England to Host USA as Coaches Sarina Wiegman and Emma Hayes Meet for the First Time

Sarina Wiegman (left) and Emma Hayes have both won major trophies at international level. Two of the world’s leading coaches are set to compete on Saturday as England welcomes the United States to Wembley Stadium for a friendly international match. This highly anticipated contest marks the inaugural face-off between Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman and USA coach Emma Hayes. Both coaches have achieved significant success, and BBC Sport explores the distinctions between their approaches. Wiegman stated, “‘You really want to beat your friends’.” USA defender Emily Fox informed BBC Sport that Hayes is a “winner” and that her transition since arriving in the summer has been seamless. Under Hayes, the squad holds regular “culture meetings,” and there is an “emphasis on days off” to ensure players and staff return refreshed. Fox added, “‘We have cook-outs [BBQs] for example and it’s not all about football. Emma and her son come in so it just brings a sense of humanity.’ She further noted, ‘It’s knowing that it’s not always going to be perfect but putting in effort and doing your best is what matters.'” Meanwhile, England defender Lucy Bronze commented that Wiegman has instilled “confidence” and “calmness” in the players, a characteristic evident in their Euro 2022 triumph. Bronze said, “‘It’s nice when you have that confidence in your team-mates and the manager as well. She always has her door open so you can speak to her.'” She continued, “‘She likes to be challenged but she is very honest. That works well for this team – having that honesty to tell you ‘we need to push on, we need to change this’ and being very open-minded.’ Bronze attributed this as ‘part of the reason we did so well at the Euros and why we have always done well under Sarina.'” Players frequently noted that Hayes kept them alert, consistently demanding high standards daily in training and matches. A significant aspect of her coaching philosophy has been to create high-pressure scenarios to cultivate “mentality monsters,” a trait prevalent at Chelsea. Fox mentioned that upon Hayes’s arrival, the players aimed to “show what we could do” to return to winning ways. Fox stated, “‘With Emma, the cohesion was perfect. She had players who were hungry and wanted to learn, with a coach who is also ambitious and wants to win.'” She added, “‘It just worked and we were able to win gold. We knew it was going to be a grind. Each game mattered. We were up for it and wanted to be in the moment.'” While Hayes is known for her tactical acumen and in-game reactions, Wiegman operates with a clear gameplan, trusting her team to execute it regardless of the opposition. She maintained the same starting XI throughout England’s Euro victory and has made few unexpected team selections since. After England defeated Spain in the Euros quarter-finals, Wiegman commented, “‘Everyone is on the same page so when things change it doesn’t matter.'” On the path to the 2023 Women’s World Cup final, Wiegman had contingency plans for England’s injuries. Lauren Hemp and Alessia Russo formed a partnership up front, and Katie Zelem stepped in for midfielder Keira Walsh after she sustained a knee injury. USA head coach Hayes, discussing the match against England, stated, “‘Wembley feels like home to me’.” Hayes’s impactful press conferences and humor often generate headlines. She famously declared her Chelsea side “purred” after their Women’s FA Cup win against Arsenal, days after opposing manager Jonas Eidevall admitted his superstition about black cats. She also recited a poem in response to criticism regarding her comments on player-player relationships and acknowledged employing “mind games” when she conceded Chelsea had lost the WSL title following a defeat by Liverpool. In the lead-up to the USA’s game against England at Wembley, Hayes returned to her local Camden pub, where she held a news conference, pouring pints behind the bar and engaging with friends and family. Wiegman presents a distinct public image. She is understated, shows little enthusiasm for media engagements, typically speaks plainly, and does not frequently interact on social media. During media conferences, Wiegman rarely singles out individuals and has previously stated that the “outside world” is excessively “results focused.” At major tournaments, she encourages the squad to minimize public interaction, often referencing “our bubble” and adhering to rigorous plans. Throughout her tenure at Chelsea, Hayes earned a reputation as a relentless winner, guiding the team to five consecutive Women’s Super League titles between 2019 and 2024, a period marked by her readiness to make sacrifices and difficult choices. A 2022 DAZN documentary about the club illustrated how, during a team talk, she pledged to replace players and “find better ones” if they failed to perform. Beyond the pitch, Hayes frequently initiates discussions on women’s health, addressing topics including the menstrual cycle and player welfare. Chelsea captain and England defender Millie Bright once characterized Hayes as “‘a mentor, a friend and a life coach,'” noting that playing under her was “‘more than football’.” Wiegman also exhibits a comparable decisiveness. Upon assuming her role, she promptly appointed Leah Williamson as the new England captain, omitting Steph Houghton from her Euro 2022 squad. However, Wiegman also demonstrates pragmatism; she is a meticulous planner, whom experienced Dutch coach Foppe de Haan referred to as “a workaholic.” In 2023, striker Beth England remarked, “‘She tells us when things aren’t right and she’s not shy to be savage and brutal when she needs to be.'” Prior to her coaching career, Wiegman was a teacher, and she is known for being protective of her players, with some describing her as a “mother-like” figure. Last year, goalkeeper Mary Earps commented, “‘The reality is my life before Sarina Wiegman and my life after Sarina Wiegman is totally different.'” Wiegman, commenting on Hayes’s work with the USA team, stated, “‘She’s done an amazing job’.” This week, Hayes remarked, “‘At kick-off, it will be competitive, it will be business,'” while reflecting on the upcoming encounter with Wiegman. While managing Chelsea, Hayes frequently collaborated with Wiegman in their shared capacity of overseeing England players. Hayes expressed, “‘I’m looking forward to seeing Sarina. I love her. We had a great relationship when I was at Chelsea. She’s someone I really look up to.'” She added, “‘She has done an amazing job for football in this country and for the Lionesses. I look forward to giving her a hug and saying hi.'” The admiration is reciprocal; Wiegman smiled during her press conference last week when questioned about Hayes’s achievements with the USA team. On Friday, she informed BBC Radio 5 Live that Hayes had performed an “amazing job” with both Chelsea and the USA, but emphasized her desire to defeat her friend at Wembley. Wiegman observed, “‘She was ready to start doing something else. You could tell the excitement she had. The USA team were ready for her and that showed in the summer.'” She elaborated, “‘Of course, when you work in this environment you must be competitive and I am. I have [the friendly rivalry] now with Andries Jonker. He coached me and now he coaches the Dutch team so I really want to beat him and he wants to beat me! We are all friends and are one big family [in this industry] but when we play each other, we definitely want to beat each other.'”