Some moments are etched with deeper meaning than they appear. The Olympic gold for the USWNT may have been a poetic beginning for the new and young unit, but it is more about the relationships with their coach Emma Hayes. Under a lot of pressure with a little over two months to prepare for the 2024 Olympics, the Englishwoman’s bold decisions enabled the Star and Stripes to glory at the Paris Games. But her final gesture after the glory was a kiss on her American Eagle necklace that has a moving story attached to it.

Hayes gave a deeper insight into what the gesture meant as a journalist inquisitively asked her about the incident. Speaking at the press conference she stated, suggesting that she did it remembering her late father who passed away last year. She further continued saying, referring to how her family played an important role in Hayes landing the job with the USWNT.

No other incident could have made it better for a person than winning the gold in your first shot at the Olympics. And Hayes journeyed through it with the memories of her father. She further stated, saying,It’s very well known how the former Chelsea manager values relationships more than anything else in her life whether it’s on the pitch or off it. But apart from her son, it was also her father who influenced her present spell.

How Emma Hayes’ father impacted her to join the USWNT

A lot of factors needed to coincide for Emma Hayes to become the coach of USWNT. Although the team’s disappointment at the 2023 World Cup was the initiating point, Hayes was already ready for such a twist in her life thanks to her father Sid. It’s suggested that it was his advice for Hayes before passing away that led to his taking up the role in the USA. He claimed to have said, “If you ever get the opportunity, you have to take the job with the USA.” This was followed by approval from her son who also gave her the green light to move across the pond when she was offered the role in late 2023.

Hayes always gave priority to her family despite heavy professional success. She also dedicated her first FA Cup win in 2015 to her father and mother after triumphing over Notts County in 2015. She along with her father also set up Regents Park Youth League in the late 1990s reiterating how big a support system he was for her throughout her career. And as she gave a fitting tribute to her father, the Englishwoman will be pleased as she has made him proud by bringing the best out of the young USWNT team.