Emma Hayes makes USA admission as she explains decision to leave Chelsea

17 November 2023 , 16:39

1228 0

Emma Hayes will take charge of the USWNT for the Paris 2024 Olympics (Image: Harriet Lander - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Emma Hayes admitted that the United States women's national team manager role was the "only job" that could pry her away from Chelsea and denied accusations of any financial lure.

Hayes, 47, will depart reigning Women's Super League champions at the end of the current season to take up the managerial vacancy with the four-time world champions and Olympic gold medallists.

Hayes, who previously won six WSL titles in England with Chelsea in her 11 years at the helm, will become the 10th full-time coach of the U.S. following the dismissal of former manager Vlatko Andonovski, but not until her final season with the Blues is complete next May.

And Hayes said that her decision to leave the reigning WSL champions was highly influenced by the lure of the USWNT job.

"I think I made no secret, the fact I spent 10 years of my life living in America," Hayes said in her pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday's match with Liverpool.

Earps reacts to FIFA Best nomination and on season so far with Man Utd

"I built a lot of connections to the country. I understand the country, its ecosystem and everything with it. And it probably was the only job that would take me away from Chelsea."

Hayes is set to become the highest-paid women's football manager in the world with a contract worth $2million per season.

But Hayes denied accusations that money influenced her decision to call an end to her time at Chelsea.

"I worked in this job for £6k-a-year, then £12k. So money has never been a motivator in my life," she said.

"I think focusing on that would be against who I am. As for the reasons I've stated earlier, I've made it clear where I am in my life and I don't think there's much else to say on the matter."

Hayes began her managerial career in the USA, arriving in Long Island to take on the Lady Riders first-team manager job. As the youngest coach in the league with little more than a rucksack and £1,000, Hayes was named the USL W-League coach of the season. Hayes also worked as manager of the top-flight side Chicago Red Stars, before helping the now-defunct Western New York Flash to the 2011 Women's Professional Soccer championship.

Hayes returns to the States next summer more than a decade after departing with the responsibility of restoring the four-time World Cup winners to the pinnacle of the international women's game. Until then, however, Hayes has maintained that she will remain exclusively with Chelsea through the end of their WSL campaign and the Champions League season. She will not work with the U.S. in international windows.

“I’m here until the end,” Hayes said. “I haven’t died, I haven’t gone anywhere. I’m here, doing this job. My full focus and attention is on what I do for Chelsea.”

The commitment could see Hayes tied up with Chelsea until 25 May if the London club reaches the Champions League final. The next international window, Hayes' first in charge, begins two days later on 27 May.

Despite the official announcement of the new role, Hayes said she has yet to have any correspondence with any players from the USWNT team.