ENGLAND take on Ireland in a huge Nations League clash at the Aviva Stadium this evening.
Interim boss Lee Carsley will be joined in the dugout by some new faces, including former Chelsea and Arsenal defender Ashley Cole – but what is his role in the national team set-up?
Ashley Cole is an assistant manager to Lee Carsley during his time as interim manager of the England senior side.
Carsley stepped up from his role as Under-21s manager to replace Gareth Southgate after the former Three Lions boss resigned from his role following the 2-1 defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final.
The FA confirmed that Cole will assist the 50-year-old during his time in charge of the senior side.
Cole worked alongside Carsley at Under-21 level, having also coached at Derby, Chelsea, Everton and Birmingham.
The former England left-back was capped by England on 107 occasions between 2001 and 2014 and played five major tournaments as his nation’s sixth most-capped male player.
Cole will be joined by ex-Manchester City centre-back Joleon Lescott and the FA’s head of coaching, Tim Dittmer.
The trio worked alongside Carsley with the Under-21s and were part of the Under-21 Euro-winning squad in 2023.
Ex-coaches Martyn Margetson, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and former assistant Steve Holland all left the England set-up along with Southgate this summer.
