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Sonia Bompastor

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Sonia Bompastor
Bompastor in 2012
Personal information
Full name Sonia Bompastor[1]
Date of birth (1980-06-08) 8 June 1980 (age 44)
Place of birth Blois, Loir-et-Cher, France
Height 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Chelsea (manager)
Youth career
1988–1994 US Mer
1994–1997 US Thoury
1997–2000 Tours EC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2002 La Roche-sur-Yon
2002–2006 Montpellier 83 (36)
2006–2009 Lyon 54 (15)
2009–2010 Washington Freedom 41 (6)
2009–2010 → Paris Saint-Germain (loan) 13 (10)
2010–2013 Lyon 59 (4)
International career
1997–1998 France U18 3 (0)
2000–2013 France 156 (19)
Managerial career
2013–2021 Lyon Academy
2021–2024 Lyon
2024– Chelsea
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Sonia Bompastor (born 8 June 1980) is a French football manager and former player who manages Chelsea of the English Women's Super League.[2] She is the first person to win the UEFA Women's Champions League as both a player and a manager, and is widely considered to be one of the best women's players in French history.[3]

Bompastor was a midfielder, preferably on the left side; she also played at left back. Bompastor was a two-time winner of the National Union of Professional Footballers (UNFP) Female Player of the Year, and following a move to the Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) league in the United States, earned Player of the Month and All-Star honors.

Bompastor began her football career joining US Mer in 1988. In 1992, she joined US Thoury. In the same year, Bompastor earned selection to nationally recognized Clairefontaine academy joining alongside a select group of female players. After her stint at Clairefontaine, she joined Tours EC, now the women's section of professional club Tours FC. In 2000, she joined Division 1 Féminine club ESOF Vendée La Roche-sur-Yon and performed well enough to earn a move to Montpellier. At Montpellier, Bompastor earned domestic and individual honors, which resulted in a move to champions Lyon. In 2008, she joined the new United States-based women's soccer league, Women's Professional Soccer, after her American playing rights were chosen by Washington Freedom in the 2008 WPS International Draft.[4] After helping the Freedom reached the playoffs, Bompastor returned to France where she played for Paris Saint-Germain on loan. In 2010, she announced that she would be returned to Lyon for the 2010–11 season and, subsequently, was a part of the team that won the 2010–11 UEFA Women's Champions League.

Bompastor is also a French international. Prior to playing for the senior team, she played at youth level representing the under-18 team at the 1998 UEFA Women's Under-18 Championship. Bompastor made her senior international debut in February 2000 in a friendly match against Scotland. From 2004 to 2006, she served as the national team's captain. Bompastor has played in numerous tournaments for her nation beginning with UEFA Women's Euro 2001.

In June 2013, Bompastor chose to end her career after the French Women's Cup final.[5] She became the academy director of Olympique Lyonnais Féminin after retirement.[6] In April 2021, she took over as manager of Lyon's first team.[7][8]

Club career

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Early career

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Bompastor was born in Blois, Loir-et-Cher, and began playing football at an early age. Of Portuguese origin, both of her parents are from Póvoa de Varzim and most of her family still lives in the area. Bompastor told Ma Chaîne Sport that she always goes to Póvoa when she has the opportunity to do so.[9] She was drawn to football through her father, who was a referee.[10] He took her to many of the games he refereed on the weekends and Bompastor quickly developed an attraction towards the game.[10]

Bompastor began her football career in 1988 at US Mer, a local club in a neighboring commune, playing with the club's mixed team. In 1992, she joined US Thoury. That same year, Bompastor earned selection to an exclusive female team that was given clearance to train at the Clairefontaine academy by the French Football Federation.[10] The academy had quickly become a high-level training facility for male football players and supporters of women's football wanted younger women to be afforded the same benefits from the facilities as young men. Following vocational training at Clairefontaine, Bompastor moved to amateur team Tours EC. She spent four years at the club before joining ESOF Vendée La Roche-sur-Yon of the Division 1 Féminine in 2000.

Professional career

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Bompastor's professional career began with ESOF Vendée La Roche-sur-Yon in 2000. She scored seven goals over her two years with the club before moving to Montpellier HSC in 2002.

At Montpellier, Bompastor blossomed and scored 38 goals over four seasons while helping the club win league titles in 2004 and 2005, as well as the 2006 Challenge de France (women's version of the Coupe de France). In that 2005-06 campaign, Montpellier also reached the UEFA Women's Cup semi-finals.

Bompastor playing for Washington Freedom in 2009

Lyon was the next destination for Bompastor, for whom she joined in the summer of 2006. She became an important part of the side that won back-to-back league titles in 2006-07 and 2007-08, also winning the Challenge de France in 2008 to complete a domestic double. This gave her six titles in a span of four years, equal to teammates Camille Abily and Élodie Thomis, who were also a part of the same Montpellier team Bompastor had previously played for.

On 24 September 2008, Bompastor was selected to join the new United States-based women's soccer league, Women's Professional Soccer, after her American playing rights were chosen by Washington Freedom in the 2008 WPS International Draft.[4] Her Lyon teammate Louisa Necib was also chosen by the Freedom. In the 2009 Women's Professional Soccer season, Bompastor appeared in 19 games (all starts, 1709 total minutes) and scored four goals with six assists. She was included in the league's all-star team in each of her two seasons with Washington Freedom.[11]

Following the conclusion of the season, she returned to France with a loan move to D1 Féminine side Paris Saint-Germain, for whom she scored an impressive ten goals in 13 league games. In 2010, Bompastor confirmed she would re-join Lyon ahead of the 2010-11 season, where she reunited with former Montpellier coach Patrice Lair.

In her first season back, Bompastor captained Lyon to the French league title and she also won the first UEFA Women's Champions League of her career, with Les Fenottes beating German outfit Turbine Potsdam 2-0 in the final at Craven Cottage. Bompastor was at the heart of a hugely successful Lyon team that repeated their league and Champions League successes in the next season, also adding the Coupe de France to complete the first treble in Lyon's history. In the 2012 UWCL final, they beat Frankfurt 2-0 in front of over 50,000 fans at the Olympiastadion in Munich, claimed by UEFA to be a European record for women's club football.

Bompastor again led Lyon to the D1 Féminine title in 2012-13 but her side were beaten 1-0 by Wolfsburg in the 2013 Champions League final. In June 2013, the defender announced that she will retire from football after that month's Coupe de France Féminine final against AS Saint-Étienne. "I figured it was a good time (to stop)," she said. "In terms of career and track record, I've won all that I could win. As a woman, I have other goals such as starting a family."[5]

In her last match before retirement, she played 81 minutes and provided a set-piece assist for Eugenie Le Sommer as Lyon beat Saint-Étienne 3-1 in the 2013 Coupe de France final.[citation needed] This triumph completed the third domestic double of Bompastor's career.[12] Across the three seasons of her second spell with Lyon, Bompastor made 94 appearances, scored nine goals, lifted seven trophies and solidified her legacy as one of the world's best women's players of her generation.

International career

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Bompastor made her international debut for the Bleues on 26 February 2000 in a match against Scotland. She was a member of the squads that participated in the 2001 (her first tournament with France), 2005, and 2009 editions of the UEFA Women's Championship. She also represented France at the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup and the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. Bompastor's strong displays in the 2011 edition, where France finished fourth, saw her named in FIFA's All-Star Team of the Tournament.

On 27 September 2008, Bompastor picked up her 100th cap in a crucial UEFA Women's Euro 2009 qualifying match against Iceland,[13] which France won 2–1. Bompastor finished her international career with 156 appearances and 19 goals to her name, making her France's eighth most capped player of all time (as of February 2025).[14]

Managerial career

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Lyon

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After retiring from playing football in 2013, Bompastor moved into a coaching role at Lyon's academy. She managed at the club's academy for eight years.

In April 2021, Bompastor was appointed manager of Lyon's first team, making her the first woman to ever take charge of Les Fenottes.[15] During the 2021-22 campaign, her first full season in charge, she impressively led Lyon to a double: Division 1 and UEFA Women's Champions League success. The UWCL triumph in May 2022, where her side beat Barcelona 3-1 in the final, meant Bompastor became the first person to win Europe's top competition as both a player and a head coach.[16]

Bompastor won three consecutive Division 1 titles in the 2021–22, 2022–23 and 2023–24 seasons respectively. In the 2022–23 UWCL, Bompastor's Lyon team reached the quarter-final, where they fell 3-2 on aggregate to Chelsea. The following year, in the 2023–24 UWCL, she led them to the final of the competition for a second time, but they ultimately lost 2-0 to the quadruple-winning Barcelona.[17] In total, she lifted seven trophies overall during her spell at Lyon.

Chelsea

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On 29 May 2024, Bompastor was appointed manager of Chelsea, on a four-year deal.[2] She replaced Emma Hayes, who had been in charge for 12 years.

She managed her first match with Chelsea on 20 September 2024 in a 1–0 win over Aston Villa.[18] On 12 October 2024, she led Chelsea to the club's first ever win at the Emirates Stadium and the club's first away win to Arsenal since 2020 when they won the match 2–1.[19]

On 16 November 2024, Chesea beat Manchester City 2–0 to go to the top of the WSL table after winning each of their seven league matches with Bompastor in charge (ten wins out of ten matches in all competitions).[20] It was the best-ever start for any manager in the league’s fourteen-year history.[21]

On 15 March 2025, Bompastor won her first trophy with Chelsea after beating Manchester City 2–1 at Pride Park in the 2024–25 FA Women's League Cup final. It was the club's first success in the competition since 2021 after they had lost the previous three finals in a row.[22]

Private

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In February 2025, Bompastor and Camille Abily announced that they have been in a relationship for 13 years and that they have four children together.[23] Abily was Lyon's assistant coach before Bompastor took over at the club, and she has been Bompastor's assistant both at Lyon and Chelsea.

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 18 September 2016[24][25]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
La Roche-sur-Yon 2000–01
2001–02
Total
Montpellier 2002–03 22 12 2 1 0 0 24 13
2003–04 22 7 3 1 0 0 25 8
2004–05 18 5 0 0 9 2 27 7
2005–06 21 12 0 0 5 1 26 13
Total 83 36 5 2 14 3 102 41
Lyon 2006–07 20 9 0 0 0 0 20 9
2007–08 21 5 5 3 9 2 35 10
2008–09 13 1 0 0 5 1 18 2
Total 54 15 5 3 14 3 73 21
Washington Freedom 2009 19 4 19 4
2010 22 2 22 2
Total 41 6 41 6
Paris Saint-Germain 2009–10 13 10 0 0 0 0 13 10
Lyon 2010–11 19 2 3 0 6 1 28 3
2011–12 22 2 4 0 8 2 34 4
2012–13 18 0 5 0 9 2 32 2
Total 59 4 12 0 51 5 94 9
Career total 250 71 22 5 37 11 309 87

International

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Appearances and goals by national team and year[24][26]
National team Year Apps Goals
France 1999–2000 3 0
2000–01 14 0
2001–02 10 0
2002–03 13 1
2003–04 15 5
2004–05 10 0
2005–06 13 2
2006–07 13 1
2007–08 8 1
2008–09 5 1
2009–10 12 4
2010–11 17 2
2011–12 23 2
Total 156 19

Managerial statistics

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As of matches played 30 March 2025
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record Ref
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Lyon (women) 27 April 2021[7] 25 May 2024 118 100 10 8 381 71 +310 084.75 [27]
Chelsea (women) 29 May 2024[2] present 32 28 3 1 89 23 +66 087.50
Total 150 128 13 9 470 94 +376 085.33

Honours

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Player

[edit]

Montpellier

Lyon

France

Individual

Manager

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Lyon

Chelsea

Individual

Other

[edit]

Orders

References

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  1. ^ a b "Décret du 14 mai 2014 portant promotion et nomination" [Decree of 14 May 2014 on promotion and appointment]. Official Journal of the French Republic (in French). 2014 (112). 15 May 2014. PREX1409874D. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "Sonia Bompastor to become Chelsea Women Head Coach". Chelsea F.C. 29 May 2024. Archived from the original on 29 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  3. ^ "UEFA Women's Champions League on Instagram: "𝓗𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓻𝔂 𝓜𝓪𝓴𝓮𝓻 👏 👑 Lyon boss Sonia Bompastor is the first woman to win the #UWCL title as a player and coach! 😍 #UWCLfinal | @olfeminin"". Archived from the original on 27 September 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  4. ^ a b Freedom sticks close to home with draft choices Archived 10 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ a b "Lyon and France stalwart Bompastor bows out". UEFA. UEFA. 7 June 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  6. ^ "JEAN-MICHEL AULAS : "WE WILL BRING OUR EXPERTISE AND OUR PASSION TO THIS PROJECT"". Olympique Lyonnais. 19 December 2019. Archived from the original on 20 December 2019. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  7. ^ a b "L'OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS ET JEAN-LUC VASSEUR ONT PRIS LA DÉCISION COMMUNE DE METTRE FIN À LEUR COLLABORATION" [OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS AND JEAN-LUC VASSEUR HAVE TAKEN THE JOINT DECISION TO END THEIR COLLABORATION]. Lyon. 27 April 2021. Archived from the original on 2 June 2022. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  8. ^ Scott, Megan (28 April 2021). "Sonia Bompastor announced as new Olympique Lyonnais manager". Her Football Hub. Archived from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  9. ^ "Madeira: deputado do PSD-M diz que mandato de Cavaco Silva tem sido "mais ou menos"". O Jogo (in Portuguese). 8 April 2008. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  10. ^ a b c "Sonia Bompastor, capitaine de l'Equipe de France" (in French). Elle. 21 June 2008. Archived from the original on 1 January 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
  11. ^ "Lyon and France stalwart Bompastor bows out".
  12. ^ "Lyon win cup on Bompastor swansong".
  13. ^ "France aim to spoil Iceland dream". Archived from the original on 30 September 2008. Retrieved 16 October 2008.
  14. ^ "Footofeminin.fr - Équipe de France A - Toutes les sélectionnées". www.statsfootofeminin.fr. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  15. ^ "Lyon: Sonia Bompastor replaces Jean-Luc Vasseur as French champions' coach". BBC Sport. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  16. ^ "Barcelona 1-3 Lyon: Brilliant Lyon win eighth Champions League crown". BBC Sport. 20 May 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  17. ^ "Women's Pro results". Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  18. ^ Sanders, Emma (20 September 2024). "Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 20 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  19. ^ Sanders, Emma (12 October 2024). "Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  20. ^ Sanders, Emma (16 November 2024). "Chelsea 2-0 Manchester City". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 15 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  21. ^ "'Every record has to be broken' - Bompastor makes WSL history with Man City win". FotMob. 16 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  22. ^ Salley, Emily (15 March 2025). "Chelsea 2-1 Manchester City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  23. ^ "Sonia Bompastor et Camille Abily, coaches de Chelsea et en couple : « Parler de nos vies privées, ce n'est pas ce qu'on préfère »".
  24. ^ a b "La Carriere de Sonia Bompastor". StatsFootoFeminin. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  25. ^ "BOMPASTOR Sonia". Olympique Lyonnais. Archived from the original on 10 May 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  26. ^ BOMPASTOR Sonia Archived 16 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, French Football Federation, retrieved 19 June 2011
  27. ^ "Sonia Bompastor manager profile and live statistics updates - SofaScore". www.sofascore.com. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  28. ^ "September Manager of the Month". Barclays football. 10 October 2024.
  29. ^ "November Manager of the Month". 6 December 2024.
  30. ^ "January Manager of the Month". 7 February 2025.
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