Chelsea Women are set to officially announce Sonia Bompastor as the new head coach following her current team Olympique Lyonnais’ recent defeat in the UEFA Women’s Champions League final, according to The Athletic.
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Lyon, under Bompastor’s guidance, faced a setback as they were defeated by the defending champions Barcelona in a closely contested final held in Bilbao this past Saturday. Despite the loss, Bompastor is slated to take over the reins at Chelsea, bringing her significant experience and strategic acumen to the Women’s Super League (WSL).
Alongside Bompastor, Chelsea is also set to welcome her long-term assistant Camille Abily to the coaching staff. This announcement comes amid a broader reshuffling of the team’s backroom staff, following the departure of several members who have followed Hayes to the USWNT.
Bompastor, who possesses Portuguese heritage and is fluent in English, was promoted to the position of head coach at Lyon after Jean-Luc Vasseur’s departure in April 2021. During her tenure, she led Lyon to a double victory in her first full season, capturing both the Division 1 Feminine title and the Women’s Champions League. Lyon continued to perform strongly under her leadership, retaining their league title the following year, although they were ousted from the Champions League quarter-finals by Chelsea, in a dramatic penalty shootout.
Her appointment to Chelsea was first hinted at in February when The Athletic reported that the club had offered her a contract after identifying her as the ideal candidate to succeed Hayes. Hayes, on her part, ended her Chelsea career on a high note, securing a fifth consecutive WSL title — her seventh in total — in her final game.
Chelsea fans will likely be optimistic about Bompastor’s impending arrival, hoping she can translate her impressive track record at Lyon to success in the WSL and lead the team to new heights.