Emma Hayes lined up for enormous new job following Chelsea exit statement
The United States Women's National Team (USWNT) is set to appoint Emma Hayes as its new head coach after her shock departure from Chelsea was announced on Saturday.
The USWNT endured a disastrous World Cup in New Zealand and Australia in the summer with Vlatko Andonovski. They entered the tournament as big favourites to win a third title in succession, but they flopped with a series of poor performances en route to a round-of-16 exit and Andonovski resigned in the aftermath. Twila Kilgore is currently in interim charge.
Hayes, according to American soccer outled Backheeled, is set to be named the new USWNT manager – arguably the biggest job in all of women's football. She will continue with Chelsea until the end of the season before taking over fully in the United States, although she may be involved with the team during international breaks in the interim.
Hayes, 47, has been a pioneer in women's football in England, overseeing a glorious era for the Blues since she took charge 11 years ago. She has six Women's Super League titles and five FA Cups to her name, and she was named the best coach in the game by FIFA in 2021.
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Her Chelsea team sits atop the Women's Super League table after five games, winning 6-0 on the road at Aston Villa in the early kick-off on Saturday. But after the game, it was confirmed this will be her final season in charge of the Blues, hinting that she is set to take up a "new opportunity outside of the WSL and club football".
Sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley said in a joint statement: "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.
“Given everything she has contributed to Chelsea in over a decade with the club, and the legacy she leaves behind, we would never stand in her way when she felt it was the right time to pursue a new challenge.
Emma Hayes has enjoyed a glittering 11-year spell at Chelsea (Getty Images)“We are pleased that she will remain with the club for the remainder of the season to give us the time to identify her successor.
“There will be plenty of time to celebrate Emma’s many achievements at the club and to give her the farewell she deserves, but for now, as she always has been, Emma will be solely focused on making this season as successful as possible for Chelsea.”
According to The Telegraph, Hayes is set to be joined on the other side of the pond by her Chelsea assistant Denise Reddy, who was born in New Jersey. That would be a significant blow for Chelsea, with Reddy in the frame to be Hayes' replacement.
A hugely disappointing World Cup for the Americans has seen them slip to third in the FIFA rankings, but Hayes is set to inherit a squad packed with quality players playing not only in Europe's superpowers but also in the highly regarded National Women's Soccer League in the USA.
Hayes will become the second English manager to coach the USWNT. British-American Jill Ellis was the first, overseeing a glorious era from 2014-19 with two World Cup crowns.
Chelsea Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali added: "Emma’s contribution to Chelsea cannot be understated. She has been a pioneer in women’s football and is hugely respected within the game. We look forward to continuing to work together over the coming months.”
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