Ex-England boss Sir Gareth Southgate & current USWNT manager Emma Hayes honoured at PFA awards for outstanding contributions to football

Both Southgate and Hayes received the PFA's Merit Award on Tuesday night. The former led England to a World Cup semi-final and two European Championship finals, whereas Hayes had unprecedented success at Chelsea Women and guided the USWNT to Olympic glory last year.

A statement from the PFA reads: "He [Southgate] is widely credited with breathing new life into the national team by integrating a new generation of young talent. He has overseen a period of unrivalled achievement by the men’s national team, and has been an outstanding ambassador for the game – forging genuine connection between the country, the supporters, and the players."

On Hayes, they added: "Hayes is rightly hailed as one of football’s most influential leaders; a serial winner whose 12-year tenure with Chelsea has left an indelible mark on the WSL and the women’s game globally. Hayes undoubtedly helped usher in a wave of genuine transformation in the women’s game, benefiting current and future generations of female athletes.  She has set the standard in women’s football – on and off the pitch – and her legacy continues now with the historic US Women’s National Team in the country where her coaching career began over two decades ago." 

During Southgate's eight years in charge of England, he got them closer to winning a major international trophy than any other Three Lions team since 1966. Hayes, meanwhile, won a hatful of Women's Super League titles, FA Cups, and League Cups in her 12 years at Chelsea. 

While many will wonder if former Middlesbrough player and coach Southgate will get back into management after resigning from his England post last year, Hayes will be focused on preparing the USWNT for friendlies against Portugal in October.