Bompastor: 'They will never ask that question to a man' on motherhood and leadership in football

Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor says one of the first questions she is often asked in job interviews is whether she can lead a top club while also being a mother. The French coach, who has four children, led Chelsea to a domestic treble last season, including the Women’s Super League title in her first year in charge. In a candid account, she described the question she repeatedly encounters as she pursues head coaching roles.

'Guess what was almost the first question everyone is asking me when I want to become a head coach or a manager?' she said. 'So I’m going to tell you — do you think it’s possible to be a mum of four kids and being a manager for a high club?' 'I think if you have a man in front of the same people, they will never ask that question.' She added, laughing: 'It wasn’t the case in Chelsea.'

Their remarks come as Women in Football released a survey on Wednesday that found discrimination against women working in football remains persistent and widespread. The study reported that 78% of women in the game faced some form of discrimination, 63.5% said they had experienced sexist banter or jokes, and 56% indicated no action was taken after reporting gender-based discrimination in the workplace. Bompastor said the findings should not be surprising and called for continued improvement, noting that people must be brave enough to raise concerns.

'We still have room for improvement in that area, and I’m glad the people are honest and they are brave enough to raise that,' Bompastor said. Arsenal manager Renee Slegers, who was also asked about the survey, agreed there is still a lot of work to do. 'There is still a lot of work that needs to be done,' Slegers said. 'I think we need to stay critical, although there’s been a lot of progress in that sense. It’s not always in the big things, it can be in the small things as well. It’s good to be aware of it.'

Chelsea’s achievements last season underscored the rapid ascent of women’s football. The club claimed a domestic treble, winning the FA Cup and the League Cup in addition to the WSL title, while going 22 games unbeaten to seal the league crown in Bompastor’s first campaign. The success has fueled a broader conversation about leadership opportunities for women in football and how interviews and assessments may still hinge on traditional expectations regarding family responsibilities.

The discussion surrounding gender equality in football continues to unfold across the sport’s clubs and leagues. While progress is evident at Chelsea and other sides, the Women in Football survey and the comments from Bompastor and Slegers emphasize that the path toward parity involves ongoing attention to workplace culture, recruitment practices, and the visibility of women in top roles in football.