Having already helped lead her teams to a bevy of European championships, Arsenal Ladies Coach Emma Hayes is bringing her expertise Stateside and adding another title to her extensive résumé: inaugural head coach and director of soccer operations for Chicago Women's Professional Soccer (WPS). Team General Manager Marcia McDermott announced the hire today at a press conference at ToyotaPark, where the Chicago team will play when the WPS season begins in April of 2009.
"Emma has succeeded at every level she has coached. We feel she has the right experience, the passion and the knowledge to be a great leader for our club. She is prepared to take on the challenge of building a professional team from the onset," McDermott said.
Hayes' experience with Arsenal is an important factor McDermott explained. "Emma has worked with one of the most successful soccer clubs in the world and is prepared to work with the elite professional player as well as to assemble a complete roster. Her knowledge of international, as well as U.S. players will be a real asset in creating our team."
McDermott also believes Hayes will become a popular fixture in the Chicagoland soccer community. "Besides being a successful coach she is also an accomplished clinician and teacher and will be a valuable resource in our community for the development of the game," she said.
Hayes said it took a special opportunity to lure her away from Arsenal. "This will be the best league in the world, with the greatest players, the best facilities and the biggest challenge. All of that will make this the League the rest of the world will watch," Hayes said.
She also said Chicago and the organization attracted her. "The quality of the people involved in the Chicago team, their proven success, the magnificent stadium and the tradition of soccer support here give me the confidence that we will be able to create a good environment that will position us for success on and off the field." She's also became a fan of the city and its soccer culture. "In the little time I've spent in Chicago I've found it to be a modern, progressive city with passionate soccer fans. I've already met several of the Fire's supporters and am hopeful that the environment they create in Section 8 for the Fire can be replicated for our team and our home games. We want ToyotaPark to have a real home field advantage. We will create an environment that will make players want to play here. I expect to have an active role in Chicago's soccer community, which will be a central part of what we're doing," Hayes said.
Since 2006, Hayes has served as first team assistant coach and academy director at the FA's Women's Premier League's top-ranked Arsenal Ladies Football Club in London, England. Hayes helped guide the Lady Gunners to an undefeated League record and won every competition England has to offer. Previously, she spent six years coaching in the United States, from the grass roots level all the way through the W-league and Division 1 college level.
Hayes also brings significant broadcast experience to Chicago WPS, most notably as the lead analyst for Eurosport during the 2007 Women's World Cup in China delivering televised color commentary on the matches. She has been selected as a featured clinician at the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) national convention the last two years, and has extensive youth experience working as a senior staff member of the Region 1 Olympic Development Program (ODP) since 2004.
As first team assistant at Arsenal Ladies, Hayes' responsibilities included planning, organizing, conducting and evaluating all aspects of professional women's soccer team including coaching games, running training sessions, recruiting players and scheduling.
Hayes attributes her time in Arsenal with preparing her for her new role in Chicago. "I've been fortunate to experience different professional soccer environments. From Arsenal, I've learned what its like to win championships and to build a culture of winning with a mentality of success on and off the pitch." 
