Less than a year into the job, United States women’s national team manager Emma Hayes keeps getting trophies. On Monday, the USWNT coach was honored at the Ballon d’Or ceremony, receiving the inaugural award for Women’s Coach of the Year.
Well-deserved honor for our head coach! 👑
Huge congrats to Emma Hayes on winning the Ballon d’Or as the 2024 Women’s Coach of the Year after an incredible year of accomplishments! pic.twitter.com/7s7LkJLf5E
— U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (@USWNT) October 28, 2024
The award honored her contributions both as head coach at Chelsea, where she led the team to a fifth-straight Women’s Super League title, and with the United States, where she led the team to an Olympic gold medal. Hayes, who was hired for the USWNT job last fall, joined the U.S. in June after the conclusion of Chelsea’s season.
Hayes was not at the ceremony, and accepted the award with a pre-recorded speech. Many finalists from the women’s game could not attend the ceremony, as it was held during the October international window.
“I’m very proud, and my family are very proud, to be in this position,” Hayes said. She also took the time to congratulate the other nominees, saying that “all of them are coaches I respect hugely.”
Spanish midfielder Aitana Bonmatí took home the women’s Ballon d’Or for the second year in a row, while Bonmatí’s Barcelona Femení earned women’s Club of the Year honors. Fellow Barcelona teammates Caroline Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo took second and third in the final Ballon d’Or standings.
Five USWNT players were nominated for the women’s Ballon d’Or award, with forward Sophia Smith finishing the highest at fourth place. Lindsey Horan and Mallory Swanson finished in fifth and sixth, respectively, while Trinity Rodman finished at ninth place. U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher finished in 17th among the Ballon d’Or field. (The organization does not have a separate category for goalkeepers on the women’s side, but does for the men’s side.)
Spanish midfielder Rodri, who plays for Manchester City, took home the men’s Ballon d’Or, marking a bit of controversy. Another finalist, Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr., had opted to stay with Real Madrid and not travel to Paris for the ceremony after learning that he had not won. (Vini Jr. came in second behind Rodri for the marquee award.)
In solidarity, the rest of Real Madrid chose not to travel as well, but went on to win multiple major awards: The club took home Club of the Year, and manager Carlo Ancelotti took home men’s Coach of the Year, but was not at the ceremony to claim his award.
Other awards on the men’s side include 17-year-old Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal taking home the award for the best young player, and Argentinian and Aston Villa keeper Emiliano Martínez taking home the trophy for best goalkeeper.
