Emma Hayes, Chelsea women's manager, to depart at season's end

Emma Hayes, the manager of Chelsea Women’s team, has announced her departure from the club at the conclusion of the season. Although her next destination has yet to be unveiled, she is widely recognized as a leading candidate for the vacant role of head coach for the USA women’s national team. The surprising news was revealed shortly after Chelsea’s commanding 6-0 victory against Aston Villa in the WSL.

Hayes is renowned as one of the most influential figures in women’s football management. Her remarkable 12-year tenure at Chelsea has yielded unprecedented success, transforming the club’s fortunes both on and off the pitch since she assumed the position in 2012.

During her tenure, she has steered her team to an impressive six WSL titles, five Women’s FA Cups, two Continental Cups, the Spring Series, a Community Shield triumph, and a place in the Champions League final. Individually, her list of accolades is equally extensive. In recognition of her contributions, she was honored with an MBE in 2016 and an OBE in 2022. Additionally, she was named the Best FIFA Women’s Football Coach in 2021 and earned the title of WSL Manager of the Season on six occasions. In recent years, she has ventured into commentary and punditry, receiving numerous awards for her coverage of the men’s Euros for ITV in 2020.

Hayes has played a pivotal role in coaching and developing some of the finest talent in women’s football. Her contributions include securing the signature of Fran Kirby in 2015 and the recruitment of renowned figures such as Sam Kerr and Pernille Harder. Under her leadership, Chelsea has become a formidable, unwavering dynasty that has mastered the art of domestic victory.

Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, Chelsea’s co-sporting directors, acknowledged Emma Hayes’s significant impact on women’s football, describing her as one of the driving forces behind change in the sport. They praised her unparalleled achievements at Chelsea, which will forever hold a special place in the club’s history. They expressed their full support for her decision to explore new challenges, given her remarkable contributions during her decade-long tenure with the club.

Chelsea’s chairman, Todd Boehly, and co-owner Behdad Eghbali underscored Emma’s invaluable contributions to the club. They emphasized her pioneering role in women’s football and her profound respect within the game. They also expressed their anticipation of continued collaboration with her in the coming months.

Despite Chelsea’s unbeaten status in the current WSL campaign, capturing their fifth successive title, Emma Hayes’s announcement took many by surprise, especially with a significant portion of the season still ahead. However, considering her personal circumstances, it may not be entirely unexpected. Following an emergency hysterectomy due to endometriosis at the start of the previous season, she has frequently articulated her desire for a more balanced work-life routine to spend additional time with her son, Harry. Additionally, the recent loss of her father in the early weeks of this season has had a profound impact. Combined with her extended tenure at Chelsea, the pursuit of new challenges became an inevitable prospect.

While the nature of Emma Hayes’s next move remains uncertain, an international coaching role appears to be a logical next step, particularly with numerous high-profile positions available. The legacy she leaves is a term often used in football, and her indelible mark on the women’s domestic game in England and Chelsea is indisputable. It is befitting that Hayes will have the opportunity to bid farewell on her own terms, allowing Chelsea and her dedicated fans to give her a proper and well-deserved send-off.