Emma Hayes officially named as the next USWNT head coach

The USWNT have their next head coach. Emma Hayes becomes the tenth full-time head coach to take over the national team in its history.

In a statement released by the U.S. Soccer Federation today, the federation confirmed that current interim head coach, Twila Kilgore, will stay on in the role until the end of the season for Chelsea and then will join Hayes’ coaching staff as an assistant coach.

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Speaking to the general public in the statement released by the federation, Emma Hayes stated that it was a “huge honour to be given the opportunity to coach the most incredible team in world football history.” Hayes also stated that her connection to the USWNT and the United States of America runs deep and that she’d been “dreaming about coaching the USA for a long time so to get this opportunity is a dream come true.”

USSF Sporting Director Matt Crocker led the search for the next USWNT head coach and when the final decision was made to select Emma Hayes, the federation decided to also make her the highest paid women’s soccer head coach in the world.

Emma Hayes is accomplished head coach and will be leaving Chelsea after eleven years with the team. In that time period, she has led them to six FA WSL titles, five FA Cup titles and two League Cups. She was also named as the Best FIFA Women’s Coach of the Year in 2021 due to her exploits with Chelsea, which also included reaching the UEFA Women’s Champions League final in 2021.

Hayes also spent time in the US as a coach, leading the Long Island Lady Riders in the USL W-League from 2001 to 2003. She then went on to become the head coach at Iona College in New Rochelle, New York for four years before returning to the UK for some time. 

Hayes then returned to the U.S. in 2008 and coached the Chicago Red Stars during the start of Women’s Professional Soccer. She returned to England in 2011 and was eventually named head coach at Chelsea in 2012.  

Once Hayes eventually joins up with the USWNT, she will have four matches (in June and July) to manage the team before they depart for the 2024 Paris Olympics.