D[/dropcap[]uring the last 10 years, the genre of fly-on-the-wall sports documentaries has exploded, with series like Against All Odds and Welcome To Wrexham putting a spotlight on the world of football. Emma: One Last Dance is a film that focuses on a great of the women’s game: English manager Emma Hayes.

For the uninitiated, Hayes is one of the most successful managers in English women’s football, coaching a Chelsea team that would win a sea of silverware. She would become one of the key figures in taking the women’s game from an underfunded amateur sport to a fully professional spectacle with sell-out crowds and household names.

One Last Dance centres on the legend’s final season at Chelsea, before leaving to manage the US Women’s National Team. Chasing a seventh Women’s Super League (WSL) title, a camera crew follows the ups and downs of that campaign, as well as offering some behind the scenes insight.

The philosophy of leadership is explored in an interesting way, given Hayes’ approach to leading her team. We don’t see cups being thrown in the dressing room or players being bellowed at, instead there’s a steady sense of authority from a coach who isn’t afraid to speak her mind, but will do so calmly.

Sir Alex Ferguson, perhaps the greatest manager of the men’s game, shares what he admires about her mindset, giving those who may not be as familiar with the women’s game a sense of context. There are several refreshingly unguarded interviews with her players, many of whom praise her ability to be a mentor and almost a mother figure.

The film soars in the portrait of Hayes as a person. Following her close family unit, including her two sisters and her mother, we see the strong family unit that is needed in order to support a successful career. Hayes has kept her relationships private, so a partner or lack of is never mentioned, but the strength of the four women working together to make things happen is an admirable reminder of the many names behind the success.

Some of the most emotional moments are off the pitch, such as Hayes’ mother Miriam crying in the stands after a brutal defeat, saying “look at Emma’s face”; or her son Harry unable to hide his nerves before a match. The influence of her late father Sid is also present, giving background to the resilience she often cites as a strength.

The weakness of One Last Dance in the structure, which at times becomes overwhelmed with several narratives. While the current season is focused on in depth, we hear very little of the victories of the past. There are no anecdotes from the six previous WSL title wins, and the larger story of the rise of the women’s game is touched upon but rarely explored. There are narrative threads that feel undernourished, to the point where it might have been better to leave them out entirely.

This is a an imperfect movie that distinguishes itself from the oceans of sports documentaries by offering a subject who really deserves celebrating. While not an exhaustive analysis, it absolutely shows the mentality of someone who leaves an indelible mark on their field.

Emma: One Last Dance sees its world premired during the 33rd edition of Raindance, which takes place between June 18th and the 27th.