Emma Hayes reveals 'stress' of Chelsea job eventually made her 'unwell' as serial winner insists she's 'got her mojo back' with USWNT

Emma Hayes says the stress of the Chelsea job made her "unwell" towards the end of her reign but she now has her "mojo" back as United States manager.

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After Hayes led Chelsea to a record fifth-straight Women's Super League title earlier this year, she became the United States women's national team boss. After 12 years in charge of the Blues, the 48-year-old admitted the role took its toll on her but she feels reinvigorated as a national coach.

Women's Champions League

Chelsea FC Women
Chelsea FC Women
2024-12-11T20:00:00.000Z15:00

FC Twente
FC Twente
• WHAT EMMA HAYES SAID

  She told reporters: "I don't have to sacrifice the things that made me healthy. I didn't feel healthy at the end, I actually felt unwell at the end of my time at Chelsea. It wasn't pressure, it was the stress and toll it took on me and doing that during menopause was even harder. To get on top of all of those things, I've got my mojo back and my smile and enjoyment back which I didn't realise I had lost."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Hayes has taken the success she enjoyed at Chelsea to the USWNT as they won Olympic Gold at the Paris Olympics this year. Now she is back in London as her USA side play England in a friendly at Wembley this weekend.

• Imagn

  WHAT NEXT?

  After facing Sarina Wiegman's England in the capital on Saturday evening, her USA side travel to Netherlands for another friendly on December 3 to round off 2024.