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
