Chelsea manager Emma Hayes is set to conclude the current season with the club before assuming the role of the U.S. women’s national team coach in May. The recent disclosure that former U.S. women’s national team coach Vlatko Andonovski was paid less than 30% of what Gregg Berhalter earned fueled intense discussions in American soccer. It was reported that Andonovski was making around $400,000 annually, whereas Berhalter’s salary exceeded $1.3 million, underscoring the persistent disparities between the two programs.
After the 2023 World Cup, which exposed Andonovski’s coaching shortcomings, U.S. Soccer replaced him with Emma Hayes, the current manager at Chelsea, who will become “the highest paid women’s soccer coach in the world” upon taking charge of the USWNT in May. Hayes’ salary is expected to exceed the roughly $1.6 million that Berhalter is now earning as the USWNT coach.
This substantial investment for a coach signifies a watershed moment for the program and the sport, especially considering the difference in compensation between male and female coaches. The move aims to attract elite coaching talent and make a definitive statement regarding U.S. Soccer’s commitment to gender equity. This proactive stance, however, underlines the harsh reality that most national soccer federations do not value their men’s and women’s teams equally.
Despite the economic disparities, U.S. Soccer capitalized on the opportunity to secure Hayes as the USWNT coach by offering a record-breaking salary. This bold move challenges the established norms and reflects the organization’s willingness to invest in its women’s program, breaking free from restrictive market trends.
As Hayes prepares to take the helm in May, speculation abounds regarding her potential impact on the national team. Regardless, her hiring reflects a decisive shift in U.S. Soccer’s approach and signals a compelling progression in the sport’s landscape.
