The 2020-21 season for Chelsea FC Women didn’t quite turn out to be as glorious as we had all hoped it would be, but it was still one for the record books with two trophies (league, league cup) and a sometimes-trophy (inaugural Women’s Community Shield) to add to the museum — and still alive in this year’s FA Cup, which is set to resume at the start of next season.
The ultimate disappointment of losing the Women’s Champions League final won’t take away from any of that, and accordingly, it hasn’t taken away from the team and the individuals involved receiving some well deserved plaudits. The latest of those are the official end of season awards from the FA WSL, who named Emma Hayes the Manager of the Year and Fran Kirby the Player of the Year on Monday.
The 2020-21 @BarclaysFooty Manager of the Season is @emmahayes1! #BarclaysFAWSL pic.twitter.com/vAT1au6lR6
— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) May 24, 2021
Hayes won this award last season as well, and has now led Chelsea to the league title in four of the last five seasons and a top two finish in each of the last seven. (And also won the half-season “Spring Series” back in 2017 when the league switched from a spring-fall to a fall-spring schedule).
Alongside Hayes, the WSL also recognized Chelsea superstar Fran Kirby with the Player of the Year award, to put next to her FWA Player of the Year and Chelsea Player of the Year awards. Kirby won this same treble of awards back in 2017-18 as well.
What a season it has been for @FranKirby in the #BarclaysFAWSL!
— Barclays FA Women's Super League (@BarclaysFAWSL) May 24, 2021
1️⃣8️⃣ games
1️⃣6️⃣ goals
1️⃣1️⃣ assists
Check out every bit of action from Kirby's sensational season on The FA Player
Congrats to both, and to the rest of this stellar team who will surely be back even better and stronger next season!