Cash-strapped Emma Hayes breaks boundaries
Emma Hayes is leaving Chelsea FC next summer, ushering in a new era in women's soccer. The 47-year-old Englishwoman will become the best-paid female coach in the world in the USA. Her new employer is taking a very aggressive approach.
Will it end up being two, four, ten or any other number of million dollars in annual salary for Emma Hayes? US Soccer left that open, but by signing the 2021 world coach, the American association is entering new dimensions.
Hayes, who is still under contract with Chelsea FC until the end of the season, will take over the four-time world champions USA next summer, making her the "highest paid women's soccer coach in the world", as US Soccer boasted in the official association press release. Hayes, said association president Cindy Parlow Cone, is "a fantastic leader". The 47-year-old Englishwoman has "enormous energy and an unquenchable will to win".
Chelsea have benefited from this ambition for over a decade. Hayes has led the Blues to six English championships and five FA Cup titles since 2012. This season, she is chasing the Champions League trophy with German players Ann-Katrin Berger, Sjoeke Nüsken and Melanie Leupolz, among others, before taking up the job with Team USA in time for the Olympics.
"It's a great honor to coach the most incredible team in the history of world soccer," said Hayes, speaking of a "deep connection" to the USA. She, who began her coaching career in America at the start of the millennium, had "dreamed of coaching the USA for a long time".
A small aftertaste remains. The mother of a five-year-old son had justified her retirement from Chelsea with her family life. In future, she will be coaching overseas as the "best-paid women's soccer coach". Her family will certainly accompany her on this adventure. And Hayes will also have a little more time.
Emma Hayes' new role in women's soccer will see her lead the four-time world champions USA, making her the highest-paid women's soccer coach. Inspired by her deep connection with the USA, Hayes had long dreamt of coaching the national team, even while she was leading Chelsea FC to multiple titles.
Source: www.ntv.de
