Emma Hayes says her decision to leave Chelsea “pulled on my heartstrings”, but that her dream job with the United States was an “opportunity I simply couldn’t turn down”.
The 47-year-old has been appointed US women’s manager and has become the highest-paid female coach in world football, on a £1.3million-a-year deal.
She will remain in charge of Chelsea until the end of the season and begins her final shot at Champions League glory when the Blues face Real Madrid in Spain on Wednesday.
Hayes, who has won six titles and five FA Cups during 11 years at Chelsea, said: “Without question it pulled on my heartstrings, because I care so much for the players and everybody that I’ve built relationships with. But I’m all about challenge.
“We’ve won a lot at Chelsea and I’m very proud of that, and I’m proud of the fact that I can leave that club in a better place and one that I hope continues to compete. But, for me, the challenge of competing for World Cups, for Olympics, the dream of coaching a team I’ve always wanted to, I simply couldn’t turn it down.”
The Champions League has eluded Hayes at Chelsea and she says leading them to European glory in her final season would be a “fairytale”.
