Emma Hayes says she is leaving Chelsea ‘at the top of the game’ but insisted the club will continue to be successful long after her departure.

It was announced last week that Hayes will leave the Blues at the end of the season after 11 successful years and it is understood she has agreed a deal to take over the United States women’s national team.

The 47-year-old has won 15 trophies, including the last four Women’s Super League titles, but is confident the club will ‘continue to thrive’ in her absence.

‘I’ve taken this team to the top and I always said I wanted to leave at the top. I’ll maintain that.

Emma Hayes will leave Chelsea at the end of the current season after 11 years in charge

Hayes has won 15 trophies during her time as Chelsea boss, including the last four Women’s Super League titles

‘I think we’ve had an extraordinary group of people at Chelsea and that has given us the platform to perform so it made it easier for me to keep returning when you have such self aware people, self accountable human beings.

‘I really believe in the people that are here and that this football club will continue to go on and thrive.’

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 Hayes will be involved in the appointment of her successor and insisted she will do ‘everything’ to ensure the job is not a poisoned chalice for the person who comes in.

‘You’re not coming into an aging dressing room, it’s a superb dressing room, some brilliant talent there,’ Hayes added.

‘Often sometimes when these situations happen, I think about Sir Alex [Ferguson] and that era, it was a different dressing room. This one for me will keep competing and I think that will give someone a head start, also give them time to put their stamp on it, that’s important.

‘I’m a custodian, that’s all I am, I was here to guard this badge in the best way I possibly could and I hope more than anything else that I can put someone in a positive position. I’ve done everything I can for this club.’

Hayes has confirmed that she will be involved in the appointment of her successor

She also believes she has left Chelsea at ‘the top of the game’ after leading them to a league and FA Cup double last term