During her 12-year reign, Emma Hayes turned Chelsea women into winners. Photo: Getty Images/Justin Tallis
One of the most remarkable statistics surrounding Emma Hayes is that since she was appointed by Chelsea in August 2012, the men's team has gone through no fewer than 11 managers.Another reason is that the Chelsea women's team had not won anything before she took over. After a relegation scare in its first season, they have won six Women's Super League titles, including four in a row since 2019/20, five FA Cups (including a double in three successive seasons) and two League Cups. A total of 15 trophies were won, an average of more than one per year, which is an outstanding achievement. And she could retire in 16th place on Saturday as this season's title race between Chelsea and Manchester City goes down to the final day.
Hayes was named FIFA Women's Coach of the Year for 2022 ; no British coach has ever won the men's tournament. At one time she was also the only female manager in the WSL.
That she has lasted so long at Chelsea shows what a good – and importantly pragmatic – coach Hayes is, and is also a testament to her remarkable resilience and undeniable tenacity. And she is ruthless. This was evident in the DAZN documentary about the 2022 club. In one of the videos, Hayes gave a team speech in which she promised to replace her players and “find the best” if they did not fulfill their obligations.
At one time, Hayes successfully dealt with the same owner who so upset Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte, and, under the new regime, Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino. This indicates a strong but also insightful character. In fact, it is difficult to remember any previous Chelsea manager leaving entirely on his own terms, as Hayes did. This in itself is unprecedented for the club.
Hayes survived a decade under Roman Abramovich and in doing so not only brought Chelsea success – a necessary condition to satisfy the Russian billionaire – but also forced the standards and profile of the women's game and investment in it. This will be her greatest legacy, or rather the one she leaves behind at Chelsea.
Emma Hayes celebrates the fifth of five Women's FA Cup successes, three of which were part of the doubles. Photo: Pennsylvania/Adam Davey
The phrase “role model” is thrown around too easily in sports, but Hayes fulfilled that requirement for female coaches, players and women aspiring to play football. From hiring pelvic floor trainers to training based on the menstrual cycle to supporting research into how female soccer players suffer from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, Hayes understands. And the desire to talk about these topics.
In the past, even discussing the female body and what it takes to perform in elite sports was considered almost taboo. It is now in the high performance mainstream and has permeated all the levels that society says should be beneficial for women's (and girls') fitness, mental health and body confidence. We still live in an era where girls find it difficult to access sports or become discouraged.
In doing so, Hayes has successfully challenged stereotypes and also made some interesting changes to the men's game – although the constant comparison between the two is tiresome. However, Hayes has been a successful and popular pundit, not least when she joined the ITV team for the 2021 European Men's Championships. With her detailed tactical analysis, she refuted even lazier stereotypes.
Of course, Hayes was one of very few women's coaches linked to working in the men's game, although she was generally quick to dismiss talk of running AFC Wimbledon in 2021 as an “insult” given they were struggling in League One. and she was at her best with Chelsea. “Women’s football is something to celebrate, as well as the quality and achievements of all the women I represent,” she said. “It’s an insult to them that we say women’s football is a step down.”
She’s right. There will be those who will continue to sneer at the attendance, at the level of women's football, but this is born out of ignorance. Hayes had a champion on and off the field. Ask someone to say the name of a women's soccer manager and that's what they'll remember. Such was her influence.
Hayes has been at the forefront of improving standards at the elite level of the women's game Photo: Reuters/Paul Childs
Her self-confidence and stubbornness have also led to her saying some strange things lately, from her criticism of “inappropriate” relationships between players – which she later said she let herself down with those words – to her unfair and dangerous comments about “male aggression ” and pushed Arsenal manager Jonas Eidewaal, and then, strangely enough, read a poem by Robert Frost at a press conference instead of simply apologizing.
The 47-year-old shouldn't be defined by these unconvincing moments, but they are undeniable and perhaps, especially in Eydevall's case, gave a glimpse of what a fierce competitor she is. She's opinionated and outspoken – which is great and refreshing – but in these cases she was wrong. However, these incidents should not become part of her legacy. It would be a small thing, even if it could seriously damage Eidewall's career.
The only trophy that has eluded Hayes at Chelsea is the Champions League and perhaps the pressure and strain of fighting on all fronts in this season. , and with strong stinging wounds reached her. There was an edge to this rivalry with Eideval.
As she heads to the United States, which remains her spiritual and formative home, Hayes should be talked about for what she won and the standards she set at Chelsea rather than what she achieved in taking the women's game forward .
For this, she was respected and recognized – and rightly so – and now she takes on the role of head coach of the US women's team, the number one job in the world. This is another recognition of how highly she is thought of. She is the second Englishwoman to do this, after Jill Ellis, but Ellis spent her entire career in America.
Hayes will always be remembered for her success and trophies and for being a pioneer. Every sport is missing its biggest names, and the WSL is about to lose its biggest player ever. We will have to fill a significant gap.
WSL last day reshuffles – and forecast -546e2e3b9fd3.html?direct=true&id=21b87ac2-e0c8-4551-9983-546e2e3b9fd3&template=articleRendererHTML” class=”tmg-particle embed wrp-21b87ac2-e0c8-4551-9983-546e2e3 b9fd3″ Harry – female football reporter” data-business-type=”editorial” loading=”eager” Scrolling=”no” Frameborder=”0″ allow=”web-share” style=”width: 100%; min-width: 100%; border: none; position: relative; display: block; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;”>
Chelsea will be crowned Women's Super League champions on Saturday at Old Trafford if they match or beat Manchester City's result at Villa Park. Chelsea, who are top of the table on goal difference entering the final day, will face Women's FA Cup winners Manchester United away while City travel to seventh-placed Aston Villa. Both matches will start at 15:00.
If both trophy-chasing teams win, Chelsea will secure their fifth consecutive WSL title, unless City's margin of victory is at least three goals greater than Chelsea's. For example, if Chelsea win 1-0, City will need a 4-0 win or better to lift the trophy.
The only unlikely exception would be if City win by just two goals more than Chelsea and in doing so equal the London team's total goals scored this season. For example, if Chelsea win 1-0, it's an incredible 7-4 (or more) win for City. In this scenario, both teams would be equal on goal difference, goals scored and matches won, so the title would drop to the head-to-head record between the two teams, which would favor City as they took four points from their game. league games against Chelsea this season.
If both teams lose, City can win the title if their losing margin is narrower enough than Chelsea's.
If both teams lose, Chelsea will retain the title on goal difference.
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Of course, it is not guaranteed that both title contenders will win their matches. Chelsea may have a tougher game ahead of them, but Aston Villa did win at home to Manchester City last season. If both teams end up chasing goal difference in the second half, the big disadvantage for Gareth Taylor's side will be the absence of WSL top scorer Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw due to injury. Given their track record of always seeming to find a way to get the job done when it matters most – and since they have a chance to give Emma Hayes the send-off of her dreams – I have to give Chelsea the slight edge.
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