Chelsea F.C. Women
Full name | Chelsea Football Club Women | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | The Blues | |||
Founded | 1992[1] | |||
Ground | Kingsmeadow Stamford Bridge (select home games) | |||
Capacity | 4,850 (Kingsmeadow) 40,173 (Stamford Bridge) | |||
Owner | BlueCo[2] | |||
Chairman | Adrian Jacob[3] | |||
Manager | Emma Hayes | |||
League | Women's Super League | |||
2022–23 | WSL, 1st of 12 (champions) | |||
Website | Club website | |||
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Chelsea Football Club Women, formerly known as Chelsea Ladies Football Club, are an English
One of the most successful clubs in English women's football, Chelsea have won a record six Women's Super League championships, as well as the FA WSL Spring Series in 2017, and have the second-highest number of outright league championships after Arsenal.[4] They have also won five Women's FA Cup titles, two FA Women's League Cup titles, and were Women's FA Community Shield winners in 2020. They reached their first UEFA Women's Champions League final in 2021, where they finished as runners-up.
History
Establishment and promotion (1992–2005)
Chelsea Ladies Football Club was formed in 1992 after supporters of Chelsea F.C. expressed desire for a women's side.[5] Tony Farmer, a longtime Chelsea supporter who became interested in women's football when his girlfriend Val Lightfoot joined Crystal Palace,[6] wrote a letter to Chelsea F.C. to propose adding a women's side.[7][8]
Upon approval, Farmer became the club's first manager, lobbied for it to be promoted in men's match programmes,
In June 2004, Chelsea Ladies were taken over and funded by Chelsea's Football in the Community department,[10] and in 2004–05 Chelsea won promotion to the Premier League National Division. The club has participated at the top level ever since.[8]
FA Premier League National Division (2005–2010)
After starting 2005–06 with one point from six games, manager George Michealas was fired in September after four years in charge.
After an eighth-place finish in 2006–07, Gore drafted in England players Siobhan Chamberlain, Casey Stoney and Eniola Aluko that summer.[14] American World Cup winner Lorrie Fair, regarded as one of the best midfielders in the women's game, joined in January as Chelsea finished 2007–08 in fifth position.[15]
Chelsea Ladies introduced a new manager for the 2008–09 season, former
Chelsea Ladies finished the 2008–09 season third behind Arsenal and
At Stoney's recommendation, Matt Beard became manager for the 2009–10 season. Cuts to the Ladies club's funding were offset by financial assistance from John Terry and other Chelsea F.C. players.[19] A further blow arrived when Sanderson left for the 2010 WPS season.[20]
Women's Super League (2011–present)
The club bid successfully to be one of eight founding teams in the
In July 2012, Matt Beard resigned as manager after three years in the post.[24]
Former assistant at Arsenal, Emma Hayes, was brought in as manager in 2012, who was one of the first female managers in the WSL.[3] In Hayes' first season in charge, Chelsea, who were still a part-time professional club,[3] finished third-bottom of the League.[25] The following season, they finished second from the bottom.[26]
The 2014 season was successful for Chelsea, as they finished second in the FA Women's Super League behind Liverpool on goal difference, after eight wins, two draws and four losses.[27] A final day win would have clinched them the league title, but they lost 2–1 away to Manchester City. Their second-place finish meant that they qualified for the UEFA Women's Champions League for the first time in the club's history. They also reached the semi-finals of both the FA Cup and the League Cup, where they lost to both eventual winners, Arsenal and Manchester City, respectively.
In 2015, it was announced that many of Chelsea's players would be becoming full professionals for the first time.[28]
On 1 August 2015, Chelsea won their first ever
Chelsea were awarded the 2019–20 WSL title on a points-per-game basis after the season had to be abruptly terminated due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[33]
Chelsea began the
Stadium
Chelsea Women play at Kingsmeadow in Norbiton, Kingston upon Thames, London. Chelsea F.C. bought Kingsmeadow for their youth and women's teams from AFC Wimbledon in 2016 so that Wimbledon could fund their new ground, Plough Lane.[41] Kingsmeadow has a capacity of 4,850.[42]
Between 2012 and 2017, Chelsea played their home games at Wheatsheaf Park.[43] The stadium is located in Staines-upon-Thames and has a capacity for 3,002 spectators.[44]
The team previously played at Imperial Fields during the 2011–12 season, the home ground of Tooting & Mitcham United.[45]
Attendance
The current home attendance record of a Chelsea Women's match is 38,350, set on 20 November 2022 during the 2022–23 Women's Super League season match against Tottenham Hotspur, played at Stamford Bridge.[46] Their current home attendance record at their primary ground of Kingsmeadow is 4,670, set on 28 April 2019 in a Champion's League semi-final leg against Lyon.[47]
Players
Current squad
- As of 5 February 2024[48]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Former players
For details of former players, see Category:Chelsea F.C. Women players.
Player of the Year
Year | Player | Position | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
2015 | Eniola Aluko | Forward | [49] |
2016 | Katie Chapman | Midfielder | [49] |
2017 | Karen Carney | Midfielder | [49] |
2017–18 | Fran Kirby | Forward | [49] |
2018–19 | Erin Cuthbert | Midfielder | [49] |
2019–20 | Bethany England | Forward | [50] |
2020–21 | Fran Kirby | Forward | [51] |
2021–22 | Sam Kerr | Forward | [52] |
2022–23 | Sam Kerr | Forward | [53] |
Management team
Position | Staff |
---|---|
Manager | Emma Hayes |
General manager | Paul Green |
Assistant manager | Denise Reddy |
Head of performance | Bart Caubergh |
Assistant coach | Stuart Searle |
Coach | Gemma Davison |
Movement coaches | Harry McCulloch |
Ed Ryan-Moore | |
Performance analyst | Ferdia O'Hanrahan |
Match analyst | Jamie Cook |
Opposition analyst | Cameron Meighan |
Lead scout | TJ O'Leary |
Source: Chelsea F.C.
Honours
Chelsea's first major trophy was the
Domestic competitions
League titles
- Premier League Southern Division (second tier)
- South East Counties League (third tier)
- Winners (1): 1999–2000
- Runners-up (1): 1998–99
- Greater London Women's Football League – Division 3
- Winners (1): 1993–94
Cups
- Women's FA Community Shield
- Winners (1): 2020
- Surrey County Cup[57]
- Winners (9): 2002–03, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2012–13
- Runners-up (2): 2004–05, 2010–11
Notes
International competitions
- Runners-up (1): 2020–21
- Runners-up (1): 2013
Other
Doubles
- 2014−15: League and FA Cup
- 2017–18: League and FA Cup
- 2019–20: League and League Cup
- 2021–22: League and FA Cup
- 2022–23: League and FA Cup
Trebles
- 2020–21: League, FA Cup and League Cup
Season-by-season records
Record in UEFA Women's Champions League
All results (home, away and aggregate) list Chelsea's goal tally first.
Season | Round | Opponents | Home | Away | Aggregate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015–16 | Round of 32 | Glasgow City | 1–0 | 3–0 | 4–0 |
Round of 16 | VfL Wolfsburg | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–4 | |
2016–17 | Round of 32 | VfL Wolfsburg | 0–3 | 1–1 | 1–4 |
2017–18 | Round of 32 | Bayern Munich | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 (a) |
Round of 16 | Rosengård | 3–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 | |
Quarter-final | Montpellier
|
3–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | |
Semi-final | VfL Wolfsburg | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–5 | |
2018–19 | Round of 32 | SFK 2000 | 6–0 | 5–0 | 11–0 |
Round of 16 | Fiorentina
|
1–0 | 6–0 | 7–0 | |
Quarter-final | Paris Saint-Germain
|
2–0 | 1–2 | 3–2 | |
Semi-final | Lyon | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–3 | |
2020–21 | Round of 32 | Benfica
|
3–0 | 5–0 | 8–0 |
Round of 16 | Atlético Madrid | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | |
Quarter-final | VfL Wolfsburg | 2–1 | 3–0 | 5–1 | |
Semi-final | Bayern Munich | 4–1 | 1–2 | 5–3 | |
Final
|
Barcelona | 0–4 | |||
2021–22 | Group stage | VfL Wolfsburg | 3–3 | 0–4 | 3rd place (Group A) |
Juventus
|
0–0 | 2–1 | |||
Servette | 1–0 | 7–0 | |||
2022–23 | Group stage | Paris Saint-Germain
|
3–0 | 1–0 | 1st place (Group A) |
Vllaznia | 8–0 | 4–0 | |||
Real Madrid | 2–0 | 1–1 | |||
Quarter-final | Lyon | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–2 (4–3 p) | |
Semi-final | Barcelona | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | |
2023–24 | Group stage | Real Madrid | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1st place (Group D) |
Paris FC | 4–1 | 4–0 | |||
BK Häcken | 0–0 | 3–1 | |||
Quarter-final | Ajax | 1–1 | 3–0 | 4–1 | |
Semi-final | Barcelona |
Colour key: Green = Chelsea win; Yellow = draw; Red = opponents win.
UEFA club coefficient ranking
Rank | Team | Points |
---|---|---|
1 | Barcelona | 124.099 |
2 | Lyon | 118.166 |
3 | VfL Wolfsburg | 104.333 |
4 | Paris Saint-Germain |
97.166 |
5 | Bayern Munich | 96.333 |
6 | Chelsea | 81.366 |
- As of 15 May 2023[58]
References
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- ^ "Group Tax Strategy". Chelsea F.C. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
- ^ a b c Kinsella, Nizaar (16 May 2021). "Abramovich took Chelsea Women from playing before '100 people and a dog' to a Champions League final". goal.com. Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
- ^ "England – List of Women Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
- ^ "Club history". Chelsea L.F.C. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
- ^ a b Page, Sarah (14 February 1992). "Ladies Love the Blues". The Informer. p. 88.
- ^ a b c Twomey, Liam (11 May 2020). "Making Chelsea Women: spotting superstars, stellar signings and ruthless Hayes". The Athletic. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
- ^ a b c "The History of Chelsea Women – part two: From a 90s rebirth to the Women's Super League" (Press release). Chelsea F.C. 27 August 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
- ^ Farmer, Tony (4 April 1992). "Cheer the Chelsea Ladies". Chelsea Official Matchday Magazine. p. 61.
We started training at Cranford last month and have around 50 women and girls attending training and have played two friendlies, beating University College London 13–0 and Newham Reserves 5–1.
- ^ "Chelsea FC Take Over Ladies". Fair Game. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
- ^ Cocozza, Paula (19 September 2005). "Chelsea manager loses his job". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
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- ^ a b "Chelsea Ladies sign Arsenal pair". BBC. 3 July 2008. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
- ^ "Mary Phillip Retires". Fair Game. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
- ^ "Chelsea F.C. likes the Carolina way". The Chapel Hill News. Archived from the original on 16 June 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
- ^ a b Leighton, Tony (18 October 2009). "John Terry digs deep to rescue Chelsea Ladies after funding cuts". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
- ^ Leighton, Tony (24 January 2010). "Lianne Sanderson cites Super League delay as reason for US move". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
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- ^ "2012 Table – Women's Super League". soccerway.com. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
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- ^ "Chapman targets Wembley double". Sporting Life. 28 July 2015. Archived from the original on 15 January 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
Chelsea Ladies turned full-time at the beginning of this season and are based alongside the men at the club's Cobham training complex.
- ^ "Chelsea lift FA Cup in front of record crowd". She Kicks. 2 August 2015. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
- ^ Garry, Tom (4 October 2015). "WSL 1: Chelsea Ladies 4–0 Sunderland Ladies". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
- ^ Hunt, Josh (15 May 2018). "Bristol City Women 0–2 Chelsea Ladies". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
- ^ "Chelsea: Women's Super League champions renamed Chelsea FC Women". BBC Sport. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
- ^ "Chelsea win WSL title, Liverpool go down". BBC Sport. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
- ^ "Chelsea 2–0 Man City in Women's Community Shield: Millie Bright stunner helps Blues win". BBC Sport. 29 August 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
- ^ "Bristol City Women 0–6 Chelsea Women: Fran Kirby inspires Blues to League Cup triumph". BBC Sport. 14 March 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
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- ^ a b Marsh, Charlotte (9 May 2021). "Chelsea Women win 2020/21 Women's Super League title with Man City Women second, Bristol City Women relegated". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 29 September 2022.
- ^ Wrack, Suzzane (10 May 2021). "How Emma Hayes turned Chelsea from also-rans to all-conquerors". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 15 October 2022.
- ^ Wrack, Suzzane (16 May 2021). "Barcelona stun Chelsea with early blitz to win Women's Champions League". The Guardian. Gothenburg. Archived from the original on 15 May 2023.
- ^ "Chelsea secure treble with FA Cup victory". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
- ^ "Chelsea exchange contracts to buy AFC Wimbledon's Kingsmeadow ground". BBC Sport. 7 June 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- ^ "Kingsmeadow Stadium, Kingston (England)". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
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- ^ "Wheatsheaf Park". Soccerway. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
- ^ Lomas, Mark (14 April 2011). "A new day for women's football". ESPN. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
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- ^ "The History of Chelsea Women". Chelsea F.C. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
- ^ "Chelsea Women". Chelsea F.C. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Chelsea Women's awards go to Erin Cuthbert and Sophie Ingle". Chelsea F.C. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
- ^ "Chelsea Women's Player of the Year – awarded to Bethany England". Chelsea F.C. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
- ^ "Kirby named Chelsea Women's Player of the Year". Chelsea F.C. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
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- ^ "Women's club coefficients – UEFA Coefficients". UEFA. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
External links
- Official website
- Chelsea Women at Soccerway