United States women’s national team head coach Emma Hayes has likened the shift from club to international management to “becoming a grandparent”, reflecting on the unique rhythm and responsibilities of coaching at the highest level of the global game.
Speaking after being inducted into the National Football Museum’s Hall of Fame, the 48-year-old described her new role as both a refreshing change and a deeply rewarding chapter of her career.
“It has been incredible, it really has,” Hayes said. “International football is like becoming a grandparent. You don’t get to see the players all the time, and then you send them back to their parents — or their clubs — after that period. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know a new group and working with a nation that means a lot to me and has played a massive part in my development.”
Hayes, who guided Chelsea to seven league titles during her club career, said she felt “ready” for the shift away from the relentless pace of domestic football. The move, she explained, has allowed her to step back from the game’s day-to-day intensity and apply her skills in strategic planning and long-term development.
“As a club coach, it’s always about the next game every three days. In international football, you have more time to think about the pathway to winning and how to implement best practices. That space has freed me to develop another part of myself,” she said.
Her impact has been immediate. Less than three months into the job, Hayes led the United States to Olympic gold at Paris 2024, reaffirming the team’s status as one of the sport’s dominant forces. Earlier in the year, they also reached the final of the SheBelieves Cup, narrowly losing 2-1 to Japan.
Reflecting on the transition, Hayes admitted the change had been more enjoyable than she anticipated.
“I didn’t think the transition would be what it is. It’s been thoroughly enjoyable, and I’m really embracing life as an international coach,” she said.
Hayes said her Hall of Fame induction, which places her alongside managerial greats such as Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsène Wenger, Bob Paisley, and Brian Clough, offered a rare chance to pause and reflect on her achievements.
“It’s a proud day for me and my family,” she said. “It’s an opportunity to step back from the work I did at Chelsea and really appreciate it. I’m delighted to be here.”
She also expressed pride in how Chelsea have evolved under her successor Sonia Bompastor, crediting the new manager with taking the team “to a new level”.
Hayes used the occasion to pay tribute to former Liverpool and Chelsea manager Matt Beard, who passed away earlier this month. Beard, she said, would be remembered not just for his success on the pitch but for his character and contribution to the women’s game.
“Players loved him. He cared deeply about them, he developed them, and he built a winning team at Liverpool,” she said. “He influenced so much of the women’s football ecosystem, often working with limited resources. His sacrifices were immense, and his legacy is multi-faceted. It’s vital we continue to highlight the struggles people face and honour the unique community he created.”
From transforming Chelsea into a domestic powerhouse to guiding the United States to Olympic gold in record time, Hayes’s journey continues to evolve. Now operating on the international stage, she is blending strategic vision with a fresh perspective — and, as she describes it, enjoying the “grandparent” role of shaping success from a distance.
