USWNT set to appoint Chelsea’s Emma Hayes as head coach: source

The U.S. Soccer Federation’s board of directors has approved the hiring of Chelsea manager Emma Hayes as the new head coach of the U.S. women’s national team, a source with knowledge of the vote confirmed Saturday at ESPN.

The official announcement of his hiring to replace Vlatko Andonovski should follow.

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The Philadelphia Inquirer was first to report the board’s approval.

Sources also confirmed a report from The Athletic that Hayes’ contract would be a record for women’s soccer. A source confirmed to ESPN that making Hayes’ salary equal to that of U.S. men’s national team manager Gregg Berhalter was going to be discussed at the board meeting.

Hayes is widely regarded as one of the best managers in the women’s game.

The USWNT has been coached on an interim basis by Twila Kilgore since Andonovski left the position after the team recorded its first elimination at the Women’s World Cup, with a round of 16 loss to Sweden.

Hayes is to leave Chelsea at the end of the Women’s Super League (WSL) season “to pursue a new opportunity outside of WSL and club football“, the club announced in a statement after a 6-0 defeat to Aston Villa Saturday.

Hayes is expected to juggle USWNT and Chelsea jobs until the conclusion of the WSL season. Although Hayes is expected to join the USWNT during the international windows, there are potential conflicts.

The Concacaf W Gold Cup will take place from February 20 to March 10, 2024, during which Chelsea will play league matches against Manchester City on February 18 and Leicester City on March 3. Questions also arise about how to juggle two jobs. would impact the USWNT’s preparations for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

The London native began her managerial career in 2001 with the Long Island Lady Riders of the USL W-League based in the United States. She then coached at Iona College from 2003 to 2006, then joined the professional ranks with Arsenal as an assistant from 2006 to 2008. Her first head coaching role was with the Chicago Red Stars Red Stars of Women’s Professional Soccer – the precursor to the NWSL – from 2008 to 2010, followed by a move to Chelsea in 2012, where she has worked ever since.

During her time at the west London club, Hayes led Chelsea to six WSL titles, five Women’s FA Cups and two FA Women’s League Cups.

“Given everything she has brought to Chelsea over the last ten years at the club and the legacy she leaves behind, we would never stand in her way when she felt it was the good time to take on a new challenge,” said Chelsea’s co-sporting directors. Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley said in a statement.

“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 focused solely on achieving success this season for Chelsea.”

Chelsea had six different players on the scoresheet as they beat Aston Villa to go top of the table with 13 points after five games, three ahead of second-placed Man City, who face Arsenal on Sunday.

Hayes has been named FA WSL Manager of the Season six times and League Managers Association Manager of the Year five times. She was named Best Football Coach by FIFA in 2021.

Reporting from Reuters and ESPN’s Sophie Lawson contributed to this report.