After three trophy-laden years with Lyon, which included a Champions League title, the former France international has big boots to fill in London
As Emma Hayes prepares to take charge of her first game as the new head coach of the United States women's national team this week, her successor at Chelsea has finally been announced, with Sonia Bompastor to take the reins after bidding farewell to Lyon with defeat in the Women's Champions League final at the weekend, that her second appearance in the occasion as a coach in just three seasons.
The arrival of the former France international has been expected for some time, as Bompastor impressed the Blues' hierarchy with the work she has done at OL since assuming the role of head coach in 2021. In the three years since, the 43-year-old has won a trio of league titles, overseen two triumphs in the Trophee des Championnes, lifted the Coupe de France and reached two Champions League finals, winning one.
Bompastor, the only woman to win the Champions League as both a player and a coach, has quite the CV – but what makes her a good fit for Chelsea as they move into this new era? GOAL picks out six reasons why the Frenchwoman can be a successful replacement for Hayes…
Getty ImagesInherits a top-level squad
First of all, Bompastor is walking into a team that has been winning trophies for the past nine years, including a fifth-successive league title in May, so it's pretty well set-up. Chelsea is a club that invests, it is committed to its women's team and it has been left recommendations by Hayes which she hopes it will act on to keep that success coming.
But it also has a playing squad which has been built with the future in mind, and that will be a huge help for Bompastor as she settles in as there is not going to be a huge transition period in terms of personnel. Chelsea boast a great blend of experienced stars, players approaching their primes, youngsters who have shown great things at the top level and even younger players who are currently following their development plans well, with the aim of getting into the first-team.
It's a versatile squad, too, so while Bompastor will likely want to add a few pieces over this summer transfer window and beyond, she should have the players at her disposal that fit into the way she wants to work.
AdvertisementGettyTrusts in youth
Bompastor fits into that future planning Chelsea have been doing because of her track record with young players, too. The club has put real emphasis on signing bright, teenage talent in recent years, and the new boss should be able to pick up where Hayes left off in bringing them through.
Before being appointed as Lyon's head coach, Bompastor spent eight years managing the club's academy, and so it has been no surprise to see her give young players their chance in the first team over the last three years, either by bringing talents like Alice Sombath and Liana Joseph through the system, or trusting in those brought in at young ages from elsewhere, such as Vicki Becho and Melchie Dumornay.
GettyCan manage the big stars
On the flip side, Bompastor also has experience from her time in Lyon of managing those superstars and the egos that inevitably come from doing so. While it might look easy from the outside to have a squad packed full of established internationals, as it provides incredible depth and experience, it can also be tough when you are benching them or managing minutes.
Bompastor's success as a player and a manager, which has seen her lift three Champions League titles, will command the respect of the dressing room from the off as well, which makes it easier for managers to have players accept their decisions.
GettyAdaptable styles
Bompastor and Hayes are different in many ways, but one similarity is how flexible they can both be with their game plans. While both like to have the lion's share of possession, they are humble enough to recognise when there are match-ups that would be better approached with a more counter-attacking mindset that involves restricting an opponent in a certain way or pressing them high.
Chelsea did not have a non-negotiable style of play during Hayes' 12 years, just a staff that found ways to dominate and win, and Bompastor doesn't arrive with some overwhelming philosophy that she needs lots of time to implement, though she will have ideas she would like to put in place. It means she doesn't need particular players to fit into her team either, but rather footballers who are versatile, which Chelsea have plenty of. It should all help the players and their new coach work together well, without major delays.
