Future USWNT Coach Under Fire For Comments On Workplace Relationships

Future US Women's National Team manager Emma Hayes is apparently in the doghouse because she said players shouldn't date other players. 

Now, full transparency: I know nothing about soccer. Nothing. Not my lane. I know it's like the most popular sport in the world, but it ain't at the Dean compound here in beautiful Florida. 

So, forgive me for my ignorance here. I didn't even know manager Emma Hayes was called a manager. I just assumed she'd be called a coach, but I guess the correct soccer term is manager? Whatever. 

Anyway, she's taking over the USWNT squad at the end of her current season with Chelsea, and is already having to put out fires across the pond for comments earlier this week on workplace relations. 

"Player-coach relationships, they're inappropriate, player-to-player relationships are inappropriate," Hayes said at a press conference earlier this week. 

"One player's in the team, one's not in the team, one might be in the last year of their contract, one might not be. We all know, those of us that have been in the women's game for a long period of time, those things have been happening in dressing rooms."

USWNT coach Emma Hayes not a fan of workplace relationships 

Feels like we got a real Ted Lasso situation going on here with future manager Emma Hayes. And, like Ted, she apparently learned the hard way that that's not how some of her players roll. 

In-fact, she upset Jess Carter (don't ask, I have no clue), a player on her team (club?) who's currently in a relationship with teammate Ann-Katrin Berger. 

I reckon there's nothing in the HR handbook that says the ladies can't date each other, which prompted a quick backtrack from manager Emma. 

"They know exactly who I am and what my intentions were. But I have to expect that – I'm supposed to be the most well-trained, non-clickbait coach and I let myself down yesterday," Hayes said. "I didn't think it was right for me to use the term 'inappropriate' for the players.

"I don't take those things back, but I have zero criticism for any player in my dressing room for anything – their professionalism regardless of their status, regardless of who they are in a relationship. 

"I've been unbelievably supportive of all of the players, I've been a champion for equality and equity."

Ah, there ya go – the company line of equality and equity. That is most definitely in the handbook. 

Why does this matter to us – Americans? Well, since Hayes is set to take over this summer, it's fair to point out that multiple USWNT players have dated each other. 

Google tells me some of them include Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger, and Christen Press and Tobin Heath. I would imagine there are plenty of other workplace romances that we don't know about as well. 

So, I guess everyone had better button it up before Emma gets to town in June? I'm not really sure. She made the statement, then apologized for it, but then said she stood by it. A lot of mixed signals. 

Personally, as a Patriot of this great country, I don't care who's shacking up with who as long as they don't embarrass us on and off the field. That's hard for them, I know, but maybe try it out next time. 

I also don't think it's asking a lot for everyone to keep it clean, at least publicly. But then again, the heart wants what the heart wants. 

For every office romance that ends like Michael and Jan, there's a Jim and Pam. Don't forget that.