Chelsea Women are undoubtedly one of the best teams fans of women’s football in England have ever seen. However, their success is not limited to the domestic competitions only, as they currently rank third in the UEFA Women’s Club Ranking with a coefficient of 93.000. Only Barcelona Femeni and Lyon Feminin, recent winners of the UEFA Women’s Champions League, surpass the Blues.
Chelsea have established themselves as a European powerhouse through a multitude of factors, but at the core of it is systematic development and consistent performances across multiple tournaments.
The ranking is calculated through a complex system of points accumulation over time. However, the goal of this article is to analyse the key factors behind Chelsea’s success without getting too technical with the terms.
Dominance in the Women’s Super League
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However, there’s no such uncertainty in the Women’s Super League, the top women’s football division in England. That is because Chelsea have won the national league five consecutive times in the last year and are confidently on their way to win their sixth.
Coach Emma Hayes was a major reason for Chelsea’s success over the years. Taking charge of the team in 2012, she transformed the Blues into the dominant force they are today. But even after Hayes’ departure in 2024, the club has managed to continue its winning tradition under incoming coach Sonia Bompastor.
The unbelievable consistency shown on the domestic front directly contributes to the club’s UEFA coefficient, as league performance is a major component of a club’s overall ranking. Claiming title after title in the Women’s Super League, one of the strongest in Europe, the Blues have set up a solid baseline for their coefficient calculations each season.
Impressive Results in the UEFA Champions League
The Blues are yet to win their first UEFA Women’s Champions League but their performances in recent seasons have been nonetheless spectacular. Results on the European scene are one of the top contributors to a club’s UEFA ranking, and Chelsea Women have much to be proud of.
In the last seven seasons, the Blues have reached at least the semi-final stage on six occasions. The closest they came to the UEFA Women’s Champions League title was in the 2020/21 season, but they were unfortunately defeated by Barcelona 4-0 in the final.
While the trophy still remains a dream for the Blues, their remarkable ability to reach the advanced stages of the competition year after year makes them deserving of the third spot in the overall UEFA ranking.
Association Coefficient Boost
This is another factor that directly contributes to Chelsea’s high UEFA coefficient although it is not directly influenced by the Blues. Put simply, the better teams from a certain league perform on the European level, the bigger of a boost teams from that league get in the rankings, as 20% of the final coefficient is attributed to the league’s ‘strength’.
Thus, while clubs like Arsenal Women or Manchester City Women may be rivals domestically, they benefit from each other’s success in continental competitions.
Factors Not Related to the UEFA Coefficient
So far it has been discussed why Chelsea are one of the best teams on the continent. However, it is also important to highlight how the club has been able to achieve these positive results.
One thing to note is the depth and flexibility present in the Chelsea Women’s squad. The team has world-class players like Sam Kerr, Lauren James, Hannah Hampton, Sophie Ingle, Millie Bright and others. In addition to these core players, there are many others who are able to add an impulse to the team coming off the bench or being used in rotation.
Besides, the club has an incredible scouting and recruitment system. In recent seasons alone, the Blues have been able to sign established players like Naomi Girma, Keira Walsh, Lucy Bronze, and Kadeisha Buchanan. Girma, signed for a reported fee of £890,000, broke the record for the most expensive transfer in women’s football.
And finally, the coaching continuity is another merit. Emma Hayes spent over a decade at the club before her departure for the United States Women’s National Team. Hayes knew the ins and outs at Kingsmeadow, and there were some fears about the new coach needing time to adapt. However, Sonia Bompastor has made the transition seamless, and the Blues have continued their winning ways.
If Chelsea Women keep their consistency, the much-desired UEFA Champions League title will definitely come one day. And on that day, they will climb the UEFA Club Rankings too.
