Emma Hayes talks about her experience in football

Women head coach,

Emma Hayes

; who is one of the most successful managers in women’s football, has talked about her experiences from the beginning of her career.

“It’s fair to say there weren’t a lot of opportunities for me as a teenager, and I had to leave the country to create a career for myself which wouldn’t have otherwise existed,”

Hayes told the PA news agency

.

“And I always vowed that my role would be in creating a lasting legacy for the sport, to drive opportunities for women, for girls and women, into the profession.

“And that’s all I’ve really wanted – that we’re given the same access, that we’re given the same opportunity as boys and men.

“My greatest joy and pride will be that I was part of a football club that’s always so welcoming. I couldn’t have found a more compatible employer in terms of the moral standing and in terms of the contributions that they want to make within the community.

“We have to create the right opportunities to utilize our sport as a vehicle for promoting harmony and diversity, and bringing people together.

“Sport is one of the only things that breaks down those barriers.

“The fact as women in football we’ve been a marginalized group for a lot of years, I think it’s easier to relate to a struggle of some sort.

“I always vowed when I came to Chelsea that I’d be a force for good internally.

“And I’m so grateful from Roman Abramovich that he’s had the ambition not just to create world-class teams on the pitch, but more importantly that making sure we’re a club that plays a positive role in all the communities.”

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