In the upcoming Olympic women’s soccer tournament, the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) will take the field under new leadership. Emma Hayes, who previously led Chelsea FC Women to numerous triumphs, returns to where her coaching career began.
Emma Hayes coached Chelsea FC Women for 12 years, during which time she won 16 titles. Following an unprecedented period of struggle for the USWNT, Hayes is seen as a beacon of hope for the team’s resurgence.
Hayes’ coaching career started in 2001 when she coached at an elementary school in New York. Reflecting on becoming the USWNT head coach, Hayes said, “At the time, I was surviving on various types of visas and didn’t know if I had enough money for next month’s rent.”
During her four years working in the United States, Hayes earned recognition and moved back to England in 2005 to become the assistant coach for Arsenal FC Women. Following success there, she returned to the U.S., where she worked with prominent players such as Rapinoe, Lloyd, Tappin, Marta, Sinclair, and Morgan while coaching in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
After her second stint coaching in the U.S., Hayes took some time off and shifted her focus elsewhere, but football remained a top priority. In late 2012, she became the head coach of Chelsea FC Women, at a time when the men’s team was a Premier League powerhouse, but the women’s team was relatively unremarkable.
Under Hayes’ guidance, Chelsea FC Women won seven FA Women’s Super League titles, one FA Women’s Spring Series title, five FA Women’s Cup titles, and two FA Women’s League Cup titles. They also reached the UEFA Women’s Champions League final once, and Hayes was named the FIFA Best Women’s Coach in 2021.
While Hayes was achieving great success with Chelsea FC Women, the USWNT was experiencing its lowest point ever. At this juncture, U.S. Soccer reached out to Hayes, offering her the opportunity to become the 10th full-time head coach in USWNT history. Notably, when the USWNT invitation came, Hayes’ father was in the final stages of his life, and she promised him that she would pursue the opportunity if it arose.
The USWNT hopes that Hayes can lead them back to the top by the 2027 World Cup, but the women’s soccer tournament at the 2024 Olympics will be the first test for Hayes. Those familiar with her are confident that she will succeed.
