Chelsea’s Emma Hayes, who is set to coach USWNT, is still working with the club on details

Hayes has agreed to a long-term contract with the USSF, multiple people said Saturday, replacing Vlatko Andonovski, who resigned after a round-of-16 exit at the World Cup in August.

However, with Hayes remaining tied to Chelsea until the end of the English season, the two teams will need to work out a transatlantic agreement that will allow her to remain with the reigning Women’s Super League champions while also starting to implement her ideas for the United States ahead of Paris The Olympics begin next summer.

The USSF has not commented on numerous media reports that it hired Hayes. Chelsea announced on Saturday that she would be leaving the club after this season “to pursue a new opportunity outside of the WSL and club football.”

Emma Hayes will lead USWNT through the post-World Cup transition

The club did not provide any information about her next job and she did not comment on it.

Over the weekend, the USSF board of directors approved the deal, which would compete with men’s coach Gregg Berhalter’s $1.6 million salary, according to two people who asked not to be identified because they are not authorized to discuss the matter to discuss. Andonovski earned about $450,000.

The USSF’s agreement with Hayes leaves the women’s national team in a transition period without a full-time leader after failing to win the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and the 2023 World Cup. However, it is not out of the question that Chelsea will hire a successor and release Hayes from her contract in the coming months.

Twila Kilgore, a U.S. World Cup assistant who has overseen the last four games, appears well-positioned to remain as aide and help Hayes transition into full-time work overseeing four Olympic teams. It’s unclear whether Kilgore would then join Hayes’ staff.

While the plan threatens to derail Olympic preparations, the USSF is apparently taking a long-term approach and believes Hayes is the visionary to reorient the program after its decline in soccer’s world order.

Hayes, 47, could end up communicating regularly with Kilgore and joining the team at regular training camps.

Analysis: The USWNT has young players with a bright future. You should play.

The US team is not a permanent unit, but meets several times a year for camps, friendly games and tournaments. During these official international windows, set by FIFA, the sport’s global governing body, professional leagues pause their schedules. However, clubs continue to hold training sessions.

The Americans will regroup for two games against China on November 27th, December 2nd in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and December 5th in Frisco, Texas. During these nine days, Chelsea has a day off.

However, the next US camp will go beyond normal parameters as the Concacaf W Gold Cup, the inaugural regional championship, is scheduled for February 20th to March 10th. There is also an international window for two friendly matches from April 1st to 9th.

Hayes has coached Chelsea since 2012, winning six WSL titles and five FA Cup trophies. Her coaching career also included stints with the Long Island (NY) Lady Riders, Iona University, English club Arsenal (as an assistant) and the Chicago Red Stars of the NWSL.

In 2010, she was a consultant for Washington Freedom in Women’s Professional Soccer, the NWSL’s short-lived predecessor. Born in London, Hayes has never coached a national team.

Crocker, who became USSF sporting director earlier this year, has strong ties to British football. He was head of development teams at the English Football Association and head of football operations at English club Southampton.

His first big decision was to reinstate Berhalter in June.