There is nobody like her in women’s club football. There never was before, and there never will be again. Midway through the 2012 Women’s Super League season, a native of Camden took over a London club. From there, we all know the Chelsea Women story. The daughter of Miriam and Sid created arguably the greatest dynasty in English women’s club football. It was pure consistency, and excellence at the highest level.
In a shocking announcement by the club following its thumping of Aston Villa at the Bescot Stadium, longtime manager and CFCW icon Emma Hayes has decided this will be her final campaign in west London.
The reports according to several media outlets including ESPN have confirmed that Hayes will be the next coach of the USWNT. ESPN is even saying that there is an expectation that the English manager will juggle both a national team and club coaching job until the conclusion of the season. How will that work? Who knows, but right now, most people are still trying to digest the news that took the football world by storm.
It was never going to last forever, but that does not change the emotions of every fan, player, and member of the club. The transformation into what this club has become today did not happen overnight. It took patience, relentlessness, and an incredible amount of desire.
11 different men stood as the leader of the Chelsea men since the appointment of the former Chicago Red Stars’ manager. In her first full campaign at the club, the Blues finished just four points off the bottom. Since, the west London outfit has not finished outside of the WSL’s top-three.