John Terry leads congratulations to Ashley Cole as his former Chelsea and England team-mate is inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame

John Terry has led the messages congratulating Ashley Cole for being the latest player to be inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame.

The former Chelsea and Arsenal left-back was rewarded for his glittering career, in which at one point he was seen by many to be the best player in his position in world football. 

Cole won two Premier League titles at Arsenal – including their iconic Invincible season – before he joined Chelsea in a controversial move in 2006. 

He was team-mates to Terry at Stamford Bridge for eight seasons, in which they won the Premier League title, the Champions League in 2012 and four FA Cups. 

Reacting to the news shared by Cole on Instagram, Terry – who is yet to be inducted into the Hall of Fame – said: ‘Congratulations mate,’ with a clapping emoji.

The former Chelsea and Arsenal defender was named as the first player to be inducted in 2024

Past and present players of the game congratulated Cole on Instagram following the enws

Ex-Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham described Cole as a ‘legend,’ while Michael Ballack said Cole’s recognition was ‘well deserved’.

Joe Cole replied: ‘Completely deserved Coley,’ while Jamie Redknapp commented ‘what a player’.

It was perhaps former Derby, Hull, Aston Villa and West Brom defender Curtis Davies who paid the best message of congratulations, as he wrote: ‘ The best left back to do it. Thoroughly deserved legend.’

Among other players to congratulate Cole included Robbie Keane, Noni Madueke, Curtis Jones, Tim Cahill and Ryan Bertrand. 

‘I’m honoured to join the Premier League Hall of Fame.’ Cole said. ‘It’s humbling and fulfilling to be rewarded at the end of your career. 

‘I went through my career just trying to give my best and be good enough. 

‘You take it day-by-day and game-by-game. As a young kid, you never dream of any of this and you just do it for the love of the game of football.

‘I played for some fantastic clubs with incredible fans. Winning trophies with my boyhood club Arsenal and with Chelsea are amazing memories that will always be with me.

Cole has beaten Terry into the Hall of Fame – though the latter has been named as one of 15 former players on a shortlist which fans can vote for

Cole won three Premier League titles – two at Arsenal and one alongside Terry at Chelsea

‘It’s emotional to reflect because a lot of hard work has been put in. To join the Hall of Fame alongside the likes of Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry, Didier Drogba and Rio Ferdinand, I’m privileged to be in their company.’

Alongside his hat-trick of Premier League crowns, he made 385 appearances and won 62 per cent of the matches he played in. He contributed to 147 clean sheets, scored 15 goals and made 31 assists, underlining his ability at both ends of the pitch.

He is widely seen as the Premier League’s greatest left-back of all time, while he also made 107 appearances for the English national team.

Terry meanwhile was named on a 15-man shortlist to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and will hope to go in at the fourth time of asking.