Sarina Wiegman insists Hayes' anticipated move to US 'good for women's game'

England manager Sarina Wiegman believes Emma Hayes’ anticipated move to the United States is ‘good for women’s football’, with the Chelsea boss set to become the highest-paid female coach.

The Blues announced last week that Hayes will leave the club at the end of the season and it is understood she will take up the vacant manager’s job with the US after Vlatko Andonvoski was sacked following a disappointing World Cup.

Wiegman believes Hayes’ move will bring more visibility to female managers but admitted she will be a loss to the English game.

‘It’s really incredible what she has achieved and what she has changed and the visibility she has,’ Wiegman said.

‘That helps the women’s game. That’s [at] Chelsea but that goes so much further than Chelsea, it’s changed the women’s football world. We need more coaches like Emma.

‘For the bigger picture of the women’s game it’s good. What you hope, that with her visibility and with more coaches that are visible, that you get more female coaches that can do a great job. It’s a little bit sad for England and Chelsea - but it’s also good for the women’s game in general.’

Hayes is understood to have been offered a contract that will see her earn the same salary as US men’s boss Gregg Berhalter ($1.6million), which would make her the highest-paid manager in women’s football.

Wiegman’s contract with the Football Association is understood to be around £400,000 a year, significantly less than that of Gareth Southgate - who earns £5million a year. But Wiegman insisted she feels valued.

‘Since I’ve come in and worked for the FA I felt treated so equal and it’s not only about money, it’s about the facilities, it’s about the full time staff with the best staff members with quality. All the opportunities we get to perform at our highest level and I feel equally treated and that feels really good.’

Wiegman was talking ahead of the launch of her book What It Takes: My Playbook on Life and Leadership which journeys her passion for football and management.

Wiegman, who led England to the Euro 2022 victory and this year’s World Cup final, has often been asked whether she would like to move into men’s football. While this is not currently something she is thinking about, the Lionesses boss believes it is a matter of time before a woman takes a high profile job in the men’s game.

‘You know what I think is that in football, it’s still the question of “can a female coach a male team?” I think in every sector females are in higher positions, so that’s a little bit strange [it isn’t in football].

‘I think a female can coach a men’s team. My thoughts are not there. I am just really happy in the role I work in now and I am really enjoying it. And, as you say, sometimes I think when I see it (the fame and scrutiny in the men’s game) it is so personal, also with men in the men’s game.

I think, “how much fun is that?” We know Corinne Diacre coached a men’s team in France and more females also in Italy coached men.

‘I think it is a matter of time and I think when first one [takes a high-profile men’s job], it will be really big - but I think then more will follow. When I was a little kid I was not allowed to play football as a girl, but now everyone says: ‘Oh why not?’ Hopefully in 20 years we say: ‘Why did we think females couldn’t coach males?’ Hopefully that will change quickly.’

Wiegman is under contract with England until 2025 but the FA are keen to tie her down to a longer deal. The Dutch coach admitted she is unsure where her future lies but that she is happy in her current role.

‘I don’t know [what the future holds], that’s a strange answer,’ Wiegman said. ‘I know exactly what I want and then things just come and I start feeling things. Then I say “okay, I’m starting to think about this” so I guess something changes in me.

‘I’m really happy here with the team, with the FA, I get all the support. I have so much expertise around me and I work with the best players and they’re so committed and really enjoying it. I have the impression that they’re still enjoying it too. I’m not thinking, things go so fast in football, time flies too, but I still have a contract for two years. I’m in a good place.’

Wiegman, who was the only female coach to reach the quarter-finals of this summer’s World Cup, hopes her book will serve as an inspiration to young girls and women.

‘When I was 16 years old I didn't see any coaches, so I wanted to be a PE teacher, because I didn't see any coaches,’ Wiegman said. ‘What you see, you can be. And now I feel responsible, I have to share some things - women can see and hopefully they can be too. I hope to inspire lots of women, but if it's one, at least it's one more than nil.’