Emma Hayes


Emma Hayes MBE is an English professional football manager. She is currently the manager of FA WSL club Chelsea Women. She previously served as the head coach and director of football operations for Chicago Red Stars of Women's Professional Soccer in the United States from 2008 until 24 May 2010.

Early career

Originally from Camden, London, having studied at Liverpool Hope University, graduating in 1999, she was formerly manager of the Long Island Lady Riders between 2001 and 2003, head women's football coach at Iona College in New Rochelle between 2003 and 2006, and first team assistant coach and academy director for Arsenal Ladies between 2006 and 2008.
Hayes landed the Chelsea Women job in August 2012, replacing Liverpool-bound Matt Beard.
Hayes was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2016 Birthday Honours for services to football.

Managerial statistics

All competitive league, cup and European games are included.

The 2015 season

After narrowly missing out on the 2014 FA WSL 1 title on the final day, Hayes oversaw a huge squad overhaul that bore witness to the addition of several arrivals. Swedish shot-stopper Hedvig Lindahl and promising England centre-half Millie Bright among the new recruits. Marija Banusic, Gemma Davison and Niamh Fahey also joined Chelsea, signing from Kristianstads, Liverpool Ladies and Arsenal Ladies respectively. Later on in the season, Hayes won the race for Reading & England forward Fran Kirby for a British record fee. With the agonising memories of final-day defeat still fresh in memory, Hayes guided her side to an historic league and cup double, edging the FA Cup Final thanks to a lone strike from Ji late on in the first half. Later on in the season, they avenged themselves by winning The FA WSL 1 title, after hammering Sunderland at home 4–0 to secure the trophy.
In the Women's Champions League, Hayes' side reached the last 16 after defeating Glasgow City FC. After their 2–1 home defeat by VfL Wolfsburg, Hayes blasted the FA for poor fixture scheduling, insisting that the competition is "geared to French, German and Swedish teams, and until we change that or listen to clubs like Chelsea we are always going to get knocked out in the early rounds."

The 2016 season

Hayes' side finished second in The FA WSL 1, five points adrift of Champions Manchester City. The Blues also reached the FA Cup Final for the second consecutive year, losing 1–0 to a strong Arsenal side.

The 2017 season

Aided with addition of new players including Ramona Bachmann, Maren Mjelde, Erin Cuthbert and Crystal Dunn, Emma Hayes guided her side to finish top, in a reorganised FA WSL1, on goal difference.
The team also played the FA Cup competions and reached the semi-final but were knocked out by Birmingham City in a penalty shoot-out.