England's most-capped full-back, Ashley Cole has been a mainstay for his country over the past decade, appearing in three FIFA World Cups and one UEFA European Championship and starting every game at each tournament. At club level he has won three Premier League titles, a record seven FA Cups and the UEFA Champions League.

• A schoolboy Arsenal FC fan, Cole joined the club's academy aged 16 and was a first-teamer at 18; replaced Sylvinho as the first-choice left-back in Arsène Wenger's side in 2000/01, during which he made his senior debut for England.

• A domestic double winner in 2001/02, he also lifted two more FA Cups with the Gunners and was a member of the 2003/04 Premier League-winning squad that went through the season unbeaten.

• Returned from long-term injury in time for the 2006 UEFA Champions League final, which Arsenal lost to FC Barcelona, and joined Chelsea a few months later after 228 first-team appearances and nine goals for the north London outfit.

• Was a runner-up again in Europe's premier club competition in 2008 – against Manchester United FC on penalties in Moscow – but was an FA Cup winner with the Blues in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012.

• Scored a career-best four goals, including one on the final day of the season in an 8-0 defeat of Wigan Athletic FC, during Chelsea's 2009/10 Premier League-winning campaign.

• Overtook Kenny Sansom as England's most-capped full-back when he made his 87th international appearance, against Denmark, in a February 2011 friendly in Copenhagen. 

• Ever-present throughout Chelsea's run to the 2012 UEFA Champions League final, he got his hands on the trophy at the third attempt after the Blues' penalty shoot-out success against FC Bayern München.

UEFA honours
UEFA EURO 2004: All-Star Squad
UEFA Champions League: runner-up 2006, 2008, winner 2012
UEFA.com users' Team of the Year: 2004, 2010