Sonia Bompastor Sets Sights On Building Upon Emma Hayes’ Legacy At Chelsea

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Sonia Bompastor is eager to build on the foundations laid by Emma Hayes at Chelsea, aiming to continue her legacy. Bompastor, who was appointed as Chelsea Women's new head coach in May, joins from Lyon after a three-year stint with the French club. During her tenure at Lyon, she secured seven titles, including the Women's Champions League in the 2021-22 season.

Not only does Bompastor bring an impressive managerial record, but she also has a distinguished 13-year playing career. The Frenchwoman won 14 titles with Montpellier and Lyon and is the only female to have won the Champions League both as a player and a coach. Her experiences are expected to guide Chelsea to their first success in the tournament, having finished as runners-up in 2021.

Bompastor's arrival marks a new era for Chelsea Women. She replaces Emma Hayes, who spent 12 years at Stamford Bridge, winning 16 titles and achieving 261 victories out of 367 games (D42 L64). Hayes is currently leading the United States team to the semi-finals of the Paris Olympics in her first tournament in charge.

Reflecting on Hayes' support, Bompastor said, "She has been really supportive. Emma is someone I know because she was my assistant coach when I played in the WPS in the US." She added, "I'm looking forward to now trying to build from her legacy. She did a wonderful job and now I'm bringing my own personal touch as well to make sure the club reach all the expectations."

Chelsea were knocked out of last year's competition by eventual winners Barcelona in the semi-finals. However, Bompastor is confident that her experiences will help guide the club to their first success in the tournament. "I think the group already have a great mentality – a mentality of winning," she said. "This is something that has always been here."

Bompastor emphasised the importance of players in achieving success: "The players are really important for me and they will be the ones who make sure we are successful." She aims to help them feel comfortable on the field and understand her game model, philosophy, and vision of performance.

Aiming for New Heights

The 44-year-old coach's record at Lyon speaks volumes about her capabilities. She won 100 out of 118 games (D10 L8), with her team scoring 381 goals during that period and maintaining an impressive win percentage of 84.75%. At Chelsea, she aims for similar success by targeting both domestic and international titles.

Bompastor's passion for football is evident: "When you have the chance to do a job with your passion, I think this is a privilege." She wants her players to enjoy their time on the field while striving for victories and scoring goals. "I just want them to enjoy," she said. "We will work very hard to achieve this goal."

As Bompastor takes over from Hayes, Chelsea fans eagerly anticipate how she will shape the team's future while honouring its rich history of success.