New York — Emma Hayes won her seventh league title with Chelsea FC on May 18, and just three days later she was on a plane to the United States to take up her duties as head coach of the US women’s national team. She brings a successful pedigree and extensive coaching experience in Europe and the United States, so what exactly can American fans expect ahead of the Olympics as the Hayes era officially begins? With the Olympics just two months away, Hayes is practicing patience and process as she prepares to join her new squad.
She arrived in Newark on Wednesday afternoon, returning to New York to reintroduce the culture of women’s soccer in the United States. She reacquainted herself with Central Park, where she went for a walk before dinner and again before a series of media engagements on Thursday.
“For me, this is New York. I lived here for seven years,” he said, recalling his return. “I know how to get around. As a parent, I know where the toy store is now.”
Her New York reunion will be brief. But she will eventually call Atlanta, Georgia, her home and new location as the U.S. Soccer National Team training center and headquarters. US Soccer officially announced Hayes as head coach last December, but with the initial stipulation that she would only take on the role after completing the club’s season in England.
After six months of waiting, rumors surrounding the U.S. women’s national team are different from those that made headlines during the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. A disappointing round of 16 exit, the worst performance in the program’s history, brought about change and gave us faith that brighter days are ahead in the ever-changing landscape of women’s soccer. There was excitement and optimism with Hayes’ arrival, but with the Olympics just around the corner, expectations were renewed.
“We have to take it one step at a time. Focus on all the little processes that need to happen for us to perform at our highest level. If we can perform at our highest level, we have a chance to make things happen, but , we have work to do,” Hayes said of fans’ expectations for the team to win everything all the time.
“The reality is that’s where the World Games are and the rest of the world isn’t as afraid of America as they used to be. And that’s valid. I think it’s valid. World champions are different, Olympics are different. European champions are different. So it’s our job to quickly figure out what we need to do to get back to that level.”
She once wrote an article about the American college and youth system and how America cannot afford to lose its footing in development. Although she knows the bigger picture, she is currently focused on the Olympics with the long-term goal of connecting with other stakeholders.
“(College and youth dialogue) isn’t my priority right now. My priority is the camp. But I’ll work with all the stakeholders and talk about what’s best. I think the USL league is a healthy competition. It’s a college in and of itself. For many players who only play in , but don’t make it and don’t want to go overseas, some of the missing pieces may already have been filled.
Hayes cites the NWSL’s improved tactical play this season, and the emergence of new international players as well as European players, as a key factor in the rise in the level of play. She also believes the upcoming USL Super League could be a conduit to provide more playing opportunities through differences in competition levels.
“I think now we need to focus on what’s important every day. We need to compete to be the best. We need our league, the NWSL, to be super competitive. There are a lot of things we need the USL for. I think the NWSL I think playing on a team in Mexico creates competition for players who aren’t necessarily given a place to play.
All of this. I think we have to compete with what’s happening in Europe… I think all of these things have to happen for the American team to compete at the highest level. The experience we’ve had in Europe with stakeholders has allowed us to say, ‘Look, we’ve got momentum into the next space,’ and I’m looking forward to that because I’m in that position now. Where can I have an impact?”
Hayes has been in Europe for almost as long as the National Women’s Soccer League has existed. As the league celebrates its 12th anniversary, the culture of women’s soccer in the United States has also changed. For Hayes, her growth and evolution are key, and there is room for her to combine the best parts of what makes the USWNT click with the best parts of what will allow her and her current player pool to sustain and even reshape the culture of women’s soccer in the United States. I believe it.
“Well, I can’t define it now because it hasn’t come back, but what I can say here is that I’ve always loved the attitude toward performance and the expectation of giving everything you’ve got,” she said.
She points out that this has always been part of the USWNT DNA, competing to the end, managing the pressure of performing on a big stage, and being an integral part of the USWNT spirit that she will embrace rather than fight against.
“I think taking care of the badge of this jersey is something that a lot of players have done in a privileged way, not necessarily in a heavy way… but when I get in now, I expect there will be some progress, whether at home or abroad. “Look at the number of players exposed to cross-club coaching, but my job is to take a systematic approach to it.”
Traveling the vast country will be her job to observe athletes in action up close, but she won’t be racking up all the miles alone. She will have a team within the team and a large support staff that includes former Chelsea FC assistant Denise Reddy and former interim manager Twila Kilgore.
Hayes credits his collaboration with Kilgore as a direct link that helped him stay informed, prepared and up to speed while awaiting handover.
“I want to make it clear how much I appreciate Twila Kilgore. Not only did she steady the ship after the World Cup, but her cooperation during this period was essential,” Hayes explained.
“She’s been a really good guide to me and taught me a lot, and together we’ve helped build the right roster little by little. Without Twila and Twila, it would have been a lot harder. As a result, the team is in a better position. “I’m glad I felt it was there.”
A key part of their collaborative efforts has been to expand the player pool and take a closer look at new prospects. Jaedyn Shaw, Mia Fishel, Jenna Nighshwonger and Olivia Moultrie are just a few players who have earned their first caps under Kilgore in preparation for the upcoming Hayes era, with players still cycling in and out of camp. Centre-back Sam Staab and midfielder Hal Hershfelt have received their first senior camp call-ups.
Whenever an overseas player makes the jump to the NWSL, they are often asked about the differences in play or mentality between the United States and their former club, but it can be similar for coaches. Hayes enters her first camp and says she is looking forward to finally being able to be with her players, and the moment has brought about an emotional shift for her as well.
“(It feels like) a big rock has been lifted off my shoulders. I’ve been doing so much of the British women’s game in one place for 12 years. It’s like a liberation. I feel reinvigorated,” she said. . “I hope that the experience I gained during my 12-14 years abroad will help me put my best foot forward for the job that requires it. That puts me at ease, but I’m also really looking forward to it.”
