Chelsea Women manager Emma Hayes won’t be able to play football until she has recovered from an emergency hysterectomy.
Hayes released a statement on Thursday to say she would need “time and patience to return to full health” after undergoing the procedure last week.
The club’s assistant coach Denise Reddy will take charge in her absence, assisted by general manager Paul Green.
Hayes, who has won five Women’s Super League titles with Chelsea, said the surgery had taken place following her “ongoing battle with endometriosis” and thanked her doctors as well as the west London club.
She wrote in a statement posted on Chelsea’s official website: “Last Tuesday I underwent an emergency hysterectomy following my ongoing battle with endometriosis. I’m now in recovery and will need time and patience to return to full health.
