Chelsea women’s head coach, Sonia Bompastor, has revealed she has been in a long-term romantic relationship with her assistant, Camille Abily. The announcement has shed light on the couple's 13-year bond, which they had kept private until now, coinciding with Bompastor’s rising success at Chelsea.
Since taking over from Emma Hayes last summer, Bompastor has enjoyed remarkable success, leading the team to remain unbeaten across all competitions this season. Abily, who has accompanied her on this new adventure, played alongside Bompastor at Lyon, where they were pivotal components of the club’s dominance, winning multiple league titles and the Champions League.
On the eve of the release of her autobiography, A Life of Football, Bompastor spoke about their relationship during an interview with the French newspaper, L'Équipe, stating, "We are always looking for happiness. Finally, we realized having lied for 13 years is a difficult secret to keep. With hindsight and our different experiences, we say to ourselves we should have revealed it from the start." Bompastor emphasized the significance of happiness within their lives.
The couple has four children together, aged between three and nine, marking their life together beyond the professional spectrum. Bompastor expressed, "Revealing my life together with Camille, our relationship, after – as I say in the book – these 13 years of lies, is still a subject on which we are not entirely comfortable today. We are rather discreet and we like to have a completely normal life.”
On the question of why they kept their relationship private for so long, Abily noted, "We were still two well-known players. We were already associated with many things. We didn’t want it to be just about our relationship. We work together because we complement each other, and it won’t be like this our whole life either."
Bompastor reflected on the struggles she faced growing up, feeling attracted to women, explaining, "Growing up, feeling attracted to a woman, not knowing what’s going on, not having the answers... it’s not easy." This reflection highlights the challenges many people face with personal acceptance and societal perceptions.
Abily also shared insights on their preference for privacy, saying, "There is modesty, self-acceptance. Everyone around us, our children, know, there's no problem. But I’m not going to be the first to tell someone who doesn’t know." They expressed gratitude for the successful life they have managed to build together and the support they found within their close circles.
While their personal lives are now more publicly acknowledged, the focus remains on their professional paths. Since taking charge at Chelsea, Bompastor has led her team to 13 wins and one draw, positioning them comfortably atop the league, with Chelsea seven points clear of Manchester United as they pursue their sixth consecutive title.
The road doesn’t end here; the Chelsea women’s team also looks forward to their Champions League quarter-final against Manchester City scheduled for March 19. Having never lifted the Champions League trophy, the team continues its pursuit of glory after coming close to victory during the 2020/21 final against Barcelona.
Bompastor’s remarkable achievements with Chelsea, both as manager and partner to Abily, reflect not only her tactical prowess on the pitch but also her strong values concerning family and personal fulfillment. Their story adds depth to the dynamics of female leadership and personal relationships within the world of sports.