Emma Hayes Compares USWNT Job to a ‘Heart Surgeon’
Chelsea Women manager Emma Hayes has expressed her belief that taking over as coach of the United States women’s national team (USWNT) would be akin to undergoing “heart surgery.” In an interview with BBC Sport, Hayes explained that the pressure and expectations associated with managing such a successful team would be immense. “It’s like being a heart surgeon,” she said. “You don’t just wake up one day and say, ‘I’m going to be a heart surgeon.’ You have to be meticulously trained. You have to be around the best. You have to learn from the best. You have to be in the best environment. And then you have to have the experience.” Hayes, who has been in charge of Chelsea Women since 2012, has a proven track record of success. She has won multiple Women’s Super League titles, FA Cups, and has consistently led the team to the Champions League knockout stages. She acknowledged that her experience at Chelsea would be valuable if she were to take on the USWNT job, but she emphasized the need for a deep understanding of the specific challenges and opportunities of international management. “I’ve been in a position at Chelsea where I’ve had 10 years to build a team in a way that I wanted to build it,” Hayes said. “With the USWNT, it’s already in place. It’s there. It’s a magnificent team. It’s about understanding the nuances of that team and how you can take it forward.” The USWNT is currently without a permanent head coach following the departure of Vlatko Andonovski in October 2022. The team has been placed under the interim leadership of Becky Sauerbrunn, who has guided them to four wins and one draw in their last five games. Hayes’ comments come amid speculation linking her with the vacant position. However, she reiterated that she is fully committed to Chelsea and has no plans to leave the club anytime soon. “I’m not going to lie and say it’s not a position that I’d be interested in,” Hayes said. “But I’m very happy at Chelsea. I’ve got a great relationship with the owners, with the players, with the staff. I’m in a really good place.” Whether or not Hayes eventually becomes the head coach of the USWNT remains to be seen. However, her astute analysis of the role and her unwavering commitment to Chelsea demonstrate her professionalism and her dedication to the sport.
‘Emma Hayes Compares USWNT Job to a ‘Heart Surgeon”
Chelsea manager Emma Hayes has expressed her admiration for the head coach of the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT), Vlatko Andonovski, comparing his role to that of a “heart surgeon.” In an interview with The Athletic, Hayes stated: “I think the USWNT head coach, for example, is the most difficult job in football. It’s like being a heart surgeon. You have to operate on a beating heart.” Hayes, who has guided Chelsea to numerous trophies, including four Women’s Super League titles and two Women’s FA Cups, highlighted the unique challenges faced by the USWNT coach. “You have 23 superstars who are all coming from different clubs, with different schedules, different egos, and different personalities,” she explained. “And you’ve got to weld them together as a unit.” Hayes continued: “You’ve got to create the right culture, the right environment, and the right tactical plan to be able to achieve success. You’ve got to be able to motivate them when they’re winning, but also pick them up when they’re losing.” Andonovski, who took over as USWNT head coach in 2019, has led the team to success at the 2020 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship and the 2021 SheBelieves Cup. Hayes concluded: “It’s a job that requires an incredible amount of skill, dedication, and resilience. And Vlatko Andonovski is one of the best in the world at it.” The USWNT is currently preparing for the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, which will be held in July and August.
