Emma Hayes will leave Chelsea’s Women’s team at the end of the season after over a decade in charge in order to “pursue a new opportunity outside of the WSL and club football”, the club has confirmed.
The 47-year-old joined Chelsea in 2012 and has overseen a hugely successful period in the club’s history winning six Women’s Super League titles, five FA Cups, and two League Cups, including a historic domestic treble.
A European trophy has so far eluded Hayes although she did steer the club to the Champions League final in 2021 where they were beaten by Barcelona.
Hayes will hope to add more silverware to her CV this campaign with the Blues currently leading the WSL standings following a 6-0 thrashing of Aston Villa on Saturday.
USWNT next?
The news will intensify links to the USA job, which has been vacant since Vlatko Andonovski was sacked after losing to Sweden in the World Cup round of 16.
That dismal performance in Australia, which marked the first time in USWNT history that they had failed to reach the semi-final stage, provoked much soul-searching and Hayes appears to have emerged as the favourite to take over ahead of OL Reign boss Laura Harvey.
Hayes has plenty of experience of coaching in the US, starting her managerial career in 2001 with a two-year spell at Long Island Lady Riders before taking over Iona College for three years.
Following a two-year stint as Arsenal’s assistant, she became coach and director of football at Chicago Red Stars, her final position pre-Chelsea. Hayes has spoken fondly of her time in the USA.
The Chelsea boss has been touted as a long-term successor to Sarina Wiegman when the Dutch coach eventually leaves England in the past.
What next for Chelsea?
The news will come as a massive blow to Chelsea given their dominance of women’s football in England during Hayes’ trophy-laden spell at the helm.
Reacting to the news on BBC Sport former England international Fara Williams said: “She’s done a fantastic job with Chelsea. She’s been given so much time they had patience in the early seasons and she’s built a phenomenal team and squad at Chelsea that compete on levels.
She added: “It’s sad that she’s going and leaving Chelsea and the WSL. What’s next for her?”
In a statement, chairman Todd Boehly and co-owner Behdad Eghbali said: “Emma’s contribution to Chelsea cannot be understated. She has been a pioneer in women’s football and is hugely respected within the game.”
Chelsea’s sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley added: “Emma has been one of the biggest drivers of change in women’s football. Her achievements at Chelsea are unrivalled and will live in the club’s history forever.
“Given everything she has contributed to Chelsea in over a decade with the club, and the legacy she leaves behind, we would never stand in her way when she felt it was the right time to pursue a new challenge.
“We are pleased that she will remain with the club for the remainder of the season to give us the time to identify her successor.
“There will be plenty of time to celebrate Emma’s many achievements at the club and to give her the farewell she deserves, but for now, as she always has been, Emma will be solely focused on making this season as successful as possible for Chelsea.”
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