Former England defender Ashley Cole has signed a one-year contract extension with Los Angeles Galaxy.
Cole, 37, joined Galaxy in January 2016 from Italian Serie A side, AS Roma.
The ex-Arsenal and Chelsea left-back played 107 times for England but ended his international career when he was not selected for the 2014 World Cup.
“He’s been a tremendous leader for our club,” said Galaxy head coach Sigi Schmid.
The journey continues for @TheRealAC3. pic.twitter.com/8fb8uMzvSt
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) January 4, 2018
???? @TheRealAC3 will be back in Los Angeles. pic.twitter.com/6tF0x043Xs
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) January 3, 2018
“He’s shown he can be successful in this league and we’re confident that will continue in the season ahead.”
Cole has made 55 appearances since signing for LA Galaxy in January 2016.
In his first season in MLS, Cole was a part of a defense that allowed just 1.15 goals per game, tied for second-best in the league.
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The Galaxy re-sign Cole after acquiring Venezuelan National Team defender Rolf Feltscher, Norwegian defender Jorgen Skjelvik and acquiring the rights to former San Jose Earthquakes goalkeeper David Bingham.
Cole and the LA Galaxy will open the 2018 MLS Regular Season at StubHub Center on Sunday, March 4, at 7 p.m. PT against Portland Timbers.
Ashley Cole is considered by many critics and fellow professional players as one of the best defenders of his generation, and by some, for the better part of his career, as the best left-back in the world.
Born in Stepney, London, Cole began his youth career at Arsenal and made his full debut for the club in November 1999, going on to make 228 appearances and scoring nine goals for the North London club.
With Arsenal he won two Premier League titles, three FA Cups, and was an integral member of “The Invincibles” team of the 2003–04 season, who went the entire league season undefeated.
Cole also made an appearance in Arsenal’s first UEFA Champions League final in 2006; the club lost 2–1 to Barcelona.
In August 2006, after a protracted transfer saga, Cole completed a move to rival club Chelsea, with whom he won further honours, including the Premier League in the 2009–10 season, four FA Cups, one Football League Cup and one UEFA Champions League.
He was released by Chelsea at the end of the 2013–14 season.
With seven winners’ medals, Cole has won the FA Cup more times than any other player in history, and is one of two players to have won the Premier League and FA Cup ‘Double’ with two different clubs, along with Nicolas Anelka.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")