Sonia Bompastor and Camille Abily’s journey from teammates to coaching partners is a story of friendship, success, and a shared commitment to football.

Both women were standout players at Olympique Lyon, where they helped lead the team to numerous victories, including multiple league titles, Coupe de France trophies, and even a Champions League win.

Their connection on the field has seamlessly carried over into their new roles at Chelsea, where they are making an impact as the new managerial duo after the departure of Emma Hayes.

A Hidden Relationship Revealed

In her new autobiography, A Life of Football, Bompastor shares a personal revelation: she and Abily have been in a romantic relationship for 13 years.

This was a part of their lives they had kept private until now, and Bompastor opens up about the weight of keeping this secret for so long. The memoir also reveals that they have four children together, ranging from three to nine years old.

Bompastor confessed that keeping their relationship a secret had been a challenging experience.

“Revealing my life together with Camille, our couple, after these thirteen years of lying, is still a subject on which we are not entirely comfortable,” she admitted in an interview with L’Equipe.

“We are rather discreet and we like to have a completely normal life.”

However, she reflects that, with time, she and Abily realize they should have been open from the beginning.

The Decision to Stay Private

Abily shared her perspective on why they chose to keep their relationship private, especially at the start of their careers.

Both women were already prominent figures in French football, having played for Montpellier before joining Lyon.

They were also regulars for the French national team, with Bompastor earning 156 caps and Abily 170.

“There is modesty, self-acceptance,” Abily explained.

“We were still two well-known players, and we were already associated with each other a lot. These are not subjects that I necessarily like to discuss.”

Even though they kept their relationship private, both women emphasized that everyone around them, including their children, knew about it.

“We were really lucky, it went really well,” Abily added.

Building on Chelsea’s Legacy

At Chelsea, Bompastor and Abily have continued the club’s tradition of success and are aiming for even greater achievements.

With an unbeaten record in all competitions this season, the team is focused on winning their first-ever Champions League title.

The pair will get the chance to secure their first piece of silverware with Chelsea when they face Manchester City in the League Cup final next month.

Despite their close personal bond, Bompastor makes it clear that their professional relationship remains focused on the team.

“Camille isn’t my wife at work,” she said. “Camille is my duo, my partner.

We know each other very well, we complement each other very well, and as a result, we’re very effective at what we do.”

As they work together to lead Chelsea to more success, Bompastor and Abily prove that the strength of their partnership, both personal and professional, has the power to drive them forward.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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