Think of the two best managers in the world. Moreover, the ultimate best in their jobs. One comes across Sir Alex Ferguson and Pep Guardiola. People might say Sir Alex Ferguson is the greatest because of his success with Manchester United. The longevity factor comes into play. On the other hand, Guardiola dominated and still dominates the English Premier League like no other manager. But does respect and recognition count for only these two? What about Emma Hayes, ladies and gentlemen? She is a serial winner!
Notably, as you all know, Ferguson managed United while Hayes managed Chelsea. Historically, both these clubs are rivals and their fans can’t stand each other. With all the hustle and bustle amongst these fans, Hayes and Ferguson share a great bond. They applaud each other’s careers.
Emma Hayes and Sir Alex Ferguson’s amazing bond and similarities!
It’s evident when Hayes mentioned, “His was the first text I received when we won gold.” It became a symbol of the friendship the two have for each other. More of a student-teacher bond between each other. They share their expertise and experiences often and there is a history with the two managers.
During the last match of Emma Hayes’ Chelsea career, Ferguson was in the stadium to witness history. Although United got thrashed 6-0 at Old Trafford, humiliation yes, the way Hayes conducted herself impressed Ferguson. “To finish here at Old Trafford, I hope to get a glass of wine with Sir Alex in a minute,” mentioned Hayes after her victory. It became symbolic that Hayes finished her Chelsea career, in front of a man who spent 26 seasons with the Red Devils.
“I see so much of myself in him,” mentions Hayes, pompous in her achievements, and rightfully so. If you look at both the managers, they have achieved unparalleled success. Here’s the list of accomplishments (Please note, these are the main achievements with Manchester United).
Sir Alex Ferguson:
English Premier League: 13x
| 12/13 | Manchester United | |
| 10/11 | Manchester United | |
| 08/09 | Manchester United | |
| 07/08 | Manchester United | |
| 06/07 | Manchester United | |
| 02/03 | Manchester United | |
| 00/01 | Manchester United | |
| 99/00 | Manchester United | |
| 98/99 | Manchester United | |
| 96/97 | Manchester United | |
| 95/96 | Manchester United | |
| 93/94 | Manchester United | |
| 92/93 | Manchester United |
Champions League: 2x
| 07/08 | Manchester United | |
| 98/99 | Manchester United |
FIFA Club World Cup: 1x
| 08/09 | Manchester United |
English FA Cup: 5x
| 03/04 | Manchester United | |
| 98/99 | Manchester United | |
| 95/96 | Manchester United | |
| 93/94 | Manchester United | |
| 89/90 | Manchester United |
English League Cup: 4x
| 09/10 | Manchester United | |
| 08/09 | Manchester United | |
| 05/06 | Manchester United | |
| 91/92 | Manchester United |
English Community Shield: 10x
| 11/12 | Manchester United | |
| 10/11 | Manchester United | |
| 08/09 | Manchester United | |
| 07/08 | Manchester United | |
| 03/04 | Manchester United | |
| 97/98 | Manchester United | |
| 96/97 | Manchester United | |
| 94/95 | Manchester United | |
| 93/94 | Manchester United | |
| 90/91 | Manchester United |
That trophy haul speaks volumes of what he achieved with the club. The other crucial aspect becomes the ability to spot talent throughout these seasons and rebuild the team time and time again. It’s not easy. Winning trophies with distinct characteristics and unique personalities is not a straightforward task. Now, when you compare Ferguson with Hayes, you can see similarities.
Emma Hayes follows in the footsteps of the Manchester United legend!
Before we speak about her, let’s look at her trophy haul for Chelsea.
Emma Hayes:
| FA Women’s Super League: 7x | 2015, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24 |
| FA WSL Spring Series: 1x | 2017 |
| Women’s FA Cup: 5x | 2014–15, 2017–18, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23 |
| FA Women’s League Cup: 2x | 2019–20, 2020–21 |
| Women’s FA Community Shield: 1x | 2020 |
| UEFA Champions League: runner-up | 2020-2021 |
She achieved those numbers in 12 years. That’s staggering. If you compare the two, it’s quite possibly similar in terms of the impact and influence they shared. And yes, the bond too.
She once said, “He calls me from time to time so I wasn’t surprised. Anything he says to me I always take with such pride. He is a legend of the game and someone whose opinion I value and he has a love of America. We talked a little bit about that, a little bit about legacy, a little bit about leaving at the top. So there were wise words from him. I’m sure it won’t be the last phone call I get from him this season.”
The kind of advice you get from the men’s game is pretty much the same as you give for a women’s game. But with recognition and fame, we feel the women’s game remains underappreciated. Emma Hayes is doing the same, grinding each day, and working like men to create history.
When one looks at their achievements, it paints a contrasting image. When it comes to her concerns about the absence of women in men’s sports, this perspective offers a fresh outlook. It suggests she is worthy of managing Chelsea’s men’s team, as they could greatly benefit from her guidance amidst the current situation.
The post Rivals But Admirers: Understanding Emma Hayes & Sir Alex Ferguson’s Student-Teacher Bond appeared first on EssentiallySports.
