Chelsea manager Emma Hayes has distanced herself from the newly vacant United States head coach position following the resignation of Vlatko Andonovski this week.
90min was first to report Andonovski’s decision to step down, coming after overseeing the United States’ worst ever World Cup performance. The back-to-back reigning champions were knocked out in the last 16, having never previously finished lower than third at eight previous tournaments.
Given the stature of the American team as record four-time World Cup winners and four-time Olympic champions, the job is one of the very biggest anywhere in the women’s game.
Hayes has already worked extensively in the United States, first moving across in her twenties for a job as Long Island Rough Riders head coach. Staying in New York, she later coached Iona College and then returned to America after a spell as Arsenal assistant back home to lead Chicago Red Stars. Further director and consultant roles followed at Western New York Flash and Washington Freedom.
Since 2012, Hayes has been Chelsea manager, establishing the Blues as English football’s dominant force and one of Europe’s leading club teams. The 2022/23 season saw Chelsea collect their fourth WSL title, part of a third consecutive domestic double alongside the Women’s FA Cup.
Hayes is currently in Australia, having also spent the past month working as part of ITV’s broadcast team, and was asked about the United States job at FIFA’s Women’s Football Conference being held ahead of the upcoming World Cup final.
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“I suspected that question would come up. I’m very happy here at Chelsea, I’ve made that clear. I’ve been there for 11 years, it’s my home,” she said, leaving no doubt in her response.
“I think the US has wonderful players and perhaps the tournament didn’t go the way they wanted but my focus is on getting home and preparing Chelsea for the start of the season.”
Hayes has previously been linked with lower league men’s job in the English football pyramid, notably AFC Wimbledon in early 2021.
“Women’s football is something to celebrate, and the quality and the achievement of all the females I represent… it’s an insult to them that we talk about women’s football being a step down, with the dedication and the commitment and the quality they have,” she said at the time.
“The whole point about [Wimbledon] not being able to afford me is nothing to do with money, but everything to do with the fact that I’m in the best job in the world. No amount of money is going to tempt me away from that.”
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