England and Chelsea legend Ashley Cole has named the hardest opponent of his career whom he hated playing against.

During a career that spanned 20 years, Cole played for two of England's biggest clubs in Arsenal and Chelsea.

The three-time Premier League champion left English football in 2014 when he signed for Serie A side AS Roma. He then left Europe altogether as he opted to play for MLS club LA Galaxy.

In 2019, Cole returned to England to play for Derby County before calling time on his professional career.

Over the years, Cole has come up against some of the toughest players that the Premier League has ever seen.

Speaking recently to SPORTbible, the former Chelsea man picked out one player that gave him the most problems in terms of physicality.

He said: "You know what, Kevin Davies at Bolton, I always hated playing against him, Kevin Davies has to be up there.

"Whenever the ball was out wide, he was peeling on me, and I had to be a little bit brave because an elbow or his head was coming at my head."

Cole added: "So, he was a big, big, strong lad, would put his head or foot anywhere, so yeah, Kevin Davies."

Kevin Davies is one of English football's most memorable strikers, having played for clubs such as Southampton, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers and Preston North End.

During his career, the Sheffield-born striker scored a total of 151 goals in 818 club appearances.

On the international stage, Davies made his one and only England appearance in 2010 when he came on for Peter Crouch during a Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro.

At the time, aged 33 years and 200 days, Davies became the oldest England debutant since Leslie Compton in 1950, who made his first Three Lions appearance at the age of 38.

While Davies was one of Cole's hardest opponents, the former England full-back named White Hart Lane as one of the toughest atmospheres he has ever played in.

He explained: "Premier League, I think, because the rivalry was strong and intense. I would say White Hart Lane, I enjoyed the atmosphere and soaked it up, but when we went a goal down, it was a good atmosphere.

"Abroad, I would have to say a Galatasaray or Fenerbahce, whenever I played in Turkey, even against the national team, it was always very hostile and a real scary environment to be in. But, again, you soak it up, but you understand that you've never felt this before."

Cole was speaking to SPORTbible after the release of the latest episode of his podcast 'Football’s Greatest: Could It Be Magic?', which he hosts alongside Joe Cole.