Believe it or not, Emma Hayes is the perfect example of a jack of all trades (not that she is a master of none). A world-class soccer coach by profession, her past achievements speak volumes about the stature she has built for herself. But alongside her trophy cabinet and remarkable coaching journey, she’s making room for one more honor — and that too, off the pitch: one of the highest recognitions in the field of education.

Don’t call her Emma Hayes anymore. Instead, ladies and gentlemen, make way for Dr. Emma Hayes. Yes, you heard that correctly. The English tactician has officially earned her doctorate. This came after the USWNT boss was recently invited to deliver the 2025 commencement address at Iona University. This occasion also meant a heartwarming reunion with her former women’s college soccer team, the Iona Gaels, which she managed between 2003 and 2006.

Interestingly, during her arrival at the New Rochelle, New York-based university, she also ended up receiving an honorary doctorate in Human Letters. This remarkable achievement was shared by the 48-year-old with her 162K Instagram followers. Aside from sharing a picture of herself wearing a black graduation coat, she was holding a big frame that showcased her doctoral certificate from the university.

Additionally, she wrote a special message for the occasion, stating, “Thank you Iona for having me as the commencement speaker for the class of 2025. It was a huge honor to coach the gaels and so grateful for college life. Being awarded as a Doctor of humane letters is another proud achievement. Even happier to see some of my favourite Alums.”

The occasion also brought Hayes’ friends and family together to offer their heartiest congratulations on her latest achievement, while fans expressed their delight as well. Even Iona University shared a message for the former WSL manager, commenting, “Congratulations, Dr. Hayes! ❤️💛🎓” to their alumnus.

And let’s not forget that Dr. Hayes—as if her name didn’t already carry enough prestige in the soccer world— also writes OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in front of her name, which is another prestigious honor that is officially recognized by the British Crown.

She received this honor back in 2022 from Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, for her impeccable contributions to the beautiful game. In fact, that’s not all—prior to this, Hayes was also made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) as part of the Queen’s 90th birthday honours in 2016.

Imagine all these recognitions alongside the 16 domestic trophies she has won with Chelsea, a gold medal with USWNT, as well as individual honors like 2021 The Best FIFA Football Coach, 2024 Women’s Johan Cruyff Trophy (a.k.a women’s coach Ballon d’Or) and 2024 IFFHS World’s Best Woman National Coach.

So, to sum it up, we now have Dr. Emma Hayes OBE with us — and that’s quite an impressive title. But as we shift focus from these achievements, the spotlight now turns to the challenges that lie ahead on her agenda.

Emma Hayes gears up for new challenge with USWNT

Less than a couple of weeks remain until we see the US Women’s National Team back in action. The American ladies will return shortly for a brief international break, during which they are set to play two matches. The first will be against China PR on May 31 at Allianz Field in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The second will follow on June 3, when they face Jamaica at Energizer Park (formerly CityPark) in St. Louis, Missouri.

Both matches are crucial for the USWNT. Fresh off their 2024 Olympic gold medal win, the team now has its sights set on the 2027 World Cup. Notably, their most recent outing ended in disappointment. They suffered a shocking 1–2 defeat to Brazil in a doubleheader—despite winning the initial game 2–0.

Even before that, the SheBelieves Cup campaign in February brought its share of frustration. While they secured wins against Colombia and Australia, a 1–2 loss to Japan ultimately cost them the trophy. So it’s no surprise that Hayes will be looking to make a statement in these upcoming games against China and Jamaica.

In the meantime, fans can expect her to announce the official roster for the matches—and, of course, celebrate her latest academic milestone as Dr. Emma Hayes OBE!