The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup was truly historic for Team USA. And not in a good way. Vlatko Andonovski’s girls were defeated by Sweden in the Round of 16, marking the earliest exit for the Americans in the competition. With the recruitment of Emma Hayes as the new head coach, the top brass hoped to compensate for the heartbreak, and the former Arsenal star is already making her impact felt. Under Hayes, the USA bagged gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and hopes to win its fifth World Cup title next year. But it wasn’t an easy road to here.
“To get this opportunity is a dream come true,” said the retired midfielder after being appointed as the USWNT boss in 2023. In her statement, the British national also noted that she felt a deep connection with the USA’s national soccer team as well as the country. Now, as Hayes hopes to help Naomi Girma & Co. redeem themselves from the 2023 fumble, she can’t help but remember how she began her journey on the other side of the pond.
The USWNT head coach hit Instagram on August 18 to reminisce on how being named the Chelsea boss more than a decade ago changed her life forever. “On this day in 2012, I had the incredible honor of coaching my very first game for Chelsea,” wrote Hayes, “It’s truly astonishing to reflect on all that the club has accomplished since that moment.” During her tenure as the head coach, the London club won seven FA Women’s Super League trophies along with five FA Cups. Naturally, it was a collaboration that was made in heaven.
“I feel immensely privileged to have been part of such a remarkable club, surrounded by extraordinary people. The journey has been nothing short of fulfilling, and I am grateful for every experience along the way,” Emma Hayes went on in her social media post, noting that her time in the UK was one of the most fulfilling periods of her coaching career.
The story is developing
The post Emma Hayes Reveals Heartfelt Message on 13-Year Journey Amid USWNT Redemption Task appeared first on EssentiallySports.