Emma Hayes in at the deep end for USWNT’s latest Olympic odyssey

THer time last year, Emma Hayes’ relationship with international football was very different. Her face graced the posters for ITV promoting the commentary team for the broadcaster’s coverage of the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. The decorated Chelsea manager, celebrated for her sharp technical analysis at both the men’s and women’s major tournaments, was taking a break from the daily grind of club football management.

The dismal performance of the back-to-back world champions, the USA, was picked apart by Hayes on screen and in print. Youth development in the USA was criticised, a lack of creative talent breaking through was singled out as a major problem and the cohesion of the team was questioned.

A year later, Hayes must translate that criticism into an action plan that will be tested immediately as the U.S. bids for its fifth Olympic gold, a first since the London Games in 2012. Hayes announced in early November of last year that she would be leaving Chelsea at the end of the season. A few days later, it was announced that she would take charge of the U.S. women’s national team.

The 47-year-old’s decision to leave Chelsea and take on arguably the biggest job in women’s soccer, replacing former Reign FC manager Vlatko Andonovski’s disappointing stint as head coach of the U.S. women’s national team, was bold but not unexpected. The timing of the announcement that she would be leaving Chelsea, coming shortly after a 6-0 Women’s Super League win over Aston Villa in November, came as a shock.

For those who have followed Hayes over the years, however, it has felt as though her time at the club would sooner or later come to a natural end. Only the Champions League eluded Hayes during her time at Chelsea and there was a feeling, among fans and journalists alike, that if she were to get her hands on a European title, it would likely be her last hurrah for the club. The 4-0 defeat to Barcelona in the 2021 final shattered the end of the dream and since then, despite Chelsea fighting valiantly, the gulf between them and the new queens of Europe has remained.

Hayes has also endured major personal trauma and change over the past five years, including the loss of one of the twins she was carrying, the birth of son Harry, an emergency hysterectomy as part of her battle with endometriosis and the loss of her father.

These events have taken their toll. She has barely been able to breathe, let alone grieve her losses, making the less intense daily schedule of international football a huge draw.

She is also well acquainted with American soccer culture, having left England early in her coaching career for the US in search of an environment that focused on women’s soccer.

What should we expect from a Hayes-led USWNT at the Paris Games? It’s hard to say.

She arrived in the US in late May, shortly after Chelsea secured their seventh league title on the final day of the WSL season, and hasn’t had much time to personally shape the team. In many ways, that takes some of the pressure off: Hayes is a long-term asset and short-term success is desirable, but likely won’t be seen as essential as long as fans and those around her see potential in the systems and personnel.

Hayes has already shown she can be ruthless, leaving front-runner Alex Morgan out of the 18-man squad. The 34-year-old forward sacrificed herself to make way for younger players who are likely to be the team’s future.

Hayes can do that. Her incredible record in club football gives her the authority. Now we get to see if she can prepare a team known for their transitional, intense and physical play for the increasingly technical and tactical football being played by teams around the world.