Hayes has ´smile´ back after stress made her feel ´unwell´ at Chelsea

Emma Hayes revealed she feels refreshed as the United States head coach after stress at the end of her time at Chelsea made her feel “unwell”.

Hayes was in charge of the Blues for 12 years, during which she won seven Women’s Super League titles, including each of the last five between 2019-20 and 2023-24.

Overall, she oversaw 345 games in all competitions, winning 244 of those (70.72%-win rate).

The 48-year-old left Chelsea at the end of last season, pulling off a stunning comeback in the WSL title race to beat Manchester City to the title on goal difference, and took over as the USA women’s head coach in May.

She led the team to Olympic gold in her first tournament, going unbeaten on their tournament run in Paris.

Asked about the perks of international football compared to a domestic level, Hayes admitted the latter had taken its toll on her.

“I don’t have to sacrifice the things that made me healthy. I didn’t feel healthy at the end, I actually felt unwell at the end of my time at Chelsea,” she said in a press conference.

There’s no place like home

Kicking off our week in London at @worldsendcamden with the pride of Camden: @emmahayes1 pic.twitter.com/WPPDyLcAAr

— U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (@USWNT) November 25, 2024

“It wasn’t pressure, it was the stress and toll it took on me and doing that during menopause was even harder.

“To get on top of all of those things, I’ve got my mojo back and my smile and enjoyment back, which I didn’t realise I had lost.”

The USA will face England at Wembley on Saturday, and Hayes will face off against some of her former players, with Millie Bright, Hannah Hampton and Aggie Beever-Jones in the Lionesses squad.

Hayes, though, is determined to keep her unbeaten start as USA head coach intact against her home nation.

“I’m looking forward to seeing Sarina [Wiegman],” she said. “Of course, I need to go through a weird moment when the national anthems are being played.

“I’ll hum along to it [God Save the King] being the English person I am, but also the same for the US one because I love it, I love both anthems.

“Beyond that weird moment and coming up against players I’ve gone to war with, it’s business come kick-off. I hope it’s an entertaining game and a sell-out.”