Chelsea boss Emma Hayes ready for USWNT ‘challenge’ as she hails ‘dream’ Olympics and World Cup opportunities

The English coach has agreed to leave the Blues after 12 years in charge and will take on her first job at international level this summer. She is tasked with turning around a team coming off the back of a disappointing campaign at the Women's World Cup, where they were knocked out at the round of 16. Hayes is aware of the challenge ahead of her, but is eager to tackle it.

"The whole thing’s a huge challenge," she told the Football Writers' Association. "While we don’t have the game accumulation like I face as a club manager, the challenge of all the things the job involves, I’m looking forward to. It’s a lot less hands-on with players but it means I’ll develop another side to myself and I’ll have to work with a team off the pitch as well in a much different way to prepare for major tournaments. I’m so excited to go to an Olympics and a World Cup. [It’s] what dreams are made of to think I’m in a position where I can lead a team out at the Paris Olympics and a World Cup in three years. Happy days."

Hayes has proved a massive success during her time in charge of Chelsea, guiding the club to six Women's Super League titles, five Women's FA Cups and the Women's League Cup on two occasions. She will face pressure in her new role at the helm of a team with four World Cup crowns and four Olympic gold medals to their name. The 2024 Olympics in Paris will be her first competition in her new job.

Hayes will hope to lead Chelsea to a seventh WSL title and a strong showing in the Women's Champions League this season before she turns her attention to the Olympics campaign with USWNT during the summer.