Success is often celebrated in the spotlight but the world rarely sees the countless struggles and sacrifices happening behind the scenes. Having spent 12 years at Chelsea, Emma Hayes has amassed an impressive collection of silverware at Stamford Bridge. Despite her success on the pitch, the current USWNT manager faced some challenges off it. 

Speaking at the media conference ahead of her side’s friendly at Wembley, Hayes reflects on how things were at the end of her Chelsea stint. “I actually felt quite unwell at the end of my time at Chelsea. I am not going to say it’s pressure. I just think it’s the stress, the toll it took on me. I just feel like I’ve had menopause and doing that during menopause I realized was even harder.“

Hayes also mentions that ever since she took up the International job, things have changed for the better. “So to get on top of all of them things, I feel like I’ve got my mojo back and my smile back and joy back. I didn’t realize how much I’d lost in that and to do that means that I’m loving football more than ever,” said Hayes.

During her time at Chelsea, she has won the FA Women’s Super League on 7 occasions, with 5 of those wins coming in a row, between 2019/20 – 2023/24. Hayes’ side boasts an impressive win percentage of 71.12, having won 261 of their 367 games. Despite her domestic success, her side fell short at European level, suffering a 4-0 defeat to FC Barcelona Femení in the 2021 Champions League Final. 

What she has achieved at Chelsea has solidified her legacy in the world of soccer but the journey to the top wasn’t an easy one. The Ballon d’Or coach even reflected on all the sacrifices she made and what it took to get where she is today. 

Emma always put football first

Says the ex-Chelsea boss when asked if she was destined to reach the top. Emma mentions that she always knew what she wanted and had to miss a lot of birthday parties, holidays, and other intimate occasions. Hayes expressed gratitude for the unwavering support from her family and friends and feels her career is far from over. 

Despite going through her fair share of troubles, Hayes has been a pillar of support for her players. For instance, when Fran Kirby was depressed after the loss of her mother and a career-threatening illness in her late 20s, the Chelsea forward mentions how she was thankful for Hayes’ positive influence. 

Hayes’ team is set to face Sarina Wiegman’s England squad, with the two knowing each other since their days at Chelsea. She’s back at Wembley, a stadium that once hosted several of her trophies, during her spell in England.