The United States Women’s National Team Goalkeeper Alyssa Naher She said she was “nervous” to tell manager Emma Hess about herself. Retirement intention from international football, but that it was a “great conversation” and that Hayes was “very supportive”.
Naher announced her decision to retire from the USWNT on Monday, setting future friendlies against her England at Wembley Stadium on November 3, and against The Netherlands Three days later in The Hague, his last chance to play at international level. She will continue to play at the club level. Chicago Red Stars.
Naher said she wanted Hesse’s blessing before going public with her decision.
“Yeah, I was nervous. I think as much as I’m comfortable with the decision — I know in my mind it’s the right time and I feel good about it and I feel comfortable with it. “It’s still the end of something,” he said.
“And change is scary and … I’m going to miss being a part of those camps on this team. And I think that conversation made it very real.
“It was important for me to understand where he was at and just have that conversation before anything was fully decided,” he said. “And she was very nice. She was very supportive. She was very grateful for the various contributions to the team over the years and this past year, but it was a good conversation.”
Naher said she reached her decision after noting that the USWNT goes in cycles, and at the end of the current World Cup cycle, she will be 39 years old.
He also spoke about the physical and mental toll it takes on a player at the peak of the game. With a World Cup winner’s medal and an Olympic gold medal in her trophy cabinet, she had everything she wanted.
“I feel very satisfied with what we’ve been able to do and it takes a lot out of you,” she said. “Honestly, I think I’ve been somebody who’s been … I’ve given everything I’ve given to this team and I don’t do things halfway. It’s kind of like that. , if you can give it 100%, then keep going and with that in mind, I felt it was the right time to come out of the Olympics, after a year when we had a new team for this team. Entering the era, that’s what it felt like. [I had] I have to give everything to this team and it just felt like the right time.”
It was back in 2017 when Naher took over from another USWNT goalkeeping legend in Hope Solo.
But instead of trying to replace the often outspoken Solo, Nahar was determined to excel in her own, understated way.
“I just tried to be myself. Obviously, a lot of respect for Hope and her career and what she’s done for the game and obviously [Briana] Walking in front of him,” he said. “And with him, I was never going to compare.
“I always just tried to be myself and try to focus on how I can help the team at any given moment on and off the field. So I was more focused on what I could do. How to improve and be a better goalkeeper and a better teammate. That I can live and learn every single day.”
Now it’s up to the next wave of keepers to replace Nahar.
On the current roster, it includes Mindy Hot Of Utah Royals And Manchester UnitedOf Fallon Tooles Joyce. This is also North Carolina CourageOf Cassie Murphythe Houston DashOf Jane Campbell And Washington SpiritOf Aubrey Kingsbury. Who to compete with?
“I’m excited about the crop of goalkeepers we have coming up,” Naher said. “I think what I’ve tried to show and instill at least in the next generation is just the power of preparation, the mindset going into training, the preparation of what it looks like to be able to play at this level. is
“And I think with that, we’ve always been able to live in that environment, as competitive as it is, it’s always been very supportive.
“And I think being able to find that balance as training partners and teammates.
“Obviously everyone wants to be on the field, maybe only one at a time, but it’s a balance of pushing each other every single day in training and then supporting whoever’s coming on the field at any time because it’s coming. You’re going to get back around and you’re going to get the same support when you’re on the field and that goes a long way.”