Chelsea have won the Women’s Super League for the fifth time in a row after thrashing Manchester United 6-0 in Emma Hayes’ last match as manager.
The win means Hayes has ended her highly successful 12-year tenure with the Blues in style after what started out as a nerve-wracking afternoon.
Chelsea had the same amount of points as title race rivals Manchester City this morning – meaning if both teams won today then goal difference would be the deciding factor.
Manchester City’s 2 – 1 over Aston Villa wasn’t enough to secure them the title on a historic afternoon for Hayes and her west London side.
The 47-year-old Chelsea boss will leave the club having won seven Women’s Super League (WSL) titles, five FA Cups, two Continental Cups, the Spring Series and a Community Shield. She also led the team to the UEFA Women’s Champions League final in 2020.
This afternoon’s victory also marks the first time a team has won the WSL five years in a row.
Hayes is due to take over as manager of the USA football team this summer.
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Hayes celebrates with her son. Pic: Reuters
Her final Chelsea game looked set to be a comfortable afternoon early on, as Colombian striker Mayra Ramirez scored after two minutes before her teammate Johanna Rytting Kaneryd found the net six minutes later.
German midfielder Sjoeke Nüsken put the Blues three goals up at 44 minutes before Ramirez all-but secured victory with another goal before half time.
Melanie Leupolz and Fran Kirby, making her last appearance for the club, added to the scoreline in the second half.
Chelsea had started the afternoon with a goal difference superior by two.
The Blues have said their title win is a “fitting farewell to club legends Kirby and Maren Mjelde” who will now the leave the side after “nine and seven years of stellar and trophy-laden service respectively”.
It was a sobering afternoon for Manchester United and their boss Marc Skinner, who suffered a huge defeat six days on from winning the FA Cup.
They end the season fifth in the WSL table.
Source Agencies
