USA keeper Naeher ‘nervous’ to tell Hayes about retirement

United States women’s national team goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher said she was “nervous” to tell manager Emma Hayes about her intention to retire from international soccer, but that it was a “great conversation” and that Hayes was “very supportive.”

Naeher announced her decision to retire from the USWNT on Monday, making upcoming friendlies against England at Wembley Stadium on Nov. 3, and against the Netherlands in The Hague three days later, her last opportunities to play internationally. She will continue to play at club level for the Chicago Red Stars.

Naeher said she wanted Hayes’ blessing before going public with her decision.

“Yeah, I was nervous. I think as much as I am at peace with the decision — I know that in my head it’s the right time and I feel good about it and I feel at peace with it — it’s still the end of something,” she said.

“And change is scary and… I’m going to miss being a part of these camps in this team. And I think to have that conversation made it very real.

“It was important for me to have understood where she was at and to just have that conversation before anything got fully decided on,” she said….