Emma Hayes silent on USA coaching rumors, prioritizes own decision to step down

Emma Hayes has said she is leaving Chelsea for the sake of her family but refused to be drawn on whether she will take up the vacant manager’s role with the United States national team.

It was announced last week that Hayes will depart the Blues after 11 successful years for a job outside of club football.

The decision to leave Chelsea is not one Hayes took lightly but the 47-year-old said she always wanted to ‘go out at the top’ and believes the change will allow her more time with her five-year-old son, Harry.

‘It’s always a day I never really wanted to see come but I feel like I have to put myself first,’ Hayes said.

‘You dedicate so many hours to this job, I’ve given it everything I can. I’ve had to evaluate that and factor in. Anything I’m going to do, I want to do it well but maybe it’s about just having something different more than anything else.

‘I’ve taken this team to the top and I always said I wanted to leave at the top. I’ll maintain that. That’s what I want to do. I would struggle going backwards at any point or out-staying my welcome.

'Those things plague me. So, it’s not actually an easy thing to do to leave at the top with a world-class team but I always made the promise to myself that I would do that.

‘I’ve been in post for 12 years, I’ve dedicated my life to this place. I drive four hours every day, six days a week for 12 years. I have a 5-year-old that needs more of his mummy for sure.

‘That’s important, family matters. I think I’ve dedicated as much as I possibly can to this football club. I’ve loved every minute of it. I think it’s really important that, if possible, let’s create a succession plan for me.

'The time is right, I will work with the club in the succession plan and do everything I can to make sure as good a transition as possible so that my successor can equally have the same level of success as I have.’

It is understood Hayes’ new job will be with the US national team but the manager would not go into detail.

‘You know what my answer is going to be, I won’t comment on that,’ Hayes said when asked about the US job. ‘I am contracted to Chelsea until the end of the season and that’s where my focus lies right now.’