Emma Hayes Guides US to Olympic Gold

Emma Hayes called winning the Olympic gold medal with the United States “the greatest moment” of her career. At 47, Hayes led the US women’s team to a 1-0 victory over Brazil at the Parc des Princes earning their first women’s football gold since 2012. This triumph followed just 84 days after she won the Women’s Super League title with Chelsea where she managed for 12 years and secured 14 trophies. Despite having only four warm-up games and facing low expectations for the US team, Hayes believed in their potential.

While she deeply cherished her success with Chelsea, she saw this Olympic victory as a major professional achievement. The US women’s team had encountered difficulties in recent years, including a surprising early exit in the 2023 World Cup and a drop to fifth in the FIFA rankings. Hayes left Chelsea to embrace a new challenge, and her confidence in the squad’s potential proved to be well-founded.

In the final moments of the game, Emma Hayes burst into tears of joy, celebrating with her staff and players. Throughout the tournament, she reflected on her late father Sid, who had always believed she would guide the US to Olympic glory. Hayes, who struggled emotionally after her father’s passing last September, felt a profound connection to him during the celebration.

She wore his American eagle necklace and dedicated the win to him, sensing his presence throughout the tournament. Hayes’s achievements with the US women’s team and her heartfelt tribute to her father underscored a deeply personal and professional milestone in her career.