Emma Hayes To Become World’s Highest-Paid Women’s Soccer Coach

Emma Hayes has been confirmed as the new head coach of the U.S. women’s national team.

The deal makes Hayes the highest-paid coach in women’s football. She will stay at Chelsea until the end of the Blues’ season and will officially take charge in May 2024 ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Chelsea announced Hayes’ departure last week and The Athletic reported shortly after that she was negotiating with the U.S. Soccer Federation to become the USWNT’s new head coach.

The U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) confirmed the news on Tuesday. USSF President Cindy Parlow Cone said: “Emma is a fantastic leader and world-class coach who sets high standards for herself and for everyone around her.

“She has tremendous energy and an insatiable will to win. Her experience in the USA, her understanding of our soccer landscape, and her appreciation of what it means to coach this team makes her a natural fit for this role and we could not be more pleased to have her leading our Women’s National Team forward.”

Hayes, who won the Women’s Super League on 6 occasions with Chelsea, said, “This is a huge honor to be given the opportunity to coach the most incredible team in world football history. The feelings and connection I have for this team and for this country run deep. I’ve dreamed about coaching the USA for a long time so to get this opportunity is a dream come true.

“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 from the players, staff and everyone at the U.S. Soccer Federation.”

Hayes’ salary will match that of USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter. His annual pay was listed at $1.6million (£1.3m) in the USSF’s 2022 financial filings, but he is expected to have received a rise after having renewed earlier this year.

Chelsea’s Blessings

In Chelsea’s last press conference, Hayes had refused to comment on the USWNT job offer, but the manager cited family reasons as the main motivation behind her decision to leave Chelsea.

Chelsea confirmed not wanting to stop in the way of Hayes as she has given a lot to the club.

The London-based club has not requested compensation from the US Federation but asked that their current manager completes the season on an exclusive basis.

Twila Kilgore To Continue As Temporary Head Coach

Vlatko Andonovski, the former head coach resigned in August following his side’s round-of-16 exit at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Twila Kilgore replaced him as an interim head coach and will maintain her position until Hayes takes over.

She will then join Hayes’ staff full-time as an assistant coach.

Hayes will become the second England-born coach to lead the U.S. Women’s National Team, after Jill Ellis.

Hayes is also the fourth full-time female head coach in USWNT history. She holds a UEFA Pro License.

Emma Hayes’ Trophy Cabinet

Women’s Super League – 6 times: 2015, 2017-18, 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23

Women’s FA Cup – 5 times: 2014-15, 2017-18, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23

Women’s League Cup – 2 times: 2019-20, 2020-21

WSL Spring Series – 1 time: 2017

Women’s Community Shield – 1 time: 2020