Fresh from the last-gasp drama of earning a draw at Kingsmeadow in the Champions League, Chelsea Women’s manager Emma Hayes has been announced as the latest to be honoured in the Women’s Super League hall of fame.

Hayes, the longest serving manager in the WSL, turns 45 next week.

Her haul of four league titles is the best of any gaffer in the WSL era, and she has cemented Chelsea’s place as a serious European contender, even if her team did stumble in the final last season.

On Wednesday night, under the floodlights, she was feeling the strain after Wolfsburg – so long a thorn in Chelsea’s side – appeared to be holding on for a 3-2 victory… until never-say-die striker Pernille Harder stabbed the ball home in the first of four minutes of stoppage time to salvage an important draw.

The players have today (Thursday) off, then regroup on Friday morning to train for Sunday’s league game against Leicester City.

Hayes has also won two League Cups and two FA Cups, and recently passed 150 Barclays FA Women’s Super League games in charge of her club.

The selection panel agreed that Hayes merited a place in the hall of fame based on her managerial achievements, and the impact she has had on the women’s game during her career.

Panel chair Kelly Simmons said: “Her record is incredible, but she’s so much more than that. She’s a great ambassador for the league, who works tirelessly behind the scenes, while also encouraging the development of coaches.

“She’s taken her knowledge into the broadcast world to become a great pundit, and I feel we are really lucky to have her in the league.”