Emma Hayes adds long-time WSL rival to USA women's coaching staff for Olympics

Former Aston Villa Women manager Carla Ward will join Emma Hayes' USWNT backroom staff at this summer's Olympic Games in Paris.

Hayes took over the helm of the four-time world champions upon her departure from Chelsea Women after more than a decade with the club, helping to establish the Blues as one of English women's football's most successful teams having won 15 major trophies while reaching a Women's Champions League final.

The departure of Hayes' from the Women's Super League coincided with another significant managerial exit at the end of last term in Ward. Similar to Hayes, the 40-year-old chose to leave Villa at the end of the 2023-24 season to prioritise family life. The former Sheffield United and Birmingham City boss spent three years with Villa and helped establish the club as a strong WSL mainstay.

Now Ward is set to return to the coaching world sooner than expected with the English coach set to join the USWNT staff under Hayes.

The role is described as flexible, overseeing various areas such as performance analysis and opposition scouting, as first revealed by The BBC.

Ward and Hayes honed a strong friendship while competing against each other in the top-flight. Ward revealed after her final match in charge of Villa that Hayes and herself speak on a daily basis, with the two bonding over football and family obligations.

“She has helped me no end through good times and bad times," Ward said of Hayes. "I’ve had some tough times this year and she’s been there through every step. The women’s game [here] is a far worse place without her. But, she’s certainly created a place where the next generation can pick it up and run with it.”

Ward previously said that she was not through with coaching, but required a brief spell away from the game to refocus and re-energise. "Everyone keeps saying to give it a few months and you’ll be back in management. Definitely not a couple of months, maybe six. For now, I need a holiday and a break. The summer holidays is all about me and my daughter because she keeps asking when we’re going to do something and when she’s going to see me.

“I told her the other day she’ll see me a lot more now. But yeah, I’ll be back for sure. You never know, if the next manager doesn’t do well and they’re sacked at Christmas, I might be back here at Christmas!”

The Olympic Games represents the first major tournament of the USWNT's new Emma Hayes era and the first since their ignominious Round of 16 exit at the Women's World Cup last summer.

The USWNT are chasing a fifth Olympic gold medal, and expectations are high as Hayes takes on her first big test. The ex-Chelsea boss has made sweeping changes to a squad that was accused of being too old and stale last summer. An emphasis on embracing youth talent has been key, with the principle reinforced by the axing of star striker Alex Morgan, 35, from the final Olympics roster.

The USWNT drew 0-0 with Costa Rica in their final warm-up match last week and play Zambia in their opening group game of the tournament on Thursday.