A record-breaking deal for the Chelsea manager
Emma Hayes, the Chelsea Women’s manager, has agreed to become the next head coach of the U.S. women’s national team, according to sources familiar with the hiring process. Hayes will leave the Women’s Super League club at the end of the 2023-24 season and take over the USWNT in May, after the conclusion of the WSL campaign.
Hayes will reportedly receive a record-breaking offer from the U.S. Soccer Federation, making her the highest-paid coach in women’s football. The deal is said to be worth nearly $2 million per year, plus bonuses and incentives. Hayes will also have full control over the USWNT staff and roster, as well as the development of the youth national teams.
Hayes has been with Chelsea since 2012 and has transformed the club into one of the most dominant forces in women’s football. She has won six WSL titles, five FA Cups, two League Cups, and reached the Champions League final in 2021. She has also coached some of the best players in the world, such as Fran Kirby, Sam Kerr, and Pernille Harder.
A new challenge for the USWNT
The USWNT has been looking for a new head coach since Vlatko Andonovski stepped down in October, following the team’s disappointing performance at the Tokyo Olympics. The USWNT failed to defend their gold medal and settled for bronze, after losing to Canada in the semifinals and Sweden in the group stage.
The USWNT has been the most successful team in women’s football history, winning four World Cups and four Olympic gold medals. However, the team has faced increasing competition from other nations, such as England, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. The USWNT also has an aging core of players, such as Megan Rapinoe, Carli Lloyd, and Alex Morgan, who are nearing the end of their careers.
Hayes will have the task of rebuilding the USWNT and preparing them for the next major tournaments, such as the 2024 Olympics in Paris and the 2027 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Hayes will also have to deal with the expectations and pressure of coaching the most popular and scrutinized team in women’s sports.
A historic move for women’s football
Hayes will become the first woman to coach the USWNT since Jill Ellis, who led the team to two consecutive World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019. Hayes will also become the first non-American to coach the USWNT, and the first British woman to coach a senior national team.
Hayes has been a pioneer and an advocate for women’s football, both on and off the pitch. She has been vocal about the need for more investment, recognition, and respect for the women’s game. She has also been involved in commentary and punditry, covering the men’s Euros for ITV in 2021 and winning several awards for her work.
Hayes has been widely praised and respected by her peers, players, and fans for her achievements and contributions to women’s football. She has also been awarded an MBE and an OBE for her services to the sport. Her move to the USWNT will be a huge loss for Chelsea, but a huge gain for the USWNT and women’s football in general.
