Chelsea’s Emma Hayes reveals Fifa award brings back childhood memories

The Chelsea Women manager, Emma Hayes, has said she fulfilled a childhood dream in winning a Fifa Best award on Monday night – and that her son, Harry, asked whether it was “for being the best mummy”.

Hayes won the women’s coach award and was following proceedings from home via a link when the announcement was made in Zurich. “The funniest thing about it all is my son came downstairs and he said: ‘Mummy, you’ve won an award – is that for being the best mummy?’” a beaming Hayes said. “Dream fulfilled, and in my son’s eyes, I won an award for being mummy of the year.

“When they called my name out, as everyone knows I was completely shocked,” she added of her open-mouthed reaction that went viral. “The first thing I thought about was that little kid in the orange flats kicking the ball against the wall, commentating on myself in a cup final or leading a team. As a little girl I dreamed of these things. I’ve just had a dream turn into a reality, and then I felt instantly embarrassed.”

Hayes’s embarrassment comes from the fact that, while appreciative, she does not see too much in individual awards in a team sport. Chelsea won a domestic treble in 2021 and reached the Champions League final. “I feel like everybody deserves it – an individual award for a coach seems mental to me,” she said. Being a role model, too, feels a little alien.

“When you are that person, trust me, words like role model or inspiration or pioneer get used a lot and you don’t really understand it,” she said. “It’s not because I’m ignorant but because I’m doing a job I love every day.

When you discover you won #TheBest FIFA Women’s Coach Award…the absolutely delightful reaction from @ChelseaFCW’s Emma Hayes