Emma Hayes is on the mission to revive professional women's football in the United States.
Hayes was discontinued in June as head coach of the US women's national team after they were disappointing for the squad for a few years, as it dealt with an aging list to train the instability of the global and increase global competition.
Less than a year later, she led the US team to an Olympic gold medal and won Ballon d'Or as a women's football coach in 2024. This makes women's football back in the USA.
Almost eight months after the United States defeated Brazil in the summer game of the Summer Olympics in Paris, the teams will compete with the two upcoming friendship areas in California on April 5 and 8.
Before the team's upcoming friendly games, CNBC Sport with Hayes spoke about how the job works, the biggest surprises that were accompanied by their leadership style and the steps she takes to take us a power pack for women again.
Olympic proportion of ambitions
Less than three months in the new job at the Olympic Games in Paris, the team was the team in Paris after 12 years as head coach of Chelsea Women, where she had established herself as one of the best coaches in women's football.
It may have been a discouraging challenge for many, but Hayes said she took it one day after the other.
“We all know the pressure and expectations that are there in and around the team, but I wanted to create an environment in which the players felt relaxed and calm but extremely concentrated,” Hayes told CNBC.
The English native said she wanted to make sure that players didn't have to worry about the pressure from outside.
“I think by creating this safe bladder, I allowed the players to immerse themselves fully and therefore express themselves on the field as much as possible,” said Hayes.
The US women's team returned to the podium after the defeated Brazil to achieve the fifth Olympic gold medal. The squad last won gold in 2012.
“The surprise for me was to look at all the pressure how much joy I would find in it,” said Hayes about victory.
Football through the female lens
The US head coach Emma Hayes on the edge on the edge on February 23, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona, on the edge on Australia.
Brad Smith | ISI photos | USSF | Getty pictures
After the Olympic Games, Hayes concentrated on the reconstruction of the program to maintain this success. She has assigned her attention to areas such as creating a stronger football pipeline for the future and designing training especially for athletes.
“Everything we were exposed to in our sport has gone through the male lens. That is why we want to address it and bring football into a situation, hopefully for so many players who can experience in the game in a completely different way and ideally through a female lens,” said Hayes.
Hayes said that the way of thinking for everything from restoration methods to strength and conditioning and even tactical information will apply.
The 48-year-old coach admitted that the changes require a lot of work and need trainer training and even new programs.
“It's a big project, but one that we are very happy about,” she said.
Hayes also aims to use data, analyzes and artificial intelligence in a more productive way.
For example, Hayes said that women traditionally have less power in their shots than men, but the data show that they actually score more goals from a distance than in the men's play.
She added that data from an intelligent ring like Oura, who pursues the body temperature, could support training and recovery.
“I have the feeling that without these data knowledge we do not achieve the progress in our game we would like,” she said.
The next generation of football players
Emma Hayes from the United States speaks on February 25, 2025 in El Cajon, California, with her team during the etc.
Brad Smith | ISI photos | USSF | Getty pictures
Hayes also turns to the next generation of women's football players. She said she was concerned about the number of players who came out of sport.
Studies have shown that an increasing number of girls drop out of sport for various reasons when they have reached puberty, including social expectations and lack of quality programs.
“I think that has to be addressed,” she said. “In my honest opinion, the dropout rates can be avoided if we understand girls better.”
Hayes said that more has to be done to keep children due to long -term effects on their life in sport.
She pointed out that studies have shown that athletes are rather successful managing directors. A Deloitte survey of 2023 showed that 85% of women who played competitive sports information that the skills they learned were important for the success of their professional careers.
As she tries to revise the US women's program, Hayes looks at the big picture. The career football coach said she hoped that she can have a lasting influence on the sport she loves.
“Winning on the field is one thing, and I absolutely enjoy doing it, but it is very important for me to leave the sport in a better place and ensure that a system and an environment are created in which generations I might represent,” added sport at a high level, “added Hayes.
Comments are closed.