Chelsea women create a frenzy

On Nov. 4, Chelsea Women announced that coach Emma Hayes was leaving at the end of the season to pursue an outside opportunity. The Athletic then reported that she would become the head coach of the U.S. women’s national team, which U.S. Soccer confirmed on Tuesday.

Matt Crocker, the Sporting Director at U.S. Soccer, made the final decision to name Hayes as the new coach, after a search that began back in August. U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone welcomed Hayes and then Chelsea’s Sporting Director announced that Hayes would remain at the club until next May, after the end of the WSL campaign and the Champions League season.

The hiring process included multiple rounds of evaluation, and Hayes will become the 10th full-time coach of the U.S. women’s national team. Her appointment came as a surprise, and she will not be working with the U.S. during international windows while still working with Chelsea until the end of the season.

After Chelsea announced Hayes’ departure, the U.S. Soccer board convened to approve her appointment without the final details of the deal settled or signed. Hayes will be the highest-paid women’s football coach in the world, and her salary is expected to be close to $2 million per year. She spoke to reporters about looking forward to spending more time with her five-year-old son, Harry.

U.S. Soccer’s new head coach appointment has not been easy due to Hayes’ unavailability, as she will remain exclusively with Chelsea throughout their season. Hayes expressed her honor at being given the opportunity to coach the U.S. women’s national team in a statement on Tuesday.