Top 10 Chelsea Women players of the Emma Hayes era

Emma Hayes, manager of Chelsea Women, celebrates with her players in 2016 (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)
Emma Hayes, manager of Chelsea Women, celebrates with her players in 2016 (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)
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Chelsea, Katie Chapman
Katie Chapman (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

10. Katie Chapman

The highly decorated English international, Katie Chapman retired from football after leading the Blues out to an FA Cup triumph in 2018 against Arsenal. The midfielder ended her club career with 10 FA Cups while earning 94 international caps for England. She captained the Blues to a league and cup double in 2015, a triumph in the 2017 WSL Spring Series, and the FA Cup in 2018.

She may have spent a large portion of her career with Arsenal, but after her retirement from the game, Chapman became the Chelsea Women’s first ambassador, helping to support women’s football, and the club on and off the pitch. As someone that continues to advocate for the Chelsea Women’s team today, it is difficult to leave her off the list.

She asserted herself in the middle of the park during her Chelsea tenure, playing alongside Drew Spence, and Ji in the middle of the park as the Blues reached their first-ever Champions League semifinal.

She brought that veteran leadership at the perfect time, elevating the Blues to a level where a major trophy was finally in the hands of the club. Many players could be acknowledged at this No. 10 spot, but due to the fact that she was one of the first captains during this era, and the one that led the team out to its first major trophy, Chapman begins this list.