Getty/GOALAlthough Hayes is still inexperienced in her role, the Paris Games will be her first chance to lead the U.S. to achieve unprecedented success.
"There's no point in talking about the past in isolation. When talking about new heights, who wants to f**king do the same thing over and over again? Let’s start creating our own narrative!"
If you want to boil down U.S. women's national team coach Emma Hayes' worldview into one bite-size quote, that's the one. That declaration came just a few weeks ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics as Hayes spoke to Sam Mewis on the Women's Game podcast. And in truth, those 33 words succinctly explain who Hayes is, where she's been and where she's going.
It is undeniable that Hayes is a complex individual who cannot be fully described in just a few sentences. Her tactics are extensive and meticulous, reflecting her nuanced and strategic understanding of the game. These qualities have earned her the reputation as one of the top coaches in the sport. Moreover, her self-crafted narrative has become indisputable over the years due to her remarkable achievements in her home country of England.
However, according to Hayes, her past life is behind her. It is now the right moment to focus on the future, whether it is in the short term or long term. Although Hayes is only starting to develop her USWNT story, it is already being challenged in the intense spotlight of this summer.
Hayes was hired by U.S. Soccer to take a long-term approach, but just weeks into her new role, the USWNT is gearing up for their first major challenge in this new era – the Olympics. This means that Hayes and her team will face significant pressure before her coaching ideals have fully integrated with the squad. It’s a difficult position to be in, but Hayes is known for her ability to embrace the absurdity of a short timeframe to reach the highest levels.
She was appointed to lead the USWNT’s reconstruction, perhaps even to save it. Despite a few setbacks, the USWNT is eager to reclaim its position among the top teams. That’s precisely why Hayes has been brought on board. However, has the journey towards improvement already begun? Can Hayes make a significant impact in such a brief period to transform this team into an Olympic contender? Conventional wisdom might suggest otherwise, but Hayes is determined to prove it wrong. Although the narrative is fresh, the team’s expectations for dominance remain unchanged.
