‘She has been an inspiration’
Emma Hayes has been an inspiration to so many people. Her sporting intelligence and football insight are up there with the best managers but, more than that, her commitment to growing the women’s and girls’ game has been unwavering. I loved watching Chelsea as they took a leap forward in professionalism and success: fantastic football. I called out to her after a match at the World Cup in Australia last year. She came over to get her photo taken with our daughter and gave us that smile; she was super busy and could easily have said no. Elaine, Edinburgh
‘She made top-level football feel human’
I started following Chelsea’s women in the 2013-14 season, when they played at Staines. Attendances were around a couple of hundred people: the hardcore 25 or so who showed up for every game, a few bored teenagers who lived nearby and a very noisy group who I think were Millie Bright’s extended family. Only slowly did we understand the significance of Emma Hayes’ presence in the dugout through all the astonishing change.
During the Staines years, you could hear everything being said: mostly an assistant coach yelling “shoulders!” a lot. I’ll never forget a game where Hayes sent Eni Aluko on as a sub in the second half. There was some confusion over her tactical role and Hayes stood up and shouted some instructions. Aluko turned to the sidelines and quite audibly yelled something like: “You’re telling me to go over there, Ji [So-Yun]’s telling me to go over here. I dunno what I’m supposed to be doing!” Aluko was an experienced, prolific goalscorer with tens of caps for England. Hayes just turned away giggling. It made me realise that management must be a lot more like parenting than you’d think. Hayes always made the whole business of top-level football feel human and relatable. James Treadwell, 55, London
‘She brought women’s football new followers’
Under Emma Hayes, Chelsea became dominant and played a spectacular brand of football. What she did shone a huge spotlight on women’s football and the Women’s Super League. She helped bring new followers to the women’s game and reminded current fans why they love the game so much. Chelsea’s loss is USA’s gain. My favourite memory is when Chelsea came back from 2-0 down to beat Liverpool 3-2 and preserve that unbeaten run and season, with Eni Aluko scoring that curling winner on her last Blues game. You couldn’t write a better script. Zulkarnain bin Zulkifli, 41, Malaysia
‘She’d have been great for Chelsea men’
I support the ManchesterCity women’s team but I admire Emma Hayes. England has lost a really great football manager. Over the last few years she has looked well placed to take over the Chelsea men’s team, but I guess they would rather have a succession of poor managers than a great manager who is a woman. Yes, there are differences between men’s and women’s football, but they are mainly differences in coaching style, not management style. I don’t blame Emma for not wanting to be the person to fight the dinosaurs on it. Catherine, 45 Kent
‘She awoke my interest in women’s football’
I’m saddened, but understand her decision to take on a new challenge. Her successful time at Chelsea awoke my interest in women’s football and I am now enthralled – not just as a devotee of the club, but more widely. I hope the squad she has assembled and the ethos she has embedded at Chelsea will carry them forward to more success in future. Duncan Howarth, 80, Kent
‘Even us Arsenal fans will miss her’
She’s amazing and I say that as an Arsenal fan. It’s a real loss to English football. Good luck Emma – just not against us. There have been so many highlights and I include the push on Jonas Eidevall – she was obviously upset about losing, which made the win a tiny bit sweeter. But I won’t remember her for that. The one that stands out was when AFC Wimbledon men’s team sacked their manager a couple of seasons ago and her name was touted as a potential candidate. When asked, she said that, with all due respect to Wimbledon, it would be a step down for her. Zing! The Women’s Super League and, if they are honest, even Arsenal women’s fans will miss her. Bill, London
