Emma Hayes revealed she feels refreshed as the United States head coach after stress at the end of her time at Chelsea made her feel "unwell". (More Football News)
Hayes was in charge of the Blues for 12 years, during which she won seven Women's Super League titles, including each of the last five between 2019-20 and 2023-24
Emma Hayes revealed she feels refreshed as the United States head coach after stress at the end of her time at Chelsea made her feel "unwell". (More Football News)
Hayes was in charge of š¼the Blues for 12 years, during which she won seven Women's Super League titles, including each of the last five between 2019-20 and 2023-š¦24.
Overall, she ovį£ersaw 345 games in all competitions, winning 244 of those (70.72%-win rate).
The 48-year-old left Chelsea at the end of last season, pulling off a stunning comeback in the WSL title race to beat Manchester City to theš title on goal difference, and took over as the USA women's head coach in May.
She led the team to Olympic gold in her first tournament, going unbeaten oān their tournament run in Paris.
Asked about the perks of international football compaāred to a domestic level, Hayes admittedā the latter had taken its toll on her.
"I š ŗdon't have to sacrifice the things that madeą¼ŗ me healthy. I didn't feel healthy at the end, I actually felt unwell at the end of my time at Chelsea," she said in a press conference.
"It wasn't pressure, it was the strešss and toll it took on me and doing that during menopause was even harder.
"To get on top of all ą¹of those things, I've got my mojo back and my smile and enjoyment bź§ack, which I didn't realise I had lost."
The USA will face England at Wembley on Saturday, and Hayes will face off against some of her former players, with Millź¦ie Bright, Hannah Hampton and Aggie Beever-Jones in the Lionesses squad.
Hayes,ā though, is determined to keep her unbeaš¼ten start as USA head coach intact against her home nation.
"I'm looking forward to seeing Sarina [Wiegman]," she said. "Of course, I nš«eed to go through a weird momenšøt when the national anthems are being played.
"I'll hum along to it [God Save the King] being the English person I am, but also the same for the US one because Ią“ love it, I love both anthems.
"Beyond that weird moment and coming up against players I've gone to war with, it's business come kick-off. I hope it's an enteā±rtaining game and a sell-out."