In May, Chelsea’s American board of directors decided to somehow remove Emma Hayes, the most successful manager in the history of English women’s football.
It’s only August, but those Americans’ loss is already this America’s gain. On a sultry afternoon in Paris, the North Londoner led her new charges to Olympic glory, making the point, as if it were necessary, in an emphatic manner.
Sixteen trophies in 12 years at Stamford Bridge, followed by a gold medal in 12 weeks. Emma Carol Hayes OBE.
Given that context, this narrow victory must have been sweet. There was also a hint of sadness.
Hayes lost her father Sid last year. As her substitutes ran onto the pitch to celebrate with their teammates, she turned to friends in the crowd and touchingly kissed a necklace.
Emma Hayes led Team USA to Olympic glory with victory in women’s final against Brazil
Result marks a remarkable start for the former Chelsea manager in her first international start
The 47-year-old left Chelsea at the end of last season after securing his fifth WSL title
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“I’m very emotional,” she said. “It’s a dream of mine to be in this position, and I thank my father, he was the one who pushed me to this moment to come here and coach an incredible group of players. I have my father’s necklace on, it has an American eagle on it, he was there today and that helped. The crowd was amazing, Brazil was amazing, I’m shocked.”
In a baking Parc des Princes, Mallory Swanson’s second-half poke was enough to crown Hayes’ Americans Queens. This is a talented young squad, most of whom are plying their trade in the world’s best league. But this was another masterclass in management from their new boss. Put simply, Hayes always finds a way, and those skills have clearly followed her across the Atlantic, or the English Channel for that matter.
When the 47-year-old arrived, the US, the giants of the women’s game, were shattered. A last-16 exit at last year’s World Cup was the worst tournament performance in an illustrious history for a team that had travelled Down Under as back-to-back champions.
Few of the red, white and blue who filled this old stadium will care now, as the final whistle blew and Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the USA was booed. Perhaps the Beatles would have been more fitting for the manager who, when asked how she had managed to convince her players so quickly, suggested that all you need is love.
“Just love,” she said. “I want players to have fun, I was at a club for 12 years where I was hugely successful, but I wanted to do well for this country and I’m so emotional because you don’t win a gold medal every day.”
Although Hayes has only been in the post for three months, she spent a decade in two spells in the US, honing her coaching skills before moving to Chelsea.
“I love America,” she said. “It shaped me, I always say that, it absolutely shaped me.”
Brazil, who had defeated world champions Spain in the semi-final, had a goal disallowed despite a strong start. They had the better first half, with lots of effort but little quality.
Molly Swanson’s second-half goal separated the two teams at the Parc des Princes
The victory marks Team USA’s first Olympic victory in women’s soccer since 2012
Hayes’ group needed overtime to beat Japan and Germany and looked out for a long time.
But time and time again, the people of England have seen Hayes get the best out of her. She had already identified counter-attacking as the way forward for the skills at her disposal and on 57 minutes she was once again seeing the fruits of her early labour.
With Brazil pressing, Korbin Albert picked up a loose pass, played Swanson in and, with the yellow-in-yellow…, got a couple of touches before rolling the ball into the bottom corner. In the stands, a watching Tom Cruise approved.
It proved to be an impossible mission for Brazil, who immediately sent out the departing legend Marta. At 38, she played her sixth and last Olympic Games and there was no dream ending.
The US had chances to score the ball but were again dependent on Naeher, who made another reflex save in injury time to stop Adriana’s header.
That was the closest Brazil came. For Hayes, a flash of gold to add to a cabinet full of silverware.