With over 16 trophies in 12 years at Chelsea, Emma Hayes established a never-before-seen benchmark in the women’s game. Sure, the English tactician managed to keep the dominance of the Blues alive and made it look easy. However, ‘winning and staying at the top level’ was something that Hayes describes as very challenging.

The 48-year-old tactician may have many fond memories with the English giants, but none compares to the Women’s Super League title win of the 2023/24 season. To recall, out of a possible 66 points from 22 games, both Chelsea Women and Manchester City battled for the domestic title, finishing tied at 55 points. However, it was the Blues’ superior goal difference of 53, compared to the Sky Blues’ 46, that secured the title for Hayes and her team.

Such drama ensuing had the new USWNT manager sweating despite a greater advantage over the goal difference. “It was really tough, I think, for everyone,” began Hayes while talking to FIFA after collecting her The Best Women’s Coach 2024. “It’s really difficult after 12 years to keep winning and staying at the top level, but full credit to the players. They certainly put in a shift to retain the title.”

Technically, there must have been some pressure on Hayes to ensure a proper send-off from Chelsea. Considering they lost both the UEFA Women’s Champions League semifinals to Barcelona Femení and the Women’s FA Cup to Manchester United, winning the WSL title was undoubtedly the best way to cap off her more than a decade-long tenure.

“We weren’t at our best all year but I think it just shows the character of the players and the quality of the squad, and it was a memorable title win for those reasons,” concluded Hayes, heaping praise over her players for giving their all to win the prestigious title most dramatically ever, while simultaneously giving her the proper send-off.

Perhaps that adrenaline rush was exactly what Emma needed, as a straightforward victory might not have made it as memorable as the dramatic battle against City. However, if you think this was the most challenging moment for Hayes during her time at Chelsea, you could be mistaken.

It ‘definitely wasn’t easy’ for Emma Hayes at Chelsea!

With triumph came countless challenges, many of which have only recently come to light. “It definitely wasn’t easy because I had a full-time job at Comm Garden,” Hayes shared in a previous conversation on the GirlsontheBall podcast. Recalling her grueling schedule, the USWNT boss described how she worked all day before hopping on a moped, riding to AO, catching a train to Cobham, and coaching until about 9:30 PM.

Afterward, she would take the 1:30 AM train back to Waterloo, get back on the moped, and head home to Camden, often arriving around midnight, only to repeat the routine the next day. Despite these challenges, Hayes never envisioned herself becoming a world-class coach. The Johan Cruyff Women’s Coach Award at the 2024 Ballon d’Or had thought her career path would lead her into the family business, which she had thoroughly enjoyed.

However, destiny had other plans, steering her toward a career in the beautiful game, which came with its own set of challenges at Chelsea. “It was difficult because there weren’t a lot of resources. We didn’t have full-time players or shared facilities. It was a huge build by a lot of people over a long period of time. I don’t actually think it took about eight or nine years before it felt like, ‘Okay, this is the right setup,’” concluded Hayes.

Who would have thought that Emma Hayes went through such things to be where she is today? But we reckon it must have been worth it!