Joe Cole set for Stamford Bridge return

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Chelsea old-boy Joe Cole is set to return to his former employers as he takes on a role within the youth coaching set-up at Stamford Bridge.

The 37-year-old announced his retirement from playing football last month and was keen to step into coaching after completing his UEFA A coaching licence.

Cole is expected to be given a trial period in the new year where he will be able to experiment among different ages with the Chelsea youth system before being handed a specific age group next season.

The Blues have a history of developing talented players under the club’s academy director Neil Bath, but they have also developed a number of their youth coaches into successful managers later in their careers.

Brendan Rodgers started his coaching career as a youth team coach at Chelsea; Frank Lampard’s assistant, Jody Morris, was a successful coach of the Club’s under-18s.

Upon announcing his retirement last month, Cole said:

“Looking to the future, I want to stay involved in the game.

“I feel I can offer a lot as a coach and have really enjoyed the opportunity to undertake some of these duties with the Rowdies.

“To lend my experience to help other young footballers achieve their dreams, just like I did, is a big passion of mine.”

Chelsea’s issue in the past has been getting academy graduates into the first team; however that barrier seems to be slowly getting broken down as Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi have begun to embed themselves into the matchday squad.

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When not busy covering local news for EssexLive, Matt Lee can be found in the press box at Portman Road covering Ipswich Town's return to the Championship and push for the Premier League.

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