When Emma Hayes speaks about football, it’s rarely just about the game. The new U.S. Women’s National Team manager - and one of modern football’s most respected coaches - sat down with Kelly Somers for a candid conversation about her feminist upbringing, her struggles with anxiety, and why she sometimes feels more like a grandparent than a manager to her players.

It’s a deeply personal glimpse into the mindset of a coach who has turned resilience, empathy, and emotional intelligence into footballing success.

A Childhood Rooted in Feminism

Hayes credits her worldview to her father — a proud feminist and social activist who raised his daughter to question power and fight inequality.

“He taught me that being a feminist wasn’t about being anti-men,” Hayes said. “It was about fairness, about opportunity, about making sure your voice mattered as much as anyone else’s.”

That early influence shaped how Hayes approaches leadership. Whether managing Chelsea’s dynasty in the Women’s Super League or now guiding the U.S. national team, she’s built environments where players are expected to compete fiercely, but also be human first.

“Football’s never just tactics and titles,” she added. “It’s about what happens when the game stops — who these players become and how they carry themselves into the world.”

From Chelsea Glory to Global Pressure

Hayes’ move from Chelsea FC Women, where she won 14 major trophies in 12 years, to leading the USWNT, represents one of the biggest transitions in modern football.

The U.S. team, once undisputed world champions, are now in a period of renewal after back-to-back World Cup disappointments. Hayes, who officially took charge earlier this year, has been tasked with restoring not just dominance — but belief.

“The U.S. have all the ingredients to be great again,” she said. “It’s about evolving identity, not just recycling history.”

Her tenure has already seen a shift in tone. Hayes has emphasized psychology and emotional literacy as much as fitness and tactics — using methods that blend science, empathy, and accountability.

“Emma has this ability to make you feel safe even when she’s challenging you,” said Lindsey Horan, the team captain. “It’s a mix of intensity and care that not many coaches can balance.”

Wrestling with Anxiety and Balance

Despite her public success, Hayes has long been open about her mental health battles — including anxiety and burnout. Years of high-pressure management, constant scrutiny, and life on the touchline have taken their toll.

“You don’t just wake up and manage pressure,” she said. “You learn to live alongside it. There were times I felt hollow after winning. Times I couldn’t sleep for days after losing.”

Now, Hayes builds mental health awareness into her teams’ culture. Meditation sessions, emotional check-ins, and family-inclusive schedules are standard practice — all designed to prevent the kind of loneliness that often follows elite performance.

“If you lose yourself in the job, you lose the job,” she said. “That’s what I’ve learned — football should serve your life, not consume it.”

Feeling Like a Football Grandparent

At 49, Hayes admits she often feels like a mentor to younger players in a rapidly changing generation. Many of her squad members have grown up idolizing her Chelsea sides — and some weren’t even born when she started coaching.

“I joke that I’m like a football grandparent,” she laughed. “They’re fearless, digital, fast. They know more about social issues at 20 than I did at 40. My role is to listen, to guide, not to preach.”

She’s made it a point to build intergenerational trust, encouraging players to express their opinions freely, whether it’s about tactics or societal topics.

That dynamic has already changed the locker room atmosphere. Players describe a more collaborative energy — one where accountability doesn’t replace authenticity.

The Future of the U.S. Women’s Game

Hayes’ challenge now extends beyond tactics. She’s leading during a moment of global evolution in women’s football — where investment, visibility, and competitive parity are rising fast.

Her ambition is not just to win, but to ensure the U.S. women’s team continues to stand for something larger than sport.

“This job is about legacy,” she said. “About showing that winning and equality can exist together — that you can be relentless and compassionate at the same time.”

That duality has always defined her career — fierce yet empathetic, strategic yet human.

The Takeaway

Emma Hayes’ story isn’t just about the next tournament. It’s about reimagining leadership in women’s sport — one that values emotional resilience as much as physical dominance.

She may be leading a national team now, but her influence stretches beyond borders. In an era where women’s football is finally finding its global voice, Hayes is making sure that voice speaks with strength, clarity, and compassion.

“I don’t want to be remembered for trophies,” she said quietly. “I want to be remembered for building people.”