CHELSEA Women’s boss Emma Hayes is reportedly on the shortlist to become next AFC Wimbledon manager.
The 44-year-old would become the first woman in history to take charge of a men’s football league side.
Hayes’ Chelsea are on an extraordinary 33 game unbeaten run in the WSL having beaten Tottenham 4-0 on Sunday to stay top of the table.
And Hayes’ impressive stint as Blues boss has alerted League One strugglers Wimbledon, according to the Express.
The Dons parted company with former boss Glyn Hodges on Saturday after their 2-0 home defeat to bitter rivals MK Dons.
SunSport understands Hayes has not been contacted about the job yet.
Hayes has been Chelsea boss since 2012 and has won two WSL and FA Cup doubles as well as last season’s WSL and the League Cup.
However, despite her impressive CV, she has stiff competition for the job at the South West Londoners.
Former Grimsby boss Ian Holloway, ex-Southend manager Sol Campbell and former Fleetwood gaffer Joey Barton are all said to be in the running.
Morecambe’s Derek Adams and National League Boreham Wood’s Luke Garrard are also in the frame.
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Hayes has spoken in the past about her certainty a woman would soon take charge of a professional men’s side.
In 2019, she said: “It’s going to happen and it’s important I say that.
“Managing people has no gender bias but unfortunately football is still stuck in the Victorian era where it thinks the only way to get the most out of professional athletes is with traditional management techniques.
“It will take a brave owner to take that decision but all it takes is one successful situation for it to happen again and again.
“The chances of going to manage in the Premier League as a woman are low but going in and managing at a level below, or as an assistant, makes sense.
“There is going to be pressure on that person. You’ll have to put up with a fair amount of abuse. So it had better be worth it.”
Hayes has previously managed Long Island Lady Riders, Iona College and Chicago Red Stars.
And she was also assistant at Arsenal Women between 2006-08.
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