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Kill the Unicorn

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Kill the Unicorn

By: Emma Hayes, Michael Calvin - contributor
Narrated by: Emma Hayes
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How do you get the best out of people? What does it take to make a team thrive?

Few people know the answers better than Emma Hayes. As the coach of Chelsea FC Women, she has led the club to 14 major trophies. She is a widely celebrated figure in sports media as a woman starting to get equal recognition in this space, and has been named TV pundit of the year by both Broadcast Magazine and the Sports Journalists Association. In 2021 she was named Best Football Coach by FIFA, in 2016 she was named MBE in the Queen’s 90th birthday honours list, and in 2022 was awarded an OBE for her services to football.

In her first ever book, written in collaboration with internationally best-selling author Michael Calvin, Emma shares her experience of managing a high-performance football team to draw out life lessons and techniques that listeners can apply to their own professional and personal circumstances.

Narrated by Emma herself, it’s also a fascinating look into the world of women’s football told by a woman at the centre of it, with frank, entertaining anecdotes from on and off the field.

©2023 Emma Hayes OBE c/o The Blair Partnership LLP (P)2023 Audible, Ltd Coaching Football (Soccer) Sports Women Inspiring Thought-Provoking
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Featured article: Motivational listens from women in sport


Currently underway, the FIFA Women’s World Cup not only showcases some of the best footballing talent in the world, but also some of the best stories about overcoming hurdles and hardship to succeed. And that’s not a story unique to women’s football; from motorsport to gymnastics via tennis and more, there are women who have faced societal prejudices and personal and professional challenges to become the best at what they do. From footballers to athletes and tennis players we've brought you the best stories and advice from on and off the pitch.

Featured article Motivational Listens From Women in Sport
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This was a surprisingly good book, well told and read by of one of the top women football managers in the English game. Chelsea have been massively successful in women's football and listening to Emma explain her reasoning, emotional intelligence and tactical acumen - her intelligence and team preparation shine through. As a leader, she seeks fairness, honesty and integrity from her players, which she also demands of herself - but in return she is sympathetic to the pressures, social media and temptations that the 'always on' generation face.

I replayed one or two chapters, as some of the points she made, were very pertinent and thought provoking. This is not a 'fly by the seat of your pants' manager, but someone who thinks deeply of how she can develop, prepare and help her team and individual players grow and be successful. Rather than tell lurid stories of nights out on the town living the glamorous life - Emma talks candidly of her son and being proud to be a mum, with all its ups and downs, and how she balances being a parent in a very demanding work environment.

Emma's career in football is still a work in progress, her achievements at Chelsea will stand the test of time. Whether or not she is going to manage at an even higher level, elsewhere was not discussed in any great depth - but she is a high achiever and sets high standards and goals. It is clear she is not only capable but ambitious. If the right opportunity for her talents were to arise, then she would have a difficult choice to stay or go.

Emma's work in looking after her (female) footballers to ensure their well being is central to her philosophy, in particular, to protect them during their menstrual cycle, steps she has taken are practical and pioneering. With ACL injuries in women's football being more prevalent than mens - her thoughts and experience on the subject, shine a light on a subject that should be researched in greater depth than currently. It is an issue which needs to be addressed to ensure women at all levels of the game can enjoy playing football, without the fear of a 'career' ending injury.

An enjoyable and thought provoking listen.

Advanced football manager and all-round good egg

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I enjoyed this very much. Emma relates per personal life to her work life, which we don’t often get to hear about. I liked seeing the impact of one side of life on the other and vice versa. I found I had to listen to it at x1.35 speed as it was a little slow in pace, but the content was very well structured.

Relatable and real

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I found this book very informative and powerful. The way Emma talks about her life experiences, her wealth of knowledge (both on and off the pitch) and the amazing work she is doing to progress not only the women’s game but highlighting the other side of it with regards to injury prevention, the issues around the menstrual cycle, parenting and how to train a positive mindset it just amazing. This book is a must read/listen, and it is a book I will listen to again and again

Honest and very interesting, must read for everyone not just leaders

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Simply put, this is the best leadership book I have come across in years. It transcends just being a book about coaching, as it envelops such a range of topics from personal to strategic. I loved all the areas about organisational values and breaking down values for the team so as to set healthy culture. That could easily be applied to any organisation.
I would thank Emma Hayes for the insightful and incredibly honest chapters 4 and 12. That outline the complexities of elite female sport and at times the ignorance that surrounds medical and physical care of women.
Lastly, the books acts as an inspiring conduit for those coaching and playing at even the lowest levels. I coach u12 girls football and have been doing so for less than a year after a 12 year break from football after I stopped playing. My daughter discovered footy aged 10 (I had encouraged my kids in other sports as my experience playing football at the lowest level for 15 years was that it was often unpleasant and violent). My daughter has been playing for 1 year and her experience has been very positive. I started coaching her in addition to her team practices to help her develop core technique and then joined the team of volunteer coaches at her team. She has become one of the best players on her team in less than a year. I’m immensely proud.
What’s the point - football has brought us closer together - we love watching WSL together and all things football. This book we listened to certain sections together! After chapter 4 my now 11 year daughter said she wants to be a doctor and cure endometriosis!
Thank you Emma Hayes for inspiring my daughter to be a better footballer and a better person. Thank you for inspiring me to be a better coach at the age of 44 and just starting my volunteer coaching journey. Thank for a brilliant book on life and leadership.
Ps: can this book go to print at some point please?

Thank you Emma Hayes!

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Interesting insight in to a leadership journey that has changed women’s sport. So many takeaways and areas to think about.

Epic book for leadership and life

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