Emma Hayes Highlights Worrying Drop in Female Coaches in WSL
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Emma Hayes Reflects on Her Legacy and the Future of Women’s Football
As Emma Hayes prepares to leave Chelsea and take on the role of head coach for the United States, she’s expressed concerns about the future of female coaches in the Women’s Super League (WSL). This Saturday, Hayes will lead Chelsea for the last time in her remarkable 12-year tenure when they face Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Another notable departure will be Carla Ward, who will also be coaching her final game for Aston Villa as they take on Chelsea’s title rivals, Manchester City, at Villa Park.
In a recent press conference, Hayes shared her thoughts on the future of the WSL. “I’ve always been a strong advocate for the women’s game and how to support women in the sport, but we still have a long way to go,” she said.
Hayes voiced her concern about the decreasing number of female coaches, attributing it to the intense demands of the job. “It’s incredibly tough to balance being a parent and working full-time in this industry. It’s not a typical nine-to-five job; it’s a seven-day-a-week commitment,” she explained. Hayes suggested innovative solutions, like co-coaching teams, possibly involving two mothers, to make the profession more accommodating.
She also called for greater investment in women’s football and addressed the growing negativity in the sport. “The level of abuse has been extreme this year. We’ve seen it with players like Becky Spencer during the FA Cup final, and even with Lauren James and Fran Kirby. The dark side of social media and the sport needs to be addressed with better regulations,” Hayes emphasized.
Arsenal recently announced that their women’s team will play 11 games at the Emirates Stadium next season, a move Hayes hopes to see replicated at Chelsea. “I want us to play at Stamford Bridge every week and have it sold out. The players deserve new facilities and continuous upgrades. They should always feel empowered to ask, ‘What can we do better?'” she said.
During her time at Chelsea, Hayes has led the team to win 13 major trophies, including six WSL titles—four of which were consecutive—and the team reached the Champions League final in 2021.
