Is Ashley Cole a future England manager? ‘Amazing’ ex-Arsenal & Chelsea defender tipped as surprise candidate as former Three Lions star weighs in on Frank Lampard & Steven Gerrard’s chances

Several members of the Three Lions’ so-called ‘Golden Generation’ have moved into management since hanging up their boots. Lampard – who has spent time with Derby, Chelsea and Everton – is currently earning plenty of praise with Championship promotion hopefuls Coventry.

His former midfield colleague, Liverpool legend Gerrard, led Rangers to Scottish Premiership title glory in his first managerial role, but his now taking a break from the dugout after struggling to replicate that success with Aston Villa and Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq.

Wayne Rooney is another to have given coaching a go, but has seen his last two posts at Birmingham and Plymouth last just 83 days and 25 games respectively. He will need to rebuild his reputation before coming into contention for the most prominent of positions.

Quizzed on whether Gerrard, who he played under at Ibrox, can still become a top boss, ex-England international Defoe told GOAL while speaking courtesy of bet365’s new Sub On, Play On product: “It’s up to him, what he wants to do. He’s still young in terms of managing. We won the league at Rangers and it was amazing, the exposure. He got the Aston Villa job, didn’t work out there for him. Then he got the opportunity to go to Saudi Arabia. It depends what he wants to do.

“Stevie is a massive name in football. He loves football. I don’t know if he wants to have a break or go back in. When you have been up there and done well as a manager and a player, I think you will always be welcomed back. The league title we won up there, stopping Celtic getting 10-in-a-row and 55 league titles, it was a special one. When you do well somewhere, you are always welcome back. It’s up to Stevie now what he wants to do.”

Pressed further on whether one of the playing greats from England’s past could go on to become manager at some point in the future, Defoe added: “Yeah. I don’t know if they are thinking on that kind of level. Lamps has gone back in at Coventry and is doing well. Felt like he needed that.

“There are people like Ashley Cole as well that are in the system. He’s an amazing coach. The hard work that he has put in, I’ve seen behind the cameras all the hard work and graft that he put in with Chelsea, England and Birmingham. I’d like to see Ash at some stage get a job and then you never know. You never know with football. If that was to happen, Steven Gerrard becomes England manager, he’s a legend in the game and it would be nice to see.”

Cole is currently filling a full-time role with the Football Association, with England’s reins having been passed to German tactician Thomas Tuchel. He is only tied to an initial contract through to the end of the 2026 World Cup.