Berhalter praises US Soccer's 'exciting' hiring of Hayes as USWNT coach

Gregg Berhalter will now be colleagues with one of the brightest minds in the women's game - and he has nothing but praise for the coach and the federation.

Earlier this week, it was announced that Emma Hayes will become the next manager of the United States women's national team when the current club season ends.

Currently, Hayes is in charge of the high-flying Chelsea Women's team that has been dominating the WSL for the past four years.

Berhalter - who is set to trot out his US men's national team in Austin, Texas against Trinidad & Tobago on Thursday night - seemed happy with US Soccer's choice in hiring Hayes in a press conference on Wednesday.

'I think it's great that U.S. Soccer went out and hired the person they want,' Berhalter said. 'What I know about Emma, the soccer world is a small world and you hear nothing but good things about Emma.

'I've reached out to her and we have had some brief exchanges but I don't know her well.

'Everything you hear about her is how thorough she is, how process-oriented it is, how bright she is, how she's so focused on team culture and teamwork.

'I think it's an exciting step for the women's team, which has already been a groundbreaking team and already been a team that just performs on the field, breaking down barriers off the field. You name it, they've done it.

'I think this is a fitting appointment and it speaks highly of [US Soccer sporting director] Matt Crocker and what he was able to do to get together good coaching pool.'

Hayes' appointment is set to mark a turning point for the USWNT as the top manager in the game will be heading to coach the all-time winningest team in women's football.

Not only that, but she'll be earning a salary that matches the weight of her expectations in the job.

In the announcement, US Soccer said that they would make Hayes 'the highest paid women's soccer coach in the world'.

While her salary wasn't officially announced, it's believed that she will earn the same amount of money as Berhalter's $1.6m contract, according to multiple reports.

Hayes will be tossed right into the fire with the USWNT - as she's set to take over the team just prior to the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

She'll be tasked with turning around a team that just came off their worst World Cup performance in team history.

Under Vlatko Andonovski, the team crashed out in the Round of 16 - the first time ever that the United States hadn't finished in at least 3rd place at a World Cup.