Meet the USWNT's new head coach: Emma Hayes is a trailblazer who turned Chelsea into a trophy-winning machine
- Emma Hayes has won 15 trophies with WSL side Chelsea since joining in 2012
- The coach announced she will be leaving the Blues at the end of the season
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Emma Hayes knew something was not right. The Chelsea manager had learned to cope but she could not hide her pain any longer. Her body had stopped fighting.
As she stood in the tunnel at Prenton Park ahead of her team’s first game of last season against Liverpool, Hayes confessed to opposite number Matt Beard: ‘I don’t want to go out there.’
Beard organized for a bed to be put in a private room so Hayes could rest. Somehow, she found the strength to manage her team through that match.
In her own words, Hayes, 47, spent the entire second half knowing Chelsea needed a goal but doing nothing about it. ‘All I could think was, “I’m going to lose more than this game if I’m not careful”.’
Two days later, Hayes told her players she needed an emergency hysterectomy and would require time off.
![Emma Hayes shocked Chelsea by announcing she would leave at the end of the season](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/05/13/77423129-12712619-image-a-1_1699190846079.jpg)
Emma Hayes shocked Chelsea by announcing she would leave at the end of the season
![Chelsea displayed their dominance last season as they won their third consecutive WSL title](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/05/13/75952617-12712619-Chelsea_displayed_their_dominance_last_season_as_they_won_their_-a-2_1699190897295.jpg)
Chelsea displayed their dominance last season as they won their third consecutive WSL title
![Trailblazer Hayes, 47, has agreed a deal to become the next head coach of the USWNT](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/05/13/77423145-12712619-image-a-3_1699190904423.jpg)
Trailblazer Hayes, 47, has agreed a deal to become the next head coach of the USWNT
After the five-and-a-half-hour operation, Hayes was told she would probably have had a heart attack, fueled by stress, within five years if she had continued to struggle on in ‘survival mode’.
Hayes missed six matches. General manager Paul Green and assistant Denise Reddy took the reins and won every game. In 11 years as Chelsea boss, Hayes has built a machine that keeps running, no matter who is at the wheel.
The story of her emergency hysterectomy — complicated by chronic endometriosis — is one of many details in Hayes’s audiobook, Kill the Unicorn, which gives a fascinating insight into her management and leadership style.
The title is derived from the concept of a head coach or leader being seen as a ‘magical creature able to solve any problem’.
Hayes says: ‘We’ve got to kill the unicorn. All leaders make poor decisions at some point in their careers because they are human. None of us have a crystal ball. Perhaps it’s best not to believe the hype.’
There is hype around Hayes because of how successful she has been — a tally of 15 trophies since 2012 has drawn comparisons with serial winner Pep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City. She is one of the greatest managers Britain has ever produced. On October 1, Hayes’s team began the defense of their Women’s Super League title for a fifth season running - with her at the helm for the last time.
Hayes took her club by surprise on Saturday by announcing she would be leaving at the end of the season.
The news broke only an hour after Chelsea had moved to the top of the Women’s Soccer League table with a 6-0 victory over Aston Villa.
![The Blues boss didn't want to take charge against Liverpool last season due to pain](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/05/13/75951211-12712619-Chelsea_boss_Emma_Hayes_didn_t_want_to_take_charge_against_Liver-a-4_1699190911544.jpg)
The Blues boss didn't want to take charge against Liverpool last season due to pain
![Hayes had a five-and-a-half hour operation and missed six of Chelsea's matches that season](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/05/13/75957151-12712619-Hayes_had_a_five_and_a_half_hour_operation_and_missed_six_of_Che-a-5_1699190915904.jpg)
Hayes had a five-and-a-half hour operation and missed six of Chelsea's matches that season
Mail Sport understands that Hayes has agreed a deal to become the next head coach of the United States women’s team.
The US have been looking for a manager since Vlatko Andonovski was sacked after a disappointing last-16 exit at this summer’s World Cup. Twila Kilgore has served as interim manager since Andonovski’s departure.
Hayes's exit will leave a big hole at Chelsea, with many players having joined the club to play under her.
What makes Hayes tick? Family is one component. In 2017, Hayes became a mother to Harry, who she says has made her a better coach. But her early managerial traits were developed during childhood. Her upbringing was built around hard work.
When Hayes had finished her A-levels - the leaving qualifications in British schools before further education - she worked for her father, Sid, and would get up at 5am each day to make 500 baguettes and sausage rolls for his business in Covent Garden. She was taught to never take anything for granted. Hayes’s father died in September and he was a huge part of her football journey.
When Hayes arrived at Chelsea in 2012, players were part-time and Carly Telford was captain. They were only allowed into the men’s training ground before 7am and after 7pm.
‘She came in with all these amazing ideas and grand plans,’ Telford tells Mail Sport. ‘She said, “We’re going to release a lot of players. Change up, shake up”. I was thinking, “This is going to be cool to be a part of”... except I was one of those players she released (in December 2013). That was my first taste of Emma’s brutality.’
Telford, 36, now the club’s commercial player and relationships manager, returned to Chelsea four years later and went on to win nine trophies with Hayes.
![Vlatko Andonovski was sacked as US manager after a shock World Cup exit in summer](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/05/13/77423723-12712619-image-a-6_1699190966769.jpg)
Vlatko Andonovski was sacked as US manager after a shock World Cup exit in summer
![The defending champions were left in tears after bein knocked out in the last 16 by Sweden](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/05/13/77423727-12712619-image-a-7_1699190970068.jpg)
The defending champions were left in tears after bein knocked out in the last 16 by Sweden
‘We always stayed on good terms. She took me under her wing and developed me as a player and a person.’ But Hayes sees her players as people first. ‘She knew I’d lost my mum during the time I was with her, she looked after me,’ Telford says. ‘It’s a winning environment but it’s very human. The girls have huge respect for her.’
Hayes shows her team motivational videos and gives them books to read. There are psychological methods, too. Hayes recalls making her players wear Arsenal shirts in training — she had to do something ‘stark’ to eradicate the inferiority complex after the Gunners had won their ninth successive title in 2012.
Sir Alex Ferguson is one source of inspiration and has become a sounding board for advice. Yet there are some things she cannot pick his brains about. ‘As a woman, I have different challenges,’ Hayes says. ‘I can’t ring Sir Alex up and ask him how he deals with his players’ periods.’
Hayes’s passion for developing expertise around women’s bodies led Chelsea to become the first club to use a specialist tracking app to tailor training around players’ menstrual cycles while monitoring the links between hormonal changes and injury.
It is no coincidence none of their players has suffered an ACL injury since 2017. Speaking at a FIFA convention this summer, Hayes explained that members of staff who come from the men’s game do not have any interaction with her players until at least six weeks, until they have ‘removed their own biases’. ‘They need to learn about women’s bodies, they have to learn about the differences in the women’s game. As women, we’re not small men.’
Hayes surrounds herself with people she can trust. Reddy and Green have been imperative to her success. Hayes says she and Green are ‘wired differently’. ‘I’ll tell him I want to get to the moon, he’ll tell me the rocket isn’t built yet.’
Reddy has been with Chelsea since 2020 but her relationship with Hayes dates back to their days at Chicago Red Stars in 2010. In Kill the Unicorn, Hayes reveals she was fired in a Starbucks. She called Reddy, her assistant, to break the news and told her she must take the manager’s job if she was offered it. A few hours later, Reddy picked Hayes up, her car full of stuff. She had quit on the spot and cleared her desk in what Hayes describes as ‘an act of profound loyalty’.
When you are wanted by Hayes, it is hard to say no. ‘You immediately fall in love with her and her mentality,’ new signing and US star Catarina Macario tells Mail Sport.
![A tally of 15 trophies has seen Hayes compared to Man City's serial winner Pep Guardiola](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/05/13/75951379-12712619-A_tally_of_14_trophies_has_seen_Hayes_compared_to_serial_winner_-a-8_1699190979992.jpg)
A tally of 15 trophies has seen Hayes compared to Man City's serial winner Pep Guardiola
![Hayes' mission was to eradicate inferiority complex after Arsenal had won their ninth successive title in 2012](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/05/13/75953257-12712619-Hayes_mission_was_to_eradicate_inferiority_complex_after_Arsenal-a-9_1699190987400.jpg)
Hayes' mission was to eradicate inferiority complex after Arsenal had won their ninth successive title in 2012
![Former goalkeeper Carly Telford got a taste of Hayes' brutality when she was moved on in 2013](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/05/13/75953255-12712619-Former_goalkeeper_Carly_Telford_got_a_taste_of_Hayes_brutality_w-a-10_1699190990163.jpg)
Former goalkeeper Carly Telford got a taste of Hayes' brutality when she was moved on in 2013
‘She’s a very passionate individual. She has tough love with her players which is something that brings out the best in you. But she’ll also give you praise, the little things when it’s needed.’
There have been challenges. In March last year, Chelsea’s owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK Government as part of the response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Hayes’s team had to play West Ham live on Sky Sports later that day.
Her book explains: ‘The players’ response as they assembled for that night’s game was understandably direct, “What the f*** is going on?”
‘My message to the squad was, “I know this is a s*** situation. Stand tall. Don’t be ashamed. You have a fanbase, families, a badge to play for”.’ Chelsea won 4-1.
When Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly visited Hayes at her home, she was impressed by his vision, but he was not going to get an easy ride. Boehly stayed for three hours and left with four separate presentations on his laptop.
The question Hayes has become tired of answering is whether she will work in the men’s game. ‘Could I do it? Without a shadow of a doubt,’ Hayes says. ‘Would I do it? That depends on the nature of the opportunity.’
![Hayes was impressed by Chelsea co-owner and American businessman Todd Boehly's vision](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/11/05/13/77423765-12712619-image-a-11_1699191017199.jpg)
Hayes was impressed by Chelsea co-owner and American businessman Todd Boehly's vision
She has had offers, a Championship club and a lower league side. Neither were right.
The day has come for Hayes to move on, to a new role in the women’s game to restore the USWNT to their perch on the international stage — but it is hard to imagine. Chelsea is Emma Hayes as much as Emma Hayes is Chelsea.
‘You’ll find me tomorrow in north London on a park bench with a bottle of gin,’ Hayes said after her side had clinched last season’s WSL title.
She can understand why people find her relatable. ‘I’ve never tried to be anything or anyone I’m not,’ Hayes says. ‘At heart, I’m still the girl from the Curnock Street estate in Camden.’