Key Highlights
- Emma Hayes, a 49-year-old coach and former player, discusses her journey in football and life as the US national team boss.
- Hayes led the US national team to an Olympic gold medal just three months after taking charge of the role.
- She reflects on her early days playing for Mary Ward in Camden and attributes much of her success to her parents’ influence.
- Hayes shares insights into her anxiety during menopause, attributing it to hormonal changes and a sudden loss of estrogen.
The Rise of Emma Hayes: From Local Soccer to the Top of International Football
Emma Hayes, the current coach of the United States women’s national soccer team, has had an impressive career that spans both club and international levels. Born in London, Hayes began her journey as a player at Mary Ward school in Camden, where she honed her skills during matches without formal rules or equipment.
She credits her father, who was a coach in the community, for recognizing her potential despite not having any role models of his own. “My dad saw something for me that I couldn’t see,” Hayes explains. She eventually moved to America and joined the American coaching scene, which she describes as the best way to secure a visa and live in New York City.
From Player to Coach: A Journey Through Community Football
Hayes’ career took a significant turn when she began working with Camden Sports Development. Here, she coached in the community and helped build the Regents Park League. This experience laid the groundwork for her eventual move into professional coaching.
“I didn’t even think I’d be a coach,” Hayes reveals. “I had no interest in it at all.” However, her father’s encouragement and the opportunity to live in America led her down this path. Hayes’ approach to coaching is rooted in community values and giving back, which she attributes to her upbringing.
The Challenges of Coaching: Balancing Professional Success with Personal Life
Hayes discusses the challenges of balancing her professional life as a coach with being a mother to Harris, born in 2018. She describes her role as “like being a grandparent,” seeing players every six to eight weeks and spending quality time with them. However, this also means leaving her son behind for long periods.
“I often describe it as like being a grandparent,” Hayes says. “You see the players every 6-8 weeks. They come in, they visit you, then give them their treats, take them to Disneyland, and so on.” This balance is crucial for her, both professionally and personally.
Menopause and Mental Health: A Personal Reflection
Hayes opens up about the impact of menopause on her mental health. She explains that sudden menopause led to significant changes in her body chemistry, including a decrease in dopamine and serotonin levels. “When you lose both your ovaries,” she says, “oestrogen is not just a lubricant for your joints; it’s also for your brain. My brain starts going, ‘hello, oestrogen, where are you?’ And it can’t find it.” This led to increased anxiety and other symptoms that required her mother’s support.
“I never suffered with anxiety until I had the menopause,” Hayes continues. “The thing I love most about being in America is they value female sports.
I feel like I’ve had to speak up about it. If you spoke out about certain things that people didn’t really necessarily view as aggressive behaviour, they didn’t realise the position that women might have felt in that situation.” Her experiences highlight the ongoing challenges faced by women in male-dominated sports.
Hayes’ reflections on her journey from a local player to one of the most successful coaches in international football underscore the importance of community, family support, and resilience. As she looks ahead, her goal is clear: “I want to steer the US to World Cup success in Brazil in 2027.”
Emma Hayes’ story is not just a tale of individual achievement but also a powerful narrative about the challenges faced by women in sports leadership roles.
