22 November 2023 , 12:43
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Sarina Wiegman believes Emma Hayes will be sorely missed by English women's football when she moves to America next year.
Hayes will take over as the manager of the USA women's boss in the summer of 2024, leaving Chelsea at the end of the current season.
England boss Wiegman, who is under contract with the FA until 2025, was also linked heavily with the US job before it was announced Hayes would succeed Vlatko Andonovski. The English coach will take charge ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics, where they could potentially face a Team GB side managed by Wiegman if they qualify.
That will only happen if England finish in the top two of the UEFA Women's Nations League, or third if France reach the final. To do that the Lionesses must win forthcoming games against Scotland and Netherlands, to have any chance of topping Group A1.
Wiegman moved to congratulate Hayes but added that the English game will be poorer without her influence.
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“I said to her that we've basically been in collaboration, working for the same team," said Wiegman when asked if she was surprised Hayes got the job. "And now she is going to the other team, so how are we going to work that?
"But of course she has done a tremendous job. The results she has had over a decade are incredible. I think for her it’s good for her to move on.
"I congratulate her of course and the new job it’s very exciting. For us in England it’s a disappointment but I think for her it's a really good move. Looking at the bigger picture though, overall it’s really good for the women’s game. We'll see how it goes, but until the end of the season, we'll collaborate."
It was recently made public that the United States Soccer Federation Hayes will be paid the same salary as her men's team equivalent. Both Hayes and men's boss Gregg Berhalter will earn in the region of $1.3million per year.
This will make the current Chelsea boss the highest paid coach in the women's game. By contrast the FA reportedly pay Gareth Southgate around £5million per year, with Wiegman's salary not reaching seven figures.
But the England boss said US Soccer's decision is evidence of the progress made by the sport.
"Yeah that’s in the news everywhere," added Wiegman. "I think the game is growing so much. That's what we see in all stages, facilities, opportunities, the levels all the players are reaching.
"This is another step forward that has been taken."