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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Ward left Aston Villa back in May</li><li>Formed friendship with Hayes while in WSL</li><li>Now set to join USWNT staff for Olympics</li></ul>

Rivals turned colleagues: USWNT head coach Emma Hayes set to add former Aston Villa boss Carla Ward to coaching staff for Olympic Games

Aston Villa Women

Crystal Palace FC Women

Friendlies

England

<a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/new-manager-alisha-lehmann-rachel-daly-carla-ward-explains-why-leaving-aston-villa-wsl-side/blt94c8b196db92d7c5" target="_blank">Ward chose to leave Villa at the end of the 2023-24 season, stating that is was the "right time" to prioritise "my daughter and the rest of my family life"</a>. The former Sheffield United and Birmingham City manager spent three years at the club, reaching two cup semi-finals and securing an impressive fifth-placed finish in the 2022-23 Women's Super League campaign.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Ward is now set to return to coaching as <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c849kj043k5o" target="_blank">BBC Sport</a> understands that she will join the USWNT staff in what is described as a flexible role, overseeing various areas such as performance analysis and opposition scouting. The 40-year-old formed a close friendship with Hayes while coaching against her in the WSL and will now join her for the upcoming Olympic Games.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The USWNT will be searching for a fifth Olympic gold medal in France this summer, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/uswnts-olympics-record-how-many-gold-medals-has-the-us-womens-soccer-team-won/1hwncb955vs9l1q88ck7byl3vw" target="_blank">with it the most successful nation in the Games' women's football tournament by some distance</a>. No other country has won gold in the event more than once since it was introduced in 1996.

DID YOU KNOW?

<a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/uswnt-tv-schedule-fixtures-results/blt44b8d434311886eb" target="_blank">Hayes' side kicks off its 2024 Olympic campaign on Thursday, taking on Zambia in Nice</a>. Germany and Australia are the other teams in the U.S.'s group.

WHAT NEXT FOR THE USWNT?

Rivals turned colleagues: USWNT head coach Emma Hayes set to add former Aston Villa boss Carla Ward to coaching staff for Olympic Games | Goal.com

United States women&apos;s national team head coach Emma Hayes is set to add former Aston Villa boss Carla Ward to her staff for the Olympic Games.