'It's like Brazil' - USWNT job still the biggest in women's soccer as Emma Hayes 'pinches herself' at getting to lead team at 2024 Olympic Games

Hayes left Chelsea earlier this month after 12 years in charge in London, an incredible tenure which saw her deliver 16 trophies to a club that had never won a major title before her arrival. She arrives in the U.S. with quite a reputation for winning, then, but joins a team that has an even bigger status in the sport.

The USWNT has won more World Cup titles (4) and Olympic gold medals (4) than any other women's national team and has long been the side to beat. Though a disastrous World Cup last summer has dented its aura a little, Hayes still believes she is taking on the biggest job in women's soccer.

Asked if this role still is the biggest around in an interview with BBC Sport, Hayes replied: "Yes, it is. I don't care what anyone says. It really is. For me, it's a little bit like the Brazil in the men's game. Historically, what this team has stood for, what they've advocated for, what they've represented as women, not just in this country, but to the women's game worldwide... It's fitting for me to be with them and vice versa. I think we're coming together at the right time.

"Going to the Olympics for me, it's a dream. It's a dream. I can't believe it. I pinch myself that I get to lead the U.S. women's national team in the Paris Olympics. I spent so much time thinking that success is merely medals and for me, it's much more than that, it's being in the position I'm in and having the privilege to lead, again, another fabulous football team. It's a gold medal for me but if I'm to get any medal in this tournament, for sure, it'd be an unbelievable summer."

Despite recent struggles, the USWNT will still go into this summer's Games as one of the favourites to win gold. The team triumphed at the CONCACAF W Gold Cup earlier this year, beating Brazil in the final, and it still boasts some of the world's best players.

Hayes' job now is to get the U.S. ready to take on the challenge of an Olympic tournament stacked with top teams, with her to take charge of the team for the first time on Saturday, June 1, in a friendly against South Korea.