Emma Hayes: Chelsea manager to leave at end of Women's Super League season

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes will leave the west London club at the end of the WSL season.

Hayes, who has been in the Blues' dugout since 2012, will leave the reigning WSL champions to "pursue a new opportunity outside of the WSL and club football."

Hayes guided Chelsea to a league and cup double last season, and has won six WSL titles, five FA Cups, and two League Cups during her 11-year tenure.

She led the Blues to the 2021 Champions League final, but her side were beaten comprehensively 4-0 by Barcelona in Gothenberg.

She has won the WSL's Manager of the Season award six times, and was inducted into the WSL Hall of Fame in 2021.

Chelsea's co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley said: "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."

Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly and co-owner Behdad Eghbali also said of Hayes: "Emma's contribution to Chelsea cannot be understated. She has been a pioneer in women's football and is hugely respected within the game."

Hayes has been prominently linked with the vacant USA national job, which opened up following Vlatko Andonovski's resignation after their shock last-16 exit to Sweden at the 2023 Women's World Cup.

In fact, Hayes' coaching career began Stateside, as she held roles at Long Island Lady Riders and Iona College, before moving back to England in 2006 to assist Vic Akers at Arsenal. She then managed Chicago Red Stars in 2008, but was sacked two years later.

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