Hall of Fame: Ashley Cole reveals his dream team-mate XI

From Thierry Henry to Didier Drogba, Premier League 2024 Hall of Fame inductee Ashley Cole has played with some superstars during his career. 

But which of his former team-mates does he class as the BEST he's ever played with? 

The ex-Arsenal and Chelsea star reveals his dream team-mate XI...

Petr Cech

"I’ve played with David Seaman but Cech was at the time one of the best goalkeepers in the world. He was calm, he was composed, he was a real goalkeeper. He had everything, he could do everything. And also he was a great team-mate. Always offering to help."

Branislav Ivanovic

"He turned up on massive occasions. A big-game player. Scored important goals for us. He was technically better than what people give him credit for. He could drive, he could dribble with the ball, he had power. He defended 1v1. He was diligent, he loved that fight."

Sol Campbell

"What I see him go through. You know, leaving, similar to what happened to me. But you leave a big club, you go to another big club. It’s a rival. But his performances did not waver. He was a colossus at the back."

John Terry

"We had an amazing relationship. I played against him as a kid, districts and youth teams. And then to get to play alongside him and understand actually how good he was.

"He had everything. He could play left and right foot. There were moments where he’d just hook a ball away but he was the intelligent one where for a big guy he moved his frame. He would chest it down. We had a good understanding of each other."

Ashley Cole

"I could have put in Gael Clichy, Sylvinho. I’m not saying I was the best!"

Patrick Vieira

"He changed what midfielders looked like. He could beat players 1v1, he was strong, he was aggressive, he had great timing of his runs to get into the box. Scored important goals.

"A leader. Certainly a big influence in our dressing room."

Frank Lampard

"The amount of goals he contributed from midfield. One of the all-time top scorers. Was he as technically good as other midfielders? Maybe not, but seeing him day in, day out he certainly made up for that with work ethic."

Freddie Ljungberg

"He came to the club with people not knowing anything about him. He changed the way we looked at wingers. He had the understanding to play inside as a midfielder, as an eight. He could do everything.

"But what I loved about him was his timing of his runs to always be in positions where he’s facing the goal. And it’s always like, 'How has he got there?! He’s 1v1 with the goalie again!' "

Robert Pires

"We just had a great chemistry and a great understanding of how we wanted to play. I wanted to bomb on and run forward, he was happy to come inside off the line and shoot with his right foot. We just had a straight connection.

"He joined just as I was breaking through and we just hit it off straight away."

Thierry Henry

"Do I need to say anything? He was a trailblazer and a new type of striker. Playing off the left.

"At times liked to hug the left [wing] and make diagonal runs behind. We had little signals. I remember him looking at me, I’m on the ball in the left-back position and he would be, obviously body facing the goal to run, and he would give me like his little 'va-va-voom' eyes.

"I could see him pointing down and I knew that meant behind and I would just drive a little ball over the top. Even if it was overhit I knew he would continue his run and he’s got the speed to get onto it.

"And then in front of goal I don’t think there’s too many strikers you’d want ahead of him."

Didier Drogba

"I'll give an honourable mention to Dennis Bergkamp. What he did in training and brought to the Premier League was phenomenal. 

"But I’ve gone with Didier Drogba for the reason being I was with him and playing with him a long time, and again he turned up in massive games. Helped me win a lot of trophies.

"I’ve also seen the growth in him. When he first came to the Premier League and I played against him and he was a little at times maybe petulant with the fouls and not getting to grips with the Premier League and how rough it is. And then that was it."

Vote for two further inductees

Fans can vote for two further inductees to join Cole in the Hall of Fame in 2024.

A shortlist of 15 nominees has been revealed, with fans from across the world invited to choose two before 12:00 BST on Monday 8 April. The two inductees chosen will be announced on Monday 22 April.