Emma Hayes paid an emotional tribute to her dad during ITV’s coverage of Belgium’s clash with Iran on Father’s Day.
The 49-year-old is the broadcaster’s tactical expert for the World Cup – but took a moment away from her analysis to remember Sid on what would have been his 85th birthday.
Hayes has credited much of her success to her father, who raised the US women’s coach and her two sisters in Camden, London, and died aged 82 in September 2023.
During the first-half hydration break of the game in California on Sunday, Hayes said: ‘One last thing, Happy Father’s Day to everyone at home.
‘I know it’s a great day, but it’s also my father’s heavenly birthday today and I want to say one thing for you, dad, up in heaven.
‘Thank you for giving me so much confidence that I’ve got the opportunity to do this. I will leave you with this, what a beautiful view.’
Emma Hayes paid an emotional tribute to her late father during ITV’s coverage of Iran’s clash with Belgium
Sid (pictured with Hayes at Wembley) died aged 82 in September 2023 – and would have turned 85 on Father’s Day
She then turned around to reveal a poignant message on the back of her shirt, reading: ‘She will change the world.’
Sid, who was hailed as an ‘amazing dad’, ran the family business in Covent Garden for decades and encouraged his daughter to play football as a child.
In 2015, after watching Hayes lift the FA Cup trophy at Wembley with Chelsea, he even predicted her future success. ‘I always saw her winning things’, Sid said after watching on proudly.
Hayes announced his death three years ago with a heartfelt post on X, in which she admitted ‘life will never be the same without you’.
She added: ‘Thank you for everything you taught me, for the life you gave us all and the memories we created.
‘You will forever be my champion and while there is a huge hole in my heart, I will carry the learnings and love and will continue to make you proud.
‘Love you papa. RIP.’
Hayes has been hailed as ITV’s top pundit since she joined the broadcaster ahead of the tournament.
Sid, who was hailed as an ‘amazing dad’, ran the family business in Covent Garden for decades and encouraged his daughter to play football as a child
Hayes has been hailed as the broadcaster’s top pundit since she joined ahead of the World Cup
Her on-the-spot analysis at the impressive New York-based studio has been praised by fans, many of whom also say that the BBC’s coverage has been put to shame.
But last week as England beat Croatia 4-2, she talked tactics in a part of the set overlooking Brooklyn Bridge that appeared to be made up of kitchen units.
One TV source dubbed the set ‘hugely embarrassing’ for ITV and demeaning for Ms Hayes, arguably the top female coach in world football.
‘Can you imagine ITV putting Gary Neville on a set like that? No chance that would happen. It is hugely embarrassing’.
Former BBC football presenter Dan Walker added: ‘I really like Emma Hayes and I think she’s an insightful pundit. I’m not sure why they have decided to make it look like she’s writing the specials on a bistro chalkboard.’
Another critic said: ‘This is woeful from ITV. Emma Hayes is brilliant, articulate and insightful, yet she’s made to provide micro analysis from some weird kitchen setup with a chalkboard that isn’t even rectangular.
‘It makes her look amateurish when she’s anything but. Imagine Neville doing that!!’
ITV has since however altered the setup amid, giving her an upgraded board with magnets which was first shown during Brazil’s 3-0 thrashing of Haiti.
While the pundit was still presenting from the same studio, ITV’s cameras heavily zoomed in on Hayes, in turn making the ‘kitchen-style’ set up less visible.
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