Ashley Cole's reclusive new life with Cheryl lookalike wife – as pals reveal ghosts from ‘bad boy' past still haunt him
HE was once the bad boy of English football - terrorising the wings on the pitch before tearing it up in nightclubs.
But with his playing days long behind him, former England and Chelsea ace Ashley Cole is living a very different life aged 44.
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He's shunned the wild partying and paparazzi shots from his days with ex-wife Cheryl Tweedy in favour of quiet nights in with his current spouse Sharon Canu and their young family.
Unlike another England legend and former teammate David Beckham, who recently turned 50 with a headline-making celebrity bash in London, Ashley is embracing living very much off-grid.
A source close to the legendary left-back told The Sun: 'That period feels like another lifetime for Ashley, he's just moved on from it.
'Lots of his pals he used to hang around with during those partying days just don't see him now.
'A common question within his old friendship group is 'Does anyone speak to Ashley anymore?'
'He's just solely focusing on his family and coaching career.'
The source added: 'It's highly unlikely he still communicates with Cheryl now.
'Why would he? Their lives aren't linked.
'It quietly irks him when his old misdemeanours are brought up, as he's a different person now and feels like that was a bygone era.
'He's got kids now and works with young players so it's a noise he could do without.
'The book is closed in regards that part of his life and it's all about the present and future.'
Following his ill-fated four-year marriage to Cheryl and the very public fallout of their split in 2010, which was sparked by various cheating allegations, you couldn't blame Ashley for keeping his head down.
He was barely linked with any other women following the divorce.
Instead he let his football do the talking by winning the Champions League, Europa League and his record seventh FA Cup with Chelsea.
He then went on to enjoy a stint in Italy with AC Roma and three seasons in the MLS with LA Galaxy, before finishing his career at Championship side Derby County under the management of ex-Chelsea and England teammate Frank Lampard.
It was during his time in Italy he found love again with 31-year-old model Sharon Canu, a ringer for ex Cheryl.
But there have been no glossy magazine deals, glitzy premiere appearances or cheesy Lottery campaigns like he experienced with Cheryl.
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The couple share two children together - Jaxon, nine, and Grace, seven.
And their profiles, in keeping with their relationship, are also kept low-key, featuring only occasionally on holiday Instagram snaps or events associated with Ashley's football achievements, including when he was inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame last April.
Ashley wanted this relationship to be private and his only brushes with showbiz these days are his unlikely friendship with former Towie star Sam Faiers and her partner Paul Knightley, who is close pals with wife Sharon.
The source explained: 'Sharon and Sam have been friends for years and live close by in Surrey.
'They're like any other mums whose kids are the same age, they've forged a strong friendship courtesy of play dates round each other's houses and the homes of other parents in their inner circle.
'Ashley and Paul met through them and got on, and they've been on holidays and breaks together.
'It's an unlikely set-up, but everyone gets on really well.'
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Sam and Paul attended Ashley and Sharon's lavish Italian wedding in 2023, alongside other guests including Frank and Christine Lampard and ex-Chelsea skipper John Terry.
They exchanged vows at the Hotel La Vecchia Posta in Ladispoli, on a clifftop overlooking the Mediterranean, with their children acting as bridesmaid and page boy.
The only coverage of the nuptials came from social media, the big glossy mags deals snubbed again, and the bash - although typically lavish (he's an ex-Premier League footballer after all) - was a far cry from the extravagance of his £500,000 2006 wedding with Cheryl, dubbed the "showbiz wedding of the year".
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In 2019, in a rare interview about his personal life, Ashley told The Telegraph how becoming a dad had changed his perspective on life.
He said: 'I was a young, angry kid at the time, and now I've grown up and understand the things I did is life, it happens. I've learnt from it, it's made me a better person. It's made me a great dad.
'These are the things I focus on now, my kids and my girlfriend. It's a different me, I'm more of a family man now.
'You won't see me in nightclubs any more, you'll see me at a park pushing my kids.'
And this newfound maturity aligns with his passion for coaching and aspirations to manage at the elite level.
He's currently the assistant coach of England U21s alongside boss Lee Carsley, having previously worked under Lampard at Everton and another former England teammate Wayne Rooney during his brief spell in charge of Birmingham City.
And according to ex-Chelsea and England teammate Joe Cole, Ashley is ready to take on a big managerial challenge, tipping him to land the vacant job at Glasgow Rangers.
He said: 'I worked with him doing a bit of media in a foreign country.
'We had the afternoon off and we were sitting on the sunbeds, ordered a couple of drinks, and I'm thinking, 'This is a good job, Coley, I'm enjoying myself!'
'I'm watching the world go by, 90 degrees, and he just gets his laptop out and he's showing me throw-ins!
'The dedication… his dedication to football. We love him. But that would be perfect for him.'
Just like his life out of the spotlight now.
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