Chelsea Women manager Emma Hayes will leave the Women’s Super League club at the end of the 2023/24 season to take over the US women’s national team.
Chelsea announced Hayes’ departure on Saturday. The U.S. Soccer Federation was contacted for comment, but sources briefed on the hiring process, who were granted anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the decision publicly, confirmed Hayes’ impending appointment to the USWNT.
Matt Crocker, director of athletics at US Soccer, had previously indicated that his organization was looking to name Vlatko Andonovski’s permanent successor in early December.
Twila Kilgore became interim head coach of the USWNT after Andonovski resigned in August following his team’s round-of-16 exit from the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Hayes joined Chelsea in 2012 and secured six WSL titles, five FA Cups, two FA Women’s League Cups, an FA Women’s Spring Series trophy and a Women’s Community Shield during her time at the club.
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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 unrivaled and will forever be etched in the club’s history.
“Given all she has contributed to Chelsea in over a decade at the club and the legacy she leaves behind, we would never stand in her way if she felt it was the right time to pursue a new one to face the challenge.”
Hayes led Chelsea to the domestic treble in 2021 and was named Manager of the Season six times and LMA WSL Manager of the Season five times. Last year she was awarded an OBE for her services to football. This followed an MBE, which she received in 2016.
Chelsea, the reigning champions, are top of the WSL and return to action next Sunday away to Everton.
Few have advanced women’s football more than Emma Hayes. Beyond the trophies at Chelsea, she took on a role as a spokesperson for the sport and was a vocal advocate for higher standards in all areas. Will be a major defeat for the WSL, but a welcome addition to international football
— Katie Whyatt (@KatieWhyatt) November 4, 2023
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What this means for the USWNT
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For the players, this news means they haven’t quite gotten over their post-World Cup doldrums yet.
The USWNT played four friendlies on home soil under Kilgore, winning twice against South Africa before winning and drawing against Colombia in late October. Although the World Cup appearance highlighted the need for this program to embrace the emerging generation of young players, Kilgore has pushed the youth movement forward at a snail’s pace.
Hayes does have experience in the US, but only in the club sector and a full 12 years after leaving her position as technical director at the Western New York Flash. It’s fair to wonder how she will deal with the nature of international football and how she will generally tackle a new project after over a decade at Chelsea.
Still, she is a name that has been at the top of most people’s wish list following the retirement of Vlatko Andonovski. Since she has a significant amount of media credits over the years, her candor in interviews could also contribute to how the fan base perceives the show.
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(Photo: Harriet Lander – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)