frank asked me to join him at Everton. This is a brilliant opportunity with a fantastic club and I am coming here to work hard and try to help bring success to Everton.

“The chance to link up again with Frank was another huge draw. He is an excellent manager and leader. With the rest of the staff here, we have everything in place for what we want to achieve together.”

On Duncan Ferguson’s role

Lampard said: “I am delighted to work with Duncan. I saw him from afar - I saw him close up a few times a couple of years ago when they beat us [Chelsea] and we had a laugh about that in the last couple of days  - but he is a club legend.

“He is a person that the players respect, the club respects, the fans respect and I can only help from tapping into his experience and knowledge from being here.

“I’m very open and accommodating in this role and there is no way I would ever want to be a person to look at anything other than what’s the best for this job. Having Duncan around has been great. I have really enjoyed it.”