Emma Hayes hired as head coach of US women’s national football team

LOS ANGELES – Long-time Chelsea manager Emma Hayes was thrilled to be named as the new head coach of the United States women’s national football team, tasked with righting the ship after the country’s most disappointing Women’s World Cup campaign.

The 47-year-old from London is one of the game’s most successful professional coaches, guiding Chelsea to 13 major trophies in her 11 seasons with the Women’s Super League (WSL) club.

Her deal with the US, which will reportedly run through at least 2027, will make her the highest-paid women’s football coach in the world. Financial details were not revealed.

“This is a huge honour to be given the opportunity to coach the most incredible team in world football history,” Hayes said in the statement announcing her appointment.

“I’ve dreamt about coaching the USA for a long time so to get this opportunity is a dream come true.”

Chelsea announced on Nov 4 that Hayes would leave her job at the end of the WSL season in May to pursue a new opportunity “outside the WSL and club football”.

Twila Kilgore will continue in her role as US interim boss before joining Hayes’ staff as an assistant coach.

Hayes replaces Vlatko Andonovski, who stepped down days after the Americans’ shock defeat by Sweden in the last 16 of the 2023 Women’s World Cup. The Americans, who own a record four world titles, had never before finished worse than third.

One of her first major tournaments will be the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the US will aim for their fifth gold.

“I know there is work to do to achieve our goals of winning consistently at the highest levels. To get there, it will require dedication, devotion and collaboration,” added Hayes.

She will have a tight turnaround to get acquainted with the team before the Olympics as she is expected to have four matches on the US bench before the Paris Games, according to US Soccer, with two in June and two in July.

Hayes, who joined Chelsea in 2012, has won the WSL title six times and the FA Cup on five occasions in a glittering tenure that has cemented Chelsea as one of Europe’s top teams.

She has also guided the team to the double twice and also achieved an unprecedented domestic treble.

Off the pitch, she is a vocal advocate for women’s football, speaking candidly on health issues and the challenges of combining motherhood and sport.

Chelsea co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley said: “Emma has been one of the biggest drivers of change in women’s football. Her achievements at Chelsea are unrivalled and will live in the club’s history forever.” REUTERS, AFP