Emma Hayes: The Leicester City women's team manager talks about Saudi Arabia, the WSL and more.
In this special episode of the Women's Football Weekly podcast, we're joined by Emma Hayes, manager of Leicester City Women, who shares her thoughts on playing in the Saudi Women's Premier League (SWPL) after joining Al-Ittihad FC.
Emma talks about why she made the decision to move to Saudi Arabia and how it's been a challenge for the team. She also discusses the differences between the WSL and SWPL, including the quality of opposition and the impact of COVID-19 on women's football in the Middle East.
The conversation covers a range of topics, from the SWPL's efforts to attract more fans and increase attendance to the growing popularity of women's football in Saudi Arabia. Emma also shares her own experiences as a manager in a new league and how she's working to develop the team's skills and strength.
Tune in for an insightful conversation with Emma Hayes on the challenges and opportunities facing women's football in Saudi Arabia, as well as her vision for Leicester City Women's future success.
Listen to this episode on BBC Sounds or find extra content from the WSL on our feed.
In this special episode of the Women's Football Weekly podcast, we're joined by Emma Hayes, manager of Leicester City Women, who shares her thoughts on playing in the Saudi Women's Premier League (SWPL) after joining Al-Ittihad FC.
Emma talks about why she made the decision to move to Saudi Arabia and how it's been a challenge for the team. She also discusses the differences between the WSL and SWPL, including the quality of opposition and the impact of COVID-19 on women's football in the Middle East.
The conversation covers a range of topics, from the SWPL's efforts to attract more fans and increase attendance to the growing popularity of women's football in Saudi Arabia. Emma also shares her own experiences as a manager in a new league and how she's working to develop the team's skills and strength.
Tune in for an insightful conversation with Emma Hayes on the challenges and opportunities facing women's football in Saudi Arabia, as well as her vision for Leicester City Women's future success.
Listen to this episode on BBC Sounds or find extra content from the WSL on our feed.
. On one hand, it's awesome that women's football is gaining popularity in the region and getting more attention. But at the same time, I wonder if the league is ready for top-tier teams like Leicester City Women yet 
. The challenges of playing in a new league with different rules and opponents can't be taken lightly 
. I'd love to hear more about how Emma's team is adapting and what strategies she's using to succeed in SWPL 
️.
hows it affectin the team tho? im curious about emma hayes thoughts on this btw, seems like a smart move for them
, but what about the atmosphere? Is it as electric as the WSL games? And have they got the same level of fan engagement? I'd love to see some numbers on how many fans are turning up to watch these games. Plus, the quality of opposition is a big concern - if they can't even beat their own local teams, how will they compete against other top leagues? 
! Like I know some ppl might think it's weird for a UK team to play in a league that's not even close to their own but honestly I think it's a genius move. The WSL is already doin amazing things, now imagine the talent pool they're gonna get from all over the world 
! And Emma's experience is like, the ultimate case study - she's literally breakin down barriers and bringin that fire 
! What I'd love to hear more about tho, is how they're gonna make SWPL more accessible & attract more fans. It's all about growin the game, you feel? 
they're one of the top teams in the WSL after all... I'm not sure how they'll fare against some of the tougher opponents in the SWPL 
. but at the same time, I hope Emma and her team aren't feeling too overwhelmed with all the changes they're facing 
... I mean, adapting to a new league can be tough enough without having to navigate cultural differences and whatnot 
- I'll have to check out this podcast episode ASAP 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to join Al-Ittihad FC and become part of the Saudi Women's Premier League? It's like the ultimate adventure... for your football career, that is! 
So I'm thinking about women's football in general and how it's growing everywhere... but Saudi Arabia is an interesting case, right? 
They're trying to attract more fans and increase attendance by, like, making the league look cooler or something 
. But at the same time, there are challenges to overcome, especially with COVID-19 affecting women's football in the Middle East. It's a complex situation.