Emma Hayes reveals key figure in her decision to leave Chelsea for USA

Emma Hayes has shared that her son played a big part in her decision to leave Chelsea and become the next manager of the US Women's national team.

Hayes has decided to take on the new role in the US after winning 13 major trophies at Chelsea, including six Women's Super League titles. After 11 years in west London, Hayes says she knew it was time to take on the new role after her five-and-a-half-year old son Harry gave his «endorsement».

Speaking to the Telegraph, Hayes explained: «I asked him [Harry], ‘Mummy’s got the chance to go and coach the USA team or we can stay here?’ and his reaction really helped me. I didn’t know what he was going to say, but he smiled, he hugged me, he kissed me and he said, ‘Let’s go to the USA, Mummy, I’m really excited, I want to go to the USA!’ and I almost couldn’t believe it. That was it, that was the endorsement I needed.”

Since announcing her move, Emma has spoken about how important family is to her. She wants to be able to pick Harry up from school and spend less time commuting to and from work.

The timing of the talks with US Soccer about the USWNT job after former boss Vlatko Andonovski was let go following a disappointing Women's World Cup also mattered, which happened soon after Hayes' father, Sid, passed away at 82.

»Truthfully, I was grieving, and I couldn't think of anything else. I didn't have any feeling at that point," Hayes said. «So, I just felt like it was hard to make a life-changing decision, at a time that just didn't feel right, so reaching that decision with almost a compromise to start at the end of this season was, I think, the only way I could have done it.»

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