Chelsea boss Hayes stunned after beating Cortés and Wiegman to FIFA award | OneFootball

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes was shocked and stunned after she was named The Best FIFA Women’s Coach for 2021 at The Best FIFA Football Awards.

Hayes was named The Best FIFA Women’s Coach 2021 during a live awards ceremony this evening and the expression on her face after picking up the award was one of complete surprise.

After guiding his former side FC Barcelona to UEFA Women’s Champions League glory over Chelsea in Gothenburg in May, many fancied Lluis Cortés to become The Best FIFA Women’s Coach, however, it was Hayes who went on to win the award with a three-point voting margin.

After being crowned The Best FIFA Women’s Coach for 2021, Hayes said “Oh my goodness, I’m so shocked. I’m not usually, stunned but on this occasion I am.

“I put (the award) down to the players, the fantastic people who represent my work. Ultimately, the coach is only as good as the people around them and I’ve got brilliant, brilliant people at Chelsea that have helped to support the team to the place that we are at.

“I’m absolutely shocked right now.”

Hayes was then questioned on the potential impact of this year’s home EUROs on the game and she admitted that it was an exciting time for English football.

She said “Everybody in the country, clubs, The Football Association are really built towards this tournament. It is an unbelievable opportunity for our talent to showcase the progress that we have made here. Lets hope that the crowds are big and lets hope that it is a great tournament for England because I think it will help to kick the game on.

“All of the other players that I represent at Chelsea, of course, if any one of them were to be on the winning team then I’d be happy.”

Hayes was one of three Chelsea Women representatives up for an award this evening. Ann-Katrin Berger and Sam Kerr missed out on The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper and The Best FIFA Women’s Player awards.