Olympic gold ‘greatest moment in my career’ – Hayes

Emma Hayes said winning Olympic football gold with the United States was “the greatest moment” of her career.

The 47-year-old led the USA to a 1-0 victory over Brazil and their first women’s football gold since 2012.

Victory at the Parc des Princes came just 84 days after Hayes won the Women’s Super League title with Chelsea, the team she managed for 12 years, achieving great success.

She had just four warm-up games in her new job to prepare for Paris 2024, with few talking about the USA as serious contenders for the gold medal.

“Chelsea has been my love,” she said. “Every trophy I won with that club is dear to me.

“But this professionally is probably much bigger than anything else I have ever done.”

The USA – who were World Cup winners in 2015 and 2019 – had suffered a dip in fortunes during recent years.

At last year’s World Cup, they suffered a shock early exit in the last 16 at the hands of Sweden and subsequently dropped to fifth in the Fifa rankings.

When Hayes left Chelsea and ended a 12-year tenure in which she won 14 trophies, she told BBC Sport she was doing so to take on “the biggest job in women’s football”.

She always believed this squad had the potential to win gold in Paris.

“I just woke that beast up again,” Hayes said.

“I’m used to being in finals, I’m used to competing for trophies, and so is the US women’s national team. The mentality is why I love the country, it’s why I am made for it.”

When the final whistle blew, Hayes was overcome with emotion as she embraced her staff on the touchline before jumping up and down in celebration with her players.

Throughout the tournament, Hayes has often recalled watching the 2012 Olympic women’s football final with her late father, Sid, who told her one day she would be the one leading the US to Olympic glory.

“It’s been a rough year,” Hayes said. “This time last year my dad was dying. I didn’t think I had the courage to come and do this.

“This team have embraced me and welcomed me into their family and allowed my to lead them.”

Hayes was spotted on camera kissing her necklace and pointing to the sky at full-time in tribute to her father, who died last September.

“It’s an American eagle and it’s my father’s,” she said. “I think it’s so fitting my dad gave me his American eagle necklace. That was for my dad.

“I felt him with me the whole performance. I just had a moment to myself to remind myself of what I’ve been through in my life, my career, and to show gratitude to my parents – the people that matter the most.”