Cole joined Jose Mourinho’s Premier League champions on transfer deadline day in August 2006 and found a hunger for trophies which perfectly matched his own…

‘I turned up and understood from minute one that the manager only wanted to win and that was music to my ears. The way we trained, day in day out, the expectation was to train as you play, but I really mean that – the tackles used to fly.

‘I knew the standards and levels were high and that's what I wanted, to try to win more silverware. I knew with these players around me and that mindset and mentality, it was only going to go one way, because the drive and the competitive nature of that group of players was amazing.

‘After my first day I understood, again, that it's a tough league but with these players around me ready to fight and battle and give everything, we had more than a chance to do it.’

His first Premier League title in a Chelsea shirt arrived under Carlo Ancelotti in 2009/10, as one half of the Blues’ first-ever domestic Double…

‘It probably took me three years too many to win my first Premier League title with Chelsea.

‘I was lucky to be in a dressing room that had some big characters and personalities in there. A goal from our big-game player Didier Drogba won us the 2007 FA Cup, but I understood that this group of players would continue to win because that was the mentality.

‘For me personally, I felt that of all my years playing in the Premier League, the 2009/10 season was the best year I played. Physically, I felt the best I've ever felt. I felt very confident going into every game, I felt I was one of the best left-backs going forward, it was my most goal contributions and I felt I could defend.

‘That was due to Carlo Ancelotti's influence. The way he man-managed players and the group of us, we had a lot of discipline.

‘It meant a lot because obviously I got a lot of stick for leaving Arsenal, so that day was very important in my own mental state. It was an important season for me and an important season for the club as we did the Double that year, winning the FA Cup again with another goal from Didier.’

The 2009/10 Chelsea side was one known for its attacking prowess, underlined by a club-record 8-0 win over Wigan and a then-Premier League record 103 goals scored during the campaign…

‘That season going forward, attacking-wise, we were absolutely amazing and blowing teams out of the water. The importance of the goals and how many we got created a little bit of history there.

‘That group of players and the environment was just unreal. We were so attacking, free-flowing and entertaining. We certainly tried to entertain and play front-foot football.

‘We won the league on the last day. Knowing you've got one game at home against Wigan, who were struggling at the time, to win the league, there was only one way that game was going to go. The way we performed on that day topped everything off. It was a top-class performance and I was lucky enough to score and play well, and then celebrate again with my family.’

Plenty more trophies followed, domestically and on the European stage, as Cole contributed to arguably the most successful period in Chelsea history…

‘Looking back now, I try to memorise some of the magic moments that we had. Winning the Premier League, FA Cups, the League Cup, Europa League and Champions League. I knew it was going to come because for every single player, after they got a taste of winning the Premier League trophy, the mentality switched.

‘The minute you win silverware, you continuously want to win more. I came into a group of hungry players that liked the feeling of winning, so I knew that wasn't going to stop and we continued to battle.

‘We fought with passion and desire and, again, we gave everything for the badge. When you have those characteristics as an individual and then as a group, you will go on to be successful and continue to win.’

Ashley’s 338th and final Chelsea appearance came on the last day of the 2013/14 Premier League season, before he left to join Serie A side Roma that summer…

‘I remember playing away against Cardiff away in my final game. Jose made me the captain and we won 2-1. I remember all the players pushing me over to go and celebrate with the fans after the match and as I was captain I tried to get all the players together to go to clap the fans.

‘Then my teammates all started to walk backwards quite slowly. They let me get my ovation from the away fans, which meant a lot, although I didn't know I was going to leave at that time.

‘The fans were amazing with me in my nine years at Chelsea. They were supportive, they were great, they were brilliant. It’s something I'll always cherish, because we did have a good bond. I tried to give everything for the club and we created some history and memories.

‘I felt I left quite a good legacy but also, on the flip side of that, I understood a football career is not forever. It was probably time for me to go and try my new journey, so I went to Italy.’