U.S. women’s national team coach Emma Hayes avoided directly answering a question about whether she should receive a raise if a high-profile coach like former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp is brought in to replace Gregg Berhalter as head coach of the U.S. men’s team. Berhalter currently has a contract until the 2026 World Cup, and there has been speculation about his future following the team’s recent elimination in the Copa América.
Despite calls from fans and former players to replace Berhalter, the U.S. Soccer Federation is expected to make a decision on his future this week. Hayes, who was named FIFA’s Best Women’s Coach in 2021, has been focusing on preparing the team for upcoming training camps and the Olympics, stating that her main priority is the team’s performance.
When it comes to matters of gender equity and men’s team coaching decisions, Hayes emphasized that her main focus is on her current responsibilities and not on speculation about coaching salaries or potential replacements. She took over as the U.S. women’s coach earlier this year after a successful tenure with Chelsea’s women’s team.
Berhalter’s salary in 2022 was reported to be $2,291,136, while Hayes’ predecessor, Vlatko Andonovski, had a base salary of $396,089 in 2022. The USSF had previously stated that Hayes would become the highest-paid women’s soccer coach in the world upon her hiring. While there have been efforts to equalize pay for players on the men’s and women’s national teams, there is no such policy in place for coach salaries.
The possibility of Klopp, who recently left Liverpool after a successful tenure, taking on the USMNT job has sparked speculation, especially after he expressed his fondness for his trips to the U.S. in a recent social media post. Despite previously stating that he would take a break from coaching, Klopp’s interest in the USMNT role has generated interest among fans and pundits.
In conclusion, as the U.S. Soccer Federation evaluates the future of the men’s national team coaching position, the focus remains on preparing the team for upcoming competitions and ensuring a successful performance on the field. The discussions around coaching salaries, gender equity, and potential coaching candidates will continue to be topics of interest for fans and observers of U.S. soccer.