MIAMI – U.S. women’s national team head coach Emma Hayes was recognized at the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony as the winner of the Women's Johan Cruyff Trophy on Monday at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, France.
Many of Hayes’ pupils with the Stars and Stripes were part of the shortlist of the best female players in the world: Sophia Smith (4th place), Lindsey Horan (5th), Mallory Swanson (6th), Trinity Rodman (9th), and goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher (17th). Jamaica FW Khadija Shaw (15th) was also finalist for the Women's Ballon d'Or.
The annual awards, organized by France Football magazine, presented a coach of the year award for men’s and women’s football for the first time. Hayes is the inaugural winner for her work with English club Chelsea F.C. and the U.S. women’s national team during the 2023/24 season.
Emma Hayes our Women's Johan Cruyff Trophy winner got a message for you! #ballondor pic.twitter.com/diaujscmaP
— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) October 28, 2024
Hayes is no stranger to being under the lights of the most important stages of the women’s game. As manager of Chelsea, she won the Women’s Super League title, the first division of women’s football in England, five consecutive times, making her one of the most important women in football in her country.
On top of leading the club to the league title during the 2023/24 season, she led The Blues to the UEFA Women’s Champions League semifinals for the second year in a row. She previously took Chelsea to its first European final during the 2020/21 season where the team finished as runners-up.
The Blues not only reached the UWCL semifinals, but also the semifinals of the FA Cup and the Women's League Cup Final. Hayes left London as a legend of the women’s game to join the USWNT last May.
The @USWNT women's #ballondor players have a message for you ! 🙏🫶 pic.twitter.com/KD1sztyljt
— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) October 28, 2024
Her first challenge with the United States was the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Team USA won its fifth gold medal in women’s football and first since London 2012, to overturn a disappointing elimination in the Round of 16 at the FIFA Women’s World Cup the previous year.
This Women's Johan Cruyff Trophy is only the start of Emma Hayes’ path in the Concacaf region, where she is growing her worldwide legacy with a historic achievement as the first women’s coach recognized at the prestigious Ballon d’Or ceremony.
