Chelsea Women’s boss Emma Hayes has been named FA WSL Manager of the Season after clinching a third league title in a row.
Hayes led her team to success not only in the WSL but also the Vitality Women’s FA Cup. They did lose their Continental Cup crown to Manchester City in March however, losing 3-1 to Manchester City at Plough Lane.
Chelsea enjoyed a fine double-winning campaign in which they battled some difficult off-field challenges to secure their silverware.
A COVID-19 outbreak mid-season along with injuries to key players made this Hayes’ most challenging season even before the club became subject to unique government restrictions following owner Roman Abramovich’s decision to sell Chelsea as a result of the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Earlier this month, Hayes hailed her Chelsea side’s Women’s FA Cup triumph as “amazing for the women’s game” as they clinched a hard fought 3-2 win over City in front of a record crowd at Wembley.
Sam Kerr’s extra-time winner handed Chelsea their second trophy in a week, after they wrapped up the Women’s Super League title a week earlier.
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Highlights of the Women’s Super League match between Chelsea and Manchester United as Chelsea clinch the WSL title
Speaking after completing the domestic double, Hayes said: “I will look back in 10 years time and think ‘that team was immense’, it’s the best team I’ve ever coached.
“I totally understand that we always want to talk about perfection in football, but to be on the winning side more often that not, let me tell you. It’s human endeavour.
“This group, they’re not going to be on the losing team. They’ll find a way.”
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Chelsea manager Emma Hayes was full of praise for Manchester City after her side did just enough to triumph 3-2 after extra-time in the FA Cup final
Liverpool’s Matt Beard won the Championship honour having guided his side back to the WSL at the first attempt following relegation in the 2020/21 season.
Hayes was at the Grosvenor House in London on Tuesday evening at the LMA Awards dinner where she scooped the Barclays FA Women’s Super League manager of the year.
The ceremony celebrated the achievements of both the elite men’s and women’s managers and coaches with the winners of several other award categories also announced.
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Player of the Match Sam Kerr celebrates winning the WSL title and believes no-one would be able to stop the way Chelsea played in the second half
Kerr named player of the season
Forward Sam Kerr has been named FA WSL Player of the Season after a series of outstanding performances in Chelsea’s title triumph.
The Blues won the title by just a point having been taken to the final day of the season by Arsenal, and Kerr played a big role in their success.
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Sam Kerr produced two special strikes against Manchester United on Sunday, ensuring a 4-2 win that sealed the WSL title
Hayes’ side secured 18 wins, two draws and two defeats during their campaign – scoring 62 goals and conceding just 11.
Kerr won the WSL Golden Boot for the second season in a row after scoring 20 goals in 20 games, including two on the final day of the season to seal the WSL title.
The 28-year-old has already been named FWA Women’s Footballer of the Year and remains among the contenders for PFA Players’ Player of the Year, PFA Fans’ Player of the Year awards.
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Former England international Siobhan Chamberlain says Sam Kerr has taken Chelsea to another level and was key in winning the title
The Australia international notched 21 goals last term, but arguably her most important strikes in a Chelsea shirt came on the final day of this season as Chelsea beat Manchester United despite trailing on two occasions to see off title rivals Arsenal.
Reflecting on her second finish, Kerr said: “I actually visualised scoring crazy goals like that all the time. Guro headed it to me and I had a pop. I didn’t even know the goalkeeper was out.
“This is one of the best games I’ve played at Kingsmeadow. The Manchester United fans made it good too. I want to score as many goals I can, I just do what I can to win.”
