Hayes’ appointment was the catalyst for change, but our evolution would not happen overnight. Promising early steps saw the Ladies side become fully professional, attracting some of the best players from home and abroad, to complement the talent coming through our Centre of Excellence.

This team was beginning to take shape, but our journey was only just beginning. In her first role at the helm of an English club, Hayes was about to embark on a project that would lead us towards breaking new ground. We take a look at 10 moments from the past decade that have shaped the Hayes era.

Rising to the top (2013/14)

Having finished second from bottom after Hayes’ first full season in charge in 2013, the arrivals of Katie Chapman and Gilly Flaherty from Arsenal plus South Korean superstar Ji So-Yun, were real statements of intent. The following year, a last-day defeat at Manchester City denied us our first WSL title. From the bottom to the top and challenging for a league title, there were clear signs of progress.

FA Cup triumph (2015)

In 2015, we were part of history as we faced Notts County in the first women’s FA Cup final to be held at the new Wembley. Ji scored the only goal of the game to secure the club’s first piece of major silverware. This was the first trophy of the Hayes era, secured in front of 30,000 spectators and two million more watching on television.

Domestic double (2015)

Swiftly after the FA Cup triumph in 2015, we secured the domestic double with our first league title of the modern era. A 4-0 victory over Sunderland at Wheatsheaf Park saw us crowned champions by two points in front of 2,170 supporters. Hayes’ message to the players alluded to what has followed since: reaching the top is the easy part, staying there is the true test of one’s character.

European football at the Bridge (2016)

In 2016, qualification for the Champions League meant our first taste of European competition. Another landmark moment followed when we hosted Wolfsburg at Stamford Bridge, our first competitive fixture in SW6. Our German opposition came out on top on the night, but another significant marker had been placed.

Becoming invincible (2017/18)

We secured the Spring Series title in 2017 before the Women’s Super League switched to a winter schedule. In the inaugural season, we became invincible and secured another domestic double. A second league and FA Cup triumph which reinforced Hayes’ desire to remain at the top, and the perfect way to celebrate the move to our new home at Kingsmeadow.

Champions League semi-finals (2018/19)

During the 2018/19 campaign, we saw our first serious stamp of authority in Europe. We reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, narrowly losing out to Lyon 3-2 on aggregate. The second leg of this tie set a record attendance for a women’s team home fixture with 4,670 supporters turning out to cheer on the Blues.

Return to the Bridge (2019/20)

In 2019, we played our second competitive fixture at Stamford Bridge. A London derby against Tottenham in the WSL attracted 25,000 fans, who turned out to see us overcome our north London rivals 1-0 thanks to Bethany England’s fourth-minute wonder strike. The 2019/20 season was ended abruptly by the Covid pandemic and we were crowned champions on a points-per-game basis.

Maiden Continental Cup victory (2020)

We reached our first-ever Continental Cup final in February 2020, where we took on rivals Arsenal at the City Ground, home of Nottingham Forest. This was a trophy we had never lifted and it was England who was the hero, scoring a late winner to secure a 2-1 victory which saw Hayes get her hands on a trophy that had previously alluded her.

First European final (2021)

In 2021, we reached our first ever Champions League final with a dramatic victory over Bayern Munich. Barcelona awaited us in the final and came out on top in Gothenburg, but another benchmark had been set. The defeat left Hayes and her players more determined than ever to come back and one day conquer Europe.

Individual Recognition (2022)

Having given so much to the collective success of the club, Hayes was recognised individually and was awarded an OBE in 2022, having received an MBE in 2016. She was also named the Best FIFA Women’s Coach, having proven a consistent force for good in the women’s game, while earning plaudits for her appearances as a television pundit – another area in which she has thrived.

As part of our preparations to face Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on Sunday 20 November, everyone at Chelsea Football Club wishes to congratulate Emma on her decade of service, and wish her many more years of success in the future!