Matildas superstar Sam Kerr has been struck by the shock news that Chelsea manager Emma Hayes will leave the English champions at the end of the season.
And the development comes as a double blow to Kerr, with Hayes being lined up to take over United States national team – one of the Matildas’ major rivals for gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Hayes, who brought Kerr to Chelsea in 2020, has won 14 major trophies at the club, including six Women’s Super League titles.
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Chelsea said she was leaving to “pursue a new opportunity outside of the WSL and club football”.
She was immediately linked with a move to four-time FIFA Women’s World Cup winner United States following the resignation of coach Vlatko Andonovski in August.
Chelsea have dominated in the 11 years since Hayes joined, having won two domestic league and cup doubles and one trophy treble.
“Emma has been one of the biggest drivers of change in women’s football,” Chelsea co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley said in a statement.
“Her achievements at Chelsea are unrivalled and will live in the club’s history forever. Given everything she has contributed to Chelsea in over a decade with the club, and the legacy she leaves behind, we would never stand in her way when she felt it was the right time to pursue a new challenge.”
The United States had a disappointing World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in July and August.
Aiming to become the first nation to win the trophy three times in a row, they were instead eliminated by Sweden in a penalty shootout in the round of 16. Andonovski left shortly after.
Hayes has worked in the US in the past as a coach with Long Island Lady Riders, Iona College and Chicago Red Stars.
She has been at Chelsea since 2012 and will have the chance to win a seventh WSL title before she departs.
Chelsea moved to the top of the table with Saturday’s 6-0 win at Aston Villa, though Kerr was rested having just arrived back in London following the Matildas’ Olympic qualifiers in Perth.
Kerr had not played in her hometown since 2018 and enjoyed a stellar week on and off the field.
She scored against Iran last Thursday, and on Friday had a new WA football facility named in her honour.
The 30-year-old scored a hat-trick in Australia’s win over the Philippines on Sunday and was announced as the Ballon d’Or runner-up on Monday.
Kerr went one better at the Asian football awards on Tuesday, named player of the year, and then scored against Chinese Taipei on Wednesday.
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