US Edition 
Ashley Cole 'surprised’ to be voted England player of the year
Ashley Cole may have won virtually every honour in the domestic game, but on Monday he received perhaps the unlikeliest accolade of all.
Cole was voted England player of the year in a poll on the FA website, after a year in which he was one of the few players to emerge from the World Cup with his reputation untarnished. Steven Gerrard came second in the poll, with Adam Johnson third.
The Chelsea left-back has had a turbulent relationship with supporters during a career in which his private life has frequently been in the spotlight. He is also reviled by Arsenal fans over the circumstances of his departure in 2006.
“It came as a big surprise to me,” he said. “I never thought I would get this award with all the other players who were in the running. I never thought it would be me, but I’m very proud and thankful to the fans.”
Cole’s unlikely transformation from pariah to fans’ favourite is all the more surprising given that when interviewed on ITV before the last year’s FA Cup final, Cole admitted he would prefer to win the double with Chelsea than the World Cup with England.
The award comes two years after Cole was booed by the Wembley crowd in 2008 when his mistake led to a Kazakhstan goal.
“I don’t think it was about that mistake, I think it was a more personal thing, so it hurt me even more,” he said. “But I think in voting me player of the year the fans are starting to see that.”
Cole added: “When I was at school I was playing football every day, and you want to make your dream come true. It is hard, but you’re out in the fresh air playing football with your mates, it’s the dream job.
“Looking back I think I had a great season, I won the league and The FA Cup and I was in the Uefa team of the season, and now this award. For me it was a great year and I hope I can carry on keep getting caps and playing well for England. Hopefully trying to win something for England and progress further than we have in the past.”
He summed up: “I want to play as long as I can for England, at the minute I’m level with a left-back [Kenny Sansom] who was an idol of mine and a great player. To hopefully take over that record tomorrow night would be a great achievement.”