Despite leaving her position as Chelsea women’s team manager to coach the national team in the States, Emma Hayes remains a lauded role model in women’s sports. She, along with Sarina Wiegman, serve as excellent representatives for women in coaching.
The success of England in the Euros in 2022 and as World Cup runners-up in 2023 has led to a significant rise in female participation in all aspects of football in the UK, including playing, refereeing, and coaching. As of December 2023, the FA reported an 83% increase in active female coaches with Level 1 qualification or higher in the UK. While nearly half of WSL teams are managed by women, only 31% of European women’s football teams competing for the 2025 Euros tournament are led by women. There is still work to be done – a sentiment echoed by Emma Hayes – and this is where organizations like Bloomsbury Football and Momentum On play a crucial role.
Bloomsbury Football has been featured before for their outstanding work in making football more accessible to young people in London, as well as their pioneering initiative on period education in sports. I had the opportunity to speak with Isabelle Chauzy, Head of Marketing at Bloomsbury, about their latest project aimed at encouraging more girls and young women to pursue a career in football coaching.
“Unfortunately, sports, including football, have traditionally been gendered as masculine. The interest in women’s sports is dwindling and needs revitalization. It’s a gradual process to shift societal norms, but Bloomsbury is actively shaping norms and influencing the next generation through football. In addition to normalizing girls playing football, our aim is to normalize female coaches. We are thrilled to have our first full-time female coach on board, and our collaboration with Momentum On is aimed at inspiring more girls and young women to consider coaching roles.”
Women who did not play football as girls may not see coaching as a viable career path. The lack of opportunities and role models in the coaching sphere remain barriers. We are eager to spotlight the women working as coaches at Bloomsbury Football, such as Morgan, who volunteers as a coach in addition to her full-time job to give back to the sport she loves.
Challenges such as lack of previous playing experience and limited opportunities continue to hinder women from entering coaching roles. However, there are now more initiatives than ever to support girls and women in overcoming these obstacles.”
