The person to succeed Emma Hayes as Chelsea manager has been chosen, posing the question - Who is Sonia Bompastor?
First rumoured as a potential candidate by The Athletic back in February, the former Lyon head coach comes in as boss of The Blues on a four year deal, with a fee paid to the French club in compensation.
It was agreed that the 43 year old would only be announced as the WSL side’s manager come the conclusion of the Champions League final, which Lyon lost out to Barcelona on a scoreline of 2-0 on Saturday.
But, with that milestone surpassed, on further examination - Who is Sonia Bompastor?
Sonia Bompastor’s managerial history
Bompastor comes into the role as Chelsea manager on July 1st 2024 having spent the last three seasons at the helm of Lyon’s senior team.
Prior to that, and upon retirement from her playing career in 2013, she managed the academy set up of the same club for eight years.
During her time in charge of Lyon’s first team, she won seven trophies, including three consecutive French Division 1 Féminine league titles from 2021-2024.
She also won the UEFA Women’s Champions League in 2022, becoming the first person to win it as both a player and a head coach.
Sonia Bompastor’s playing career
As a player, Bompastor played as a midfielder and left back, and was capped 156 times for France, scoring 19 goals.
She played for La Roche-sur-Yon, Montpellier, Lyon, Washington Freedom and Paris Saint Germain at senior level from 2000-2013, across both the Division 1 Féminine in France and the National Women’s Soccer League in America.
During that time she tasted victory four times in the Coupes de France féminine, and also picked up eight French league titles and two Champions Leagues, the latter of which she was captain for.
What style of football does Sonia Bompastor play?
While Bompastor is known for being very tactically diverse, her favoured formation with Lyon was the 4-3-3 system.
Her her teams tend to be particularly tenacious on the wide flanks, while also very flexible and adaptable to diversity, with an ability to transition quickly from defence to attack.
Given some players at Chelsea have played under her before, such as Catarina Macario and Kadeisha Buchanan who linked up with her at Lyon, there will be some familiarity with her approach within the dressing room when she starts.
Who is Sonia Bompastor? - What has been said about her appointment?
Set to fill big boots upon the departure of Emma Hayes, Bompastor’s appointment was always going to garner plenty of attention.
Hayes, who is stepping into the role of US WNT head coach, won seven Women’s Super League titles, five FA Cups and two League Cups during her tenure, and Bompastor will aspire to attain similar success.
The UWCL did always elude Hayes in that position however, an objective that no doubt will have been placed on her new successor.
“The sporting directors and I conducted a thorough and considered recruitment process to identify Emma’s successor. Sonia’s vision, coaching philosophy and winning mentality made her the outstanding candidate,” Paul Green, Chelsea General Manager says.
“She is a world-class coach with a proven track record of success on the biggest stages that will instantly command respect from the dressing room,” he adds.
Chelsea’s co-sporting directors, Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, also provided their thoughts on the news, explaining how Bompastor “is the ideal candidate to build on Emma’s legacy and take the team forward.”
“She brings a wealth of experience from managing at the highest levels and winning trophies as a player and a coach. Her ethos and values align with Chelsea Football Club. We are all looking forward to having her on board,” they said in a statement.
Finally, Bompastor herself reflected on her appointment, describing how she is “incredibly grateful to join Chelsea Football Club.”
“I will give my all to this new project to meet the ambitions of the club, the staff and the players,” she says.
“I hope to live up to Emma's legacy and continue the work that has been done in recent years. Let the adventure begin.”
Bompastor will be joined in her new position by assistants Camille Abily and Theo Rivrin, the former of whom is both a Lyon and French legend having made 323 appearances for the club, and 183 for her country.
