Ashley Cole is fast closing in on a phenomenal football record…and has just seen off another in the process.

The strong-arm of England’s defence this week became England’s most capped tournament player, having made his 21st appearance and overtaking David Beckham and Peter Shilton en route.

With 97 games for his country now under his belt, the Chelsea man is rapidly approaching a century…with only a handful of players standing in his way as the most capped player ever to have donned an England shirt.

Having made his debut in 2001 in a winning world cup qualifier against Albania, his first competition at international level came in the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea.

Re-writing the History Books

Now, having served under four different managers at six world cup and European championships, Cole is on course to re-write the history books completely with only five players ahead of him in having shown their allegiance to their country more times.

Beckham remains England’s most capped outfielder on 115 appearances, with goalkeeper Shilton holding the outright record on 125.

At the age of 31, Cole has the potential for plenty more international action.

He has played almost every minute of every England match since a 1-1 draw against Sweden when he was 21.

Player of the Year

Alongside his England caps, he has seven F.A cups, three league championships and a championship league title to his name. Football fans voted him England Player of the Year in 2010.

• The quarter-final on Sunday will be his 98th appearance; if England made the semi final it would have been 99….and – against all the odds it would seem – if they g0t to the final he would have celebrated his ton!
• One record he’ll never eclipse however is that of legend Bobby Charlton’s long-standing 49 goals for England…the outstanding left back has never found the net in an international competition.
• Of his 97 games for his country, Cole has played on 60 winning sides, has drawn 24 times, and lost 13.
• Steven Gerrard is hard on Cole’s heels…he has played for England 95 times. The injured Frank Lampard is currently on 90.

The current table of England centurions is:

• Peter Shilton 125
• David Beckham 115
• Bobby Moore 108
• Bobby Charlton 106
• Billy Wright 105

Nicki Williams can’t wait for Sunday’s quarter final clash with Italy.

She writes for Gear-Zone, on-line stockists of outdoor clothing and sportswear, including football boots, Euro 2012 national strips, specialist goalkeeping equipment and Adidas, Mitre and Puma footballs.

 Picture source: Compfight