Chelsea Women’s coach reveals 13-year secret romance with her assistant
Yasmine Green
Dailysports's expert
Translated by the editors
Chelsea Women’s head coach Sonia Bompastor has revealed in her newly released autobiography, La Vie du Football (The Life of Football), that she has been in a long-term relationship with her assistant Camille Abily—a romance they kept secret for 13 years.
Bompastor and Abily were not only coaching partners but also former teammates, having played together for France’s national team and several clubs.
In an interview, Bompastor admitted that keeping their relationship private for so long was a difficult challenge. Abily added that their initial decision to stay quiet was due to their public profiles in football.
"Finally, we realised that having lied for 13 years is a heavy secret to keep. With hindsight and our different experiences, we say to ourselves that we should have revealed it from the start," Bompastor stated.
The book also reveals that the couple has been raising four children, aged between 3 and 9 years old.
As coaches, Bompastor and Abily have already enjoyed great success, leading Lyon Women to a UEFA Women’s Champions League title in 2022 and securing three French league titles. Bompastor was appointed as Chelsea Women’s head coach on May 29, 2024, with Abily joining as her assistant on July 1, 2024.
