Moments after Chelsea‘s emphatic 6-0 Women’s Super League (WSL) win at Aston Villa, the club announced that manager Emma Hayes would leave at the end of season. ESPN sources have confirmed she is now set to take the United States job, and those unaware of her achievements in the English game will wonder what she will bring.
Since arriving at Chelsea in August 2012, Hayes has won six WSL titles, five FA Cups and two League Cups, as well as the one-off Spring Series in 2017 and the Community Shield in 2020. The only title that continues to elude her is the Women’s Champions League: her team made it to the final just once, back in 2020-21, where they were soundly beaten by Barcelona.
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Far from just being a manager who has filled the trophy cabinets at Chelsea, Hayes has overseen the transformation of the women’s side of the club, constantly pushing for better treatment, investment and respect; all of those efforts have helped positively impact women’s football across England. Chelsea have improved season on season, as Hayes had developed the squad, filling the dressing room with winners and offering them some of the highest standards.
Speaking on her contribution to Chelsea, sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley…
