USWNT told Emma Hayes is worth the wait by USSF sporting director Matt Crocker with Chelsea boss set to see out WSL season before taking charge

The worst-kept secret in world football was finally revealed last week when U.S. Soccer announced that Hayes will become the next permanent manager of the USWNT next May. Despite that delay, which gives Hayes just two months to prepare for the Paris Olympics, Crocker is adamant that the legendary Chelsea boss is worth the wait.

“I’d seen her in various coaching workshops when I was at The Football Association but never had the opportunity to spend a significant period of time with her,” Crocker told a press conference in Las Vegas. “It wasn’t until we began this process that I started to realise not only was she a fantastic coach, but also a great person and somebody with real gravitas and charisma.”

Crocker went on to detail how current interim coach Twila Kilgore will liaise with Hayes. “Twila is our head coach and will run the program on a day-to day-basis and make decisions but she will stay in close contact with Emma. Just seeing Twila evolve, develop and show her leadership qualities, I became really confident that we could manage and have an interim plan that could ensure that we could have our cake and eat it and be as ready and prepared for the Olympics as we possibly can.”

Hayes' appointment to one of world football's most high-profile roles was widely trailed after she announced she would leave Chelsea after 12 trophy-laden years in west London. Hayes' commitment to Chelsea however, clashes awkwardly with the international football calendar, and in particular next summer's Olympics. Crocker's words are designed to reassure fans that Kilgore can provide the continuity that helps Hayes hit the ground running next summer.

Hayes will get an early glimpse of Paris, sort of, as her Chelsea side continue their relentless schedule against Paris FC in the Champions League at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night.