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10th September 2024
12:59pm BST
Emma Hayes has said she ‘sees so much of herself’ in legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Hayes made the bold statement in a new interview with The Telegraph after she guided the United States women’s national team to Olympic gold.
The 47-year-old is the most successful manager in the history of the Women’s Super League, and the second most successful of all time having won seven league titles and five FA Cups.
Hayes left Chelsea at the end of last season to take charge of the US women’s team and found success in her first tournament with her new side as they defeated Spain in the final.
In The Telegraph interview, Hayes revealed that Ferguson was the first person to contact her via text after the USWNT won gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
She said: “I see so much of myself in him. His was the first text I received when we won gold.”
Hayes and Ferguson have had several conversations previously and share a close friendship.
The interview was conducted to coincide with the release of her new book, in which she makes several references to Sir Alex Ferguson.
After she lifted the WSL title with her Chelsea side at the end of last season, the manager who led Manchester United to 13 Premier League titles shared some advice with Hayes over a glass of wine.
At the time, she told Optus Sport: “It's really tough when you're a manager and you tell your team you're departing.
“I'm going to have a glass of wine with Sir Alex Ferguson in a minute, and he warned me about this. It's the hardest thing in the world to do.
“Chelsea means everything. They're my world. Uncoupling will be a challenge, but I've got the Olympics to look forward to.”
She added that she’d put all her energy into managing the USA which paid off in her first major tournament with the international side.
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