United States women's national team head coach Emma Hayes said there is much work to be done before female managers are given a chance in men's football.

Hayes, a highly decorated figure in women's soccer, has accumulated numerous titles with Chelsea and recently claimed gold at the Paris Olympics while leading the USWNT.

When questioned by the BBC radio "Today" program on Thursday regarding the readiness of men's football team owners for a female head coach, she candidly replied: "Of course they're not, otherwise it would have happened by now."

Forest Green Rovers, a fourth-division club, became the inaugural professional football team in England to appoint a female head coach when Hannah Dingley was entrusted with the role on an interim basis last year.

"I've said this countless times -- you can find a female pilot, a female doctor, a female lawyer, a female banker, but you can't find a female coach leading a men's team. It just demonstrates how much work needs to be done," Hayes said. "And that's why for me it's about asking the question to those in charge."

Hayes amassed seven Women's Super League titles during her 12-year tenure at Chelsea . In contrast, the men's team cycled through 11 different managers during that same period.

"People often harbor the misconception that women might not be capable of managing a male-dominated locker room," Hayes explained to the BBC.

"I supervise around 25 individuals daily. They are simply the team I work with. I never anticipated that the athletes would be the obstacle. I believe athletes desire coaching. And if the top available coach happens to be a woman, they will adapt, just like they have in every other aspect of their lives."

In 2021, it was reported she was considered for the head coach position at Wimbledon, a men's team in the third division.

At that time, she expressed that it was an "insult" to refer to women's football as a step down from the men's game.