USWNT boss Emma Hayes says men's football 'isn't ready' for female managers as ex-Chelsea head coach makes doctors and lawyers comparison

Hayes is one of the most successful coaches in women's football, having won many titles with Chelsea and most recently gold with the USWNT at the Paris Olympics. Before leaving Chelsea's head coaching position at the end of the previous season to take a job with the United States, the 47-year-old won seven Women's Super League titles, including a fifth consecutive victory in 2024.

Speaking on the Today programme, Hayes said: "I think you need to get more owners in to ask them that question, because they're the people you have to ask that question to. I'm not the one in charge of that."

When asked if club owners are "ready for that", Hayes replied: "Yeah, of course, they're not, otherwise it would have happened by now. I've said this a million times over – you can find a female pilot, a female doctor, a female lawyer, a female banker, but you can't find a female coach working in the men's game, leading men. It just shows you how much work there is to be done."

Hannah Dingley was appointed head coach of League Two side Forest Green Rovers on a temporary basis last year, making her the first female head coach in English professional football history. However, no female coach has ever been given the reins of a men's football club on a permanent basis.

The former Chelsea boss' USWNT side will next be in action when they take on Iceland twice in October before facing Argentina in their last game until November end.