22 October 2023 , 06:00
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Ashley Cole enjoyed an illustrious playing career, but his short stint at LA Galaxy is more often than not overlooked.
The former England left-back made his name at Arsenal, where he won two Premier League titles and four FA Cups before switching to the Gunners' London rivals, Chelsea. After eight years at Stamford Bridge (and winning pretty much every possible trophy), Cole decided to swap England for the bright lights of Hollywood.
Although Cole's switch to the MLS saw him leave the Premier League's star-studded roster behind, he still rubbed shoulders with footballing royalty in the LA Galaxy dressing room during his two years in the United States in the form of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Widely regarded as one of the game's legendary strikers, Ibrahimovic's boisterous character has been well documented over the years - and Cole shared an insight into what it was like sharing a dressing room with the Swedish icon.
"He has two personalities, with us in the dressing room he was brilliant, quiet, very humble but for the media he was god," Cole said of Ibrahimovic during an appearance on A League of Their Own back in 2021.
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"He had moments where he would come in the dressing room and really let people know about their s*** touch, can't run, you're slow but in front of the media his persona changed."
Join the debate! What are your favourite Ibrahimovic memories? Let us know here.
Ashley Cole and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were teammates at LA Galaxy (SIPA USA/PA Images)When Cole was asked whether Ibrahimovic ever targeted him directly, he recalled: "He tried to once, he did throw his hands in the air. And I said 'Put your f***ing hands down', I'm deadly serious, honestly. I was thinking 'You might have a little point, but don't put your hands up.'"
Cole and Ibrahimovic were only teammates for one season before the former moved on to pastures new. A switch to Championship outfit Derby County gave Cole the opportunity to return to England to see out his career.
He played just nine times for the Rams before hanging up his boots and taking on a coaching role at the club, where he worked with his former Chelsea teammate Frank Lampard. Cole would subsequently follow Lampard back to Stamford Bridge when he was offered the chance to return to the Blues as manager.
More recently, Cole has been coaching England's Under-21s, however, he did make a return to the domestic game this weekend as part of Wayne Rooney's new-look coaching staff at Birmingham City.