“Coaching qualifications don’t teach you how to handle the real challenges that go on day to day.” Some interesting words from Emma Hayes back in the day, highlighting that even earning the best coaching licenses doesn’t make one a Johan Cruyff or Sir Alex Ferguson. In a shorter sense, one needs experience—savoring the highs and lows of managing a team—something Hayes has been a part of since the age of 20. So, it wouldn’t be surprising to hear from her about the most ‘infuriating‘ thing she’s heard from other coaches.

Of course, all the coaches around the world have their own playbook, by which they abide throughout their coaching career and dictate their team accordingly on the pitch. However, little does everyone know that this coaching business is also about self-aggrandizing behavior, a narrative that Hayes hates the most. 

“There’s such a snobbery in our business around the [job] specifications,” she said during an exclusive chat with The Times. “Everybody loves to spin a yarn about how amazing they are as a coach.” Till here, everything is acceptable for Hayes, but what she finds disappointing is the way a coach is asked to describe their playbook and their response is quite exaggerating or idealizing their methodologies.

“One of the most infuriating things is when a coach is asked, ‘What’s your style of football?’ They go, ‘We like to play an attractive style of football.’ What the f*** does that mean? I’ve never heard anything more ridiculous than that,” she added before giving a supportive example. “What happens if, I don’t know, five minutes are on the clock and you’re qualifying for a final and your legs are knackered, your brain is tired? You’re thinking about the result.”

Talk about first-world problems!

Well, to rethink that ‘attractive style’ part does sound amusing. Then again, we aren’t the ones in authority to call those who think or respond that way. What only makes us food for thought is how Hayes would answer it differently.

Being humble is the true definition of Emma Hayes!

There’s no denying that Emma Hayes’ achievements speak for themselves. Spending over a decade at Chelsea to drag them from their bottom half of the table status and make them a trophy-contending team. Then finally stepped into the international foray and won the Olympic gold medal with the USWNT in just three months. Boy, that’s some leadership stuff! But for Hayes, it’s not like she has it all naturally, rather it has been the journey of continuous learning.

“Some have an extroverted, natural leadership but, at 48, I think of the learning I’ve done throughout my career, whether that’s hundreds of courses, hours of reading or listening or being mentored,” said Hayes, admitting that despite being regarded as one of the most top coaches in the world, she had her very own ‘executive coach’ to teach her things. True story, if one still finds it hard to believe the English tactician used to attend her own coaching lessons.

Then again, the end note is all about the continued learning phase that Emma Hayes never decided to give up on.