Emma Hayes: Chelsea manager and ruthless winner who changed WSL forever

While the women’s game has continued to evolve in England on the pitch, Hayes has ensured Chelsea are always ahead of the pack and they have adapted alongside the league.

Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United have posed as challengers during Hayes’ reign, but her ability to strengthen the squad each transfer window and maintain a winning culture cannot be overstated.

She created a professional environment in which her players had everything they needed to perform and Hayes took away any excuse not to win.

Her ruthless nature, that has delivered so much success, was seen in the club’s 2022 DAZN documentary. In one clip she delivered a team talk in which she vowed to replace her players and “find better ones” if they did not deliver.

It has been an effective approach throughout her Chelsea career and Hayes targeted players in the transfer market she knew would thrive in a demanding environment.

After being knocked out of the Women’s Champions League semi-finals in 2018, Hayes pulled off one of her biggest coups to sign Australia striker Sam Kerr, fighting off interest from six-time European winners Lyon.

A year later, Chelsea signed Wolfsburg’s Pernille Harder for a world-record fee as Hayes pursued that elusive European crown.

While it has been the one piece of silverware to evade Hayes during her Chelsea career, her side has come closer than any other English club to winning it since Arsenal’s historic victory in 2007 – when Hayes was the Gunners’ assistant manager.

Now Hayes leaves as Chelsea’s most decorated head coach, it is the number of trophies she has won that will be celebrated most.

But her biggest legacy is the impact she has had on the future of the English women’s game.

A role model for female coaches, a spokesperson for equal opportunities and a driver of professional standards in the WSL – Hayes’ influence on the growth of the game has been immense.

While her departure will leave a gaping hole to fill at Chelsea, she has put in structures to help youth development, recruitment and scientific research.

She has given female coaches the confidence to challenge stereotypes, encouraged her players to take responsibility and grow into leaders and has set standards of success on the pitch.

Whatever impact Hayes leaves behind on a daily basis, women’s football in England will never be the same again. It will be better because of her.

Note: This article was originally published on 4 November 2023 but has been updated since then.