Former Aston Villa head coach Carla Ward has joined Emma Hayes’ USWNT staff for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics.
The event marks Hayes’ first major tournament as manager of the USWNT following her exit from Chelsea after 12 years.
During her tenure at the Blues in the WSL, Hayes and Ward formed a noticeably strong friendship.
Although Ward confirmed she would be stepping down from her role at Villa in May, she helped the club achieve some of their greatest successes, including reaching their highest-ever WSL position and the Women’s FA Cup semi-finals.
According to BBC Sport, Ward has been given a flexible role covering a range of areas such as performance analysis and opposition scouting.
The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics is due to take place on 26 July. However, the women’s football tournament starts on Thursday, with the USWNT scheduled to play Zambia in their opening group game.
Our Olympic dream begins in THREE DAYS! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸#USWNT x @Visa pic.twitter.com/SaZddJPfjv
— U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (@USWNT) July 22, 2024
ANALYSIS
I can’t believe what I’m reading. This is an absolute dream team, in my opinion. Both Hayes and Ward bring so much to the table individually, but together, they are most definitely a force to be reckoned with.
Off the pitch, both have been vocal about the challenges facing women working in football and have used their platform to advocate for better awareness.
When Ward confirmed her departure from Villa, she expressed that she’d questioned the longevity of her career in coaching while having a four-year-old daughter. Hayes has also expressed her struggles with juggling motherhood and working in the WSL. No doubt, the two began building a strong friendship over their shared experiences.
However, back on the pitch is where the duo really are magic. We all know Hayes’ track record at Chelsea. Over her 12 years, she accumulated 15 trophies. Although Ward may not have the same amount of silverware in her cupboard, what she does have is the ability to get to grips with a team quickly, understand the strengths and weaknesses of players, and improve them.
The dynamic duo already knowing each other is likely to be a huge bonus, and one that will enable them to be open and honest with what they think about the team and what needs to be done to help them win a gold medal.
I was excited to see how the USWNT play in the Olympics already, but with this ex-WSL powerhouse now behind them, I’m even more excited.
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