Sonia Bompastor: Chelsea closing in on deal to appoint Lyon boss as Emma Hayes successor
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Chelsea are getting closer to agreeing to hire Sonia Bompastor from Lyon as their new manager after Emma Hayes.
Bompastor, who is from France and is 43 years old, is likely to start working with Chelsea in the summer. She will come with her assistant manager Camille Abily. They will take over from Hayes, who said she would leave the club at the end of this season after being in charge for 12 years. Hayes is now the new coach of the United States women’s national team.
This hiring would be a big win for Chelsea because Bompastor is the only female manager to win the Women’s Champions League in the last 15 years.
However, the deal might not be announced until after this season ends. There’s a possibility that both teams, Chelsea and Lyon, could meet in the Champions League final.
Chelsea will play against Barcelona in one semi-final, and Lyon will play against Paris Saint-Germain in the other.
Chelsea’s senior players were asked about what they wanted in a new coach by the club’s directors and general manager. They preferred another female coach, and Bompastor fits the bill. Other candidates like Casey Stoney and Laura Harvey were considered before.
Bompastor is a well-respected figure, having played for France 150 times and managed Lyon since 2021. Lyon is the most successful team in women’s European football history, winning the Champions League eight times.
Women’s club football will resume after a break this week. Chelsea, led by Hayes for now, will play against Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-finals on Sunday. They recently lost the League Cup final to Arsenal.
