"It has always been our philosophy to have a number of ex-players involved in our coaching structure so they can pass on their unique experiences and what it means to play for Chelsea.

"Joe will work across a number of age groups and with various staff to ensure he gets to experience the full range of our programme.

"I'm sure sharing his experiences and football knowledge, combined with his obvious passion for the game, will help enormously with the development of our young players."

During his time as a player at Stamford Bridge, Cole won the Premier League title on three occasions, the FA Cup twice and the League Cup.

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