Pundit of the Year: Emma Hayes

Our judges were unanimous in their decision to award Emma Hayes the trophy for Pundit of the Year.

The manager of Chelsea FC Women was a newcomer to punditry in a major championship when she joined ITV’s Euro 2020 team. But just as Hayes has scored success with her team, she triumphed as a pundit.

Hayes would arrive at ITV’s Euro 2020 studio armed with a dossier on each team she would be watching that day. It was obvious to the production team that her thorough approach would be the same as when she is coaching – leaning on the analysis tools she uses each day to interpret what she is seeing on the pitch.

This tactical knowledge, combined with communication skills honed over a career in management, helped her relay this information to viewers in a way that was easy to understand.

Hayes fast became a key part of ITV’s coverage during the month-long tournament, alongside established names such as Ian Wright, Roy Keane and Gary Neville.

“Emma offered a unique, managers’ view that was confident and unapologetic, with insightful analysis,” said one judge. “Passionate and knowledgeable, Hayes was a role model for young girls and women aspiring to work in the football industry,” said another.