Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Emma Hayes pens new contract with Chelsea Women

Emma Hayes has committed her future to Chelsea Women after signing a contract extension with the club.

Hayes, Chelsea boss since 2012, has enjoyed an astonishing nine-year tenure during which she’s led the club to four WSL titles - including the last two on the spin - two FA Cups, two League Cups, the WSL Spring Series, as well as the Community Shield. 

There was also that remarkable 33 game unbeaten run, while they were only defeated once in 2020/21 domestic competition last season.

Hayes was hoping to add the elusive Champions League crown to her ever-expanding trophy haul, but after a spirited run to the Final Chelsea lost out to an excellent Barcelona side managed by Lluís Cortés.

It was the first time in 14 years that an English side had reached Europe’s showpiece spectacle, and make no mistake about it Hayes will be gunning to go one step better next season and get her hands on the trophy.

“Everyone knows what this club means to me,” Hayes told the club’s website.

“The work we’ve done together over the last nine years has been hugely rewarding, full of growth of the women’s game, accompanied with winning, which is one of the club’s key values. I really look forward to keep building on the successes we’ve already achieved and I’m delighted to have extended further.

“It’s been a year and a half without fans, so I can’t wait to welcome them back to our home and share with them the wonderful team we’ve built together.”

This summer Hayes has shown that not only is she a stellar manager but she's been a superb pundit at Euro 2020. Her meticulous research, fascinating insight, and tactical expertise have been widely applauded from all quarters.

Once the tournament comes to a close Hayes’ focus will turn to next season’s WSL - which gets underway on the opening weekend of September - as she bids to bag a third successive title. Chelsea Women also have a belated 2020/21 FA Cup final against Birmingham to look forward to later that month.