Emma Hayes, the head coach of the USA women's national team, has spoken out about the pressures facing football managers following the death of her predecessor at Chelsea, Matt Beard. Speaking at the National Football Museum, where she was inducted into the Hall of Fame, Hayes emphasised that coaches are often overlooked as human beings in need of support.
Beard, who led Chelsea to their first women's FA Cup final in 2012 and won back-to-back Women's Super League titles with Liverpool, died last month at the age of 47. Hayes described him as a 'huge loss' to the football community and called for better mental health support for managers, particularly in the growing women's game. 'Mental health is a silent killer and coaches are human beings,' she said.
Hayes, who won seven WSL titles and an Olympic gold medal during her tenure at Chelsea, expressed sadness that Beard was in a position where he needed help. She urged the sport to learn from his death and to recognise that coaches face immense pressures, especially in the age of social media where criticism can be swift and harsh.
Reflecting on her own career, Hayes praised her successor at Chelsea, Sonia Bompastor, for maintaining the club's success. She also spoke positively about her role with the USA, highlighting the work-life balance and the opportunity to plan strategically for the future, including developing youth teams. However, she remained cautious about the 2027 World Cup, stressing the need to qualify first.
