Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan & Tim Howard

Episode: The Emma Hayes Interview | Unfiltered Soccer

Date: January 20, 2026
Guest: Emma Hayes – U.S. Women’s National Team Manager

Episode Overview

Landon Donovan and Tim Howard welcome Emma Hayes, the highly decorated new manager of the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT), for a candid and wide-ranging discussion. They explore Hayes’ vision for the national team, her approach to developing both emerging and established stars, her personal coaching journey, and the unique pressures and joys of leading the most successful women’s soccer program in the world. The episode is rich with personal insights, coaching philosophies, and the realities of building elite culture at the highest level of the game.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. National Team Camp Mindset & Opportunity

[02:25–03:24]

• Hayes is running January camp with 17 core players missing (European and Gotham FC players absent).
• Sees this as an “unbelievable opportunity” for players to break through, echoing last year’s camp that led to seven debutantes becoming regulars.
• Focus is not only on 2027 prospects, but also looking ahead to 2028 and 2031.
• Quote:
  “This is a chance that so many players have been working towards. So, I’m excited for them.”
  — Emma Hayes [03:23]

2. Supporting Star Players—Trinity Rodman Example

[03:56–06:06]

• Hayes describes her “maternal instinct” in coaching, especially with top talents.
• On Trinity Rodman’s challenges and recovery:
  • Emphasizes individualized support, especially during tough periods (e.g., Rodman’s back injury).
  • Stresses that health and foundation are prerequisites for consistent top performance.
• Quote:
  “You've got to give the right support to them... Trinh has really needed support to get things right both on and off the field... I’m just happy she’s pain-free and gets to start the preseason in a really solid place.”
  — Emma Hayes [03:56–04:52]

3. NWSL’s High Impact Player Rule & Player Autonomy

[06:06–09:50]

• The new NWSL rule links national team minutes to player salary/status.
• Hayes advocates for best possible player conditions, though she claims no input into the rule.
• She encourages players to weigh decisions holistically regarding club choice and compensation.
• On being potentially “caught in the middle” as a coach:
  “My job is to pick the very best team for the U.S. women’s national team, regardless of status of your contracts or wherever you are.”
  — Emma Hayes [08:52]

4. Advising Players on Club Decisions

[09:53–12:02]

• Hayes primarily acts as a sounding board for players making career moves, rarely prescriptive.
• Advocates self-reflection, long-term thinking, and “leaving in the best possible way.”
• Attributes her parental approach to her own personal journey.
• Quote:
  "Try to always leave wherever you're leaving in the best possible way because you never know, you may return."
  — Emma Hayes [11:17]

5. Club vs National Team Coaching Differences

[12:02–14:38]

• Club coaching is like parenting: 80% contact, involved in daily life on and off the field.
• National team work is “grandparenting”: 20% time, maximize every minute, get players at their best.
• Focus on intentional, impactful time—no wasted moments.
• Transitioned as life evolved; prefers national team’s rhythm now.
• Quote:
  "Now I can't imagine ever going back [to club coaching]."
  — Emma Hayes [14:36]

6. Unique Pressure & Perspective of the USWNT Job

[16:23–19:07]

• Hayes acknowledges USWNT’s unique legacy, challenge not just to win, but to maintain global dominance.
• Finds perspective from personal challenges (parenthood, loss, health issues).
• Chooses to define success internally, emphasis on process over results.
• Quote:
  “I’ve defined what it will mean for me. And as long as... I’ve done everything I possibly can, I can live with myself. That’s what fuels me.”
  — Emma Hayes [18:32]

7. Resilience & Learning from Failure (Red Stars Firing, Chelsea, Personal Growth)

[23:26–25:12]

• Recounts her painful dismissal from Chicago Red Stars—feelings of embarrassment, shame, and failure.
• Reminds coaches to remain balanced, prioritize team cohesion over simple talent selection.
• Quote:
  "What I learned from those moments... When you build anything in life, be balanced, be thoughtful."
  — Emma Hayes [24:05]

8. What Makes the USWNT Tick: Learners, Culture, & Humility

[25:13–30:11]

• Best asset: Not just talented players, but “the best learners”—college-educated, willing to grow, possessed of emotional intelligence.
• The “love for the crest” is ingrained and unique; deep emotional connection surpasses what she’s seen elsewhere.
• Highlights a transformative story on selfless teamwork in the Olympic final.
• Quote:
  "These women... this is what they dreamed about. Playing for the US Women's National Team is the single biggest honor as an American female who loves playing football."
  — Emma Hayes [26:31]
• On turning down a player for the good of the team:
  “We do whatever this crest needs. We do whatever this team needs.”
  — Emma Hayes (on Emily Sonnett’s response to being out of the final) [29:45]

9. Managing Aging and Emerging Players

[30:40–34:26]

• The challenge of blending veterans with new talent (examples: Alex Morgan, Lindsey Horan, Claire Hutton).
• Honest, early conversations about roles and futures (“include them on the plan,” always provide the ‘why’).
• Avoids blanket aging-out policies—values “cultural architects” alongside prospects.
• Quote:
  "I don't believe in aging players out after a certain period because if you don't have players that have been in the arena when it comes down to it, you fail."
  — Emma Hayes [34:11]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On perspective and joy in the role:
  "For me, this is jumping out of an airplane and enjoying the amygdala moment, not running through a dark alley and thinking I’m going to die in a minute."
  — Emma Hayes [18:02]

• On culture and legacy:
  "Those values that are in our walls, passed on from generation—we want to make sure we maintain those. They sit above almost your own individual desires."
  — Emma Hayes [30:11]

• On honesty toward players at the end of their careers:
  "You've got to be honest at every juncture... I think if you give players the why and include them on that plan, they... will understand."
  — Emma Hayes [33:26]

Segment Timestamps

• Opening & Introductions: 00:00–01:36
• Emma Hayes on January Camp & Youth Opportunities: 02:25–03:24
• Supporting Star Players/Trinity Rodman: 03:24–06:06
• NWSL High Impact Player Rule: 06:06–09:50
• Advising Players on Transfers/Life Decisions: 09:53–12:02
• Club vs National Team Management: 12:02–14:38
• USWNT Legacy & Personal Coaching Philosophy: 16:23–19:07
• Personal Resilience/Journey Post-Red Stars: 23:26–25:12
• USWNT Unique Culture & Learner Mindset: 25:13–30:11
• Blending Generations, Aging Players, and New Stars: 30:40–34:26
• Episode Close & Farewells: 34:26–35:07

Final Thoughts

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in elite soccer management, team culture, and the evolving landscape of women’s sports. Emma Hayes is both thoughtful and unflinchingly honest, offering actionable wisdom for coaches, players, and fans alike. Her blend of humility, experience, and clarity illuminates not just her own path but the enduring excellence of the USWNT.