Chelsea Women's manager Emma Hayes set to step down at the end of the season

Chelsea coach Emma Hayes will leave the club at the end of the Women's Super League season "to pursue a new opportunity outside the WSL and club football," the club announced on Saturday after a 6-0 thrashing of Aston Villa.

Hayes joined Chelsea in 2012 and has won the WSL title six times and the FA Cup five times in a glittering career that has established Chelsea as one of Europe's top teams.

She was previously linked with the job of coaching the United States national team.

"Given everything she has contributed to Chelsea in over a decade with the club, and the legacy she leaves behind, we would never stand in her way when she felt it was the right time to pursue a new challenge," Chelsea co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley said in a statement.

"There will be plenty of time to celebrate Emma's many achievements at the club and to give her the farewell she deserves, but for now, as she always has been, Emma will be solely focused on making this season as successful as possible for Chelsea."

SportsLigue