End of an era
Chelsea FC W will say goodbye to some legends of the team this summer as Emma Hayes begins a new cycle
Tomorrow lunch time sees the final match day of the 2021/22 WSL season, Chelsea, who need to win to confirm a third consecutive WSL title, host Manchester United, who need to win, and hope Manchester City lose, in order to gain Champions League qualification.
Emotions will already be high, because of how much is at stake for this game, but more than this, Chelsea are losing two legends of the club, both of whom have been part of the furniture for what feels like forever.
The first to announce their departure from the club, after 8 years, was South Korean Ji So-Yun.
When she signed back in 2014 from INAC Kobe Leonessa, Emma Hayes told Chelsea supporters that Ji was one of the best midfielders in the world, and that they would love her.
And how right she was.
Ji has been a vital member of Hayes’ Chelsea revolution and her minutes back that up, averaging over 1,000 minutes per season, and scoring some incredibly vital goals along the way.
When Chelsea avenged their 2012 FA Cup final defeat in 2015, it was Ji who scored the only goal of the game, which saw Chelsea lift their first trophy. She has also scored in the biggest Champions League matches, against Wolfsburg in 2018, Lyon in 2019 and vs Bayern in the 2021 semi-final win.
Domestically as well, Ji has provided for the team in the big moments, such as in the 3-3 draw with Manchester City back in 2020. Shortly after this the league was postponed due to the Coronavirus outbreak and Chelsea were eventually declared Champions on a PPG basis.
Ji’s importance has not gone unmissed by her team mates and fellow professionals either, in 2015 she was named the club’s Player’s Player of the Year and the PFA Women’s Player’s Player of the Year and was also voted into the PFA WSL Team of the Season for the 2019/20 campaign.
The arrival of Ji signalled an important moment in the history of Chelsea Football Club, the signing showed they were serious and soon after not just trophies, but over big name signings arrived such as Ramona Bachmann, Crystal Dunn, Ali Riley, Adelina Engman, Sam Kerr and Pernille Harder, all following in the footsteps of Ji.
Without Ji helping Chelsea make their mark in women’s football, it’s unlikely these calibre of players would’ve joined the club.
The last name on the list, Pernille Harder, has meant that Ji has been used in a deeper role than what we’ve come to know and love her for, but she provided an excellent link between defence and attack, especially against low blocks.
Ji, as one of Hayes’ senior squad members was usually the one to help new signings find their feet in the team, taking them under her wing and helping out on and off the pitch.
Ji So-Yun is irreplaceable. Quite simply, she’s unbelievable.
And then last Tuesday, it was announced that after more than 10 years at the club, Drew Spence would be leaving at the end of the season.
Spence joined back in 2008 after spending time at the Arsenal Centre of Excellence, back then, Chelsea were not a full time professional outfit and had to work part time alongside playing football.
To have the determination, drive, dedication and belief in your own ability to keep up with the club moving into a full time basis is not something that can be understated. It’s incredibly difficult and Spence managed to do so with ease.
Speaking when she made her 200th appearance (the first player to reach that milestone in the modern era) Spence spoke about that self belief as she was forced to prove herself year after year, “I have to make sure that I’m still noticed, so ever year I’ve had to believe in myself and push myself even more, otherwise I wouldn’t have come this far.
“I’ve had to compete with everyone that has come in, I’ve always had some kind of competition whether that be Katie Chapman, Karen Carney, Ji and now we have Melanie [Leupolz] and Pernille [Harder] so I’ve had to raise my level.
Chelsea’s growth from 2012 to today has been massive, and for Spence to keep pace has been miraculous in itself, but her presence has also been calming, you know when she’s coming on, we are looking to lock things down in midfield.
Spence has the opportunity to add two more trophies to an incredible cabinet which includes 5 WSL titles, 3 FA Cups, 2 Conti Cups and 1 Community Shield.
When you lose a player that has been at the club for so long, you lose so much more than just that player on the pitch, her absence will be felt, there’s no doubt about that.
Wherever she signs for next season, they’re signing an ultimate professional who will undoubtedly improve their squad tremendously.
Thank you Drew.
Of course there’s also Jonna Andersson, who is heading back to Sweden after four years at Kingsmeadow who we shouldn’t forget to mention. She has provided exemplary service for Chelsea and played a key part in title winning seasons.
Even her recent performances, including back to back assists against Spurs, show how much we’ll miss having a player of quality in the squad.
She’ll be missed.
Tomorrow’s game will be electric, United travel in good numbers and their support are noisy. Add to that how much is riding on this one game and we know that we are in for a special occasion at Kingsmeadow.
There will of course be a tinge of sadness as these legends of the club depart, but we are filled with happy memories of their time and what they’ve achieved (hopefully including a league title won on the day).
It really feels like the end of an era at Chelsea, but the exciting part for the club, now (almost) under new ownership, is that a new era is just beginning.