Curiosity and a new challenge drew former Bayern Munich Women’s coach to Angel City

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Alexander Straus, Angel City’s new head coach, didn’t arrive in Los Angeles on a whim. After turning down several chances to move to the U.S. in the past, he says this time, the stars aligned.

“Compared to other opportunities I’ve had, including the location, everything about this club, this team, which has been well documented all over the world in the media, intrigues me,” Straus told reporters on Thursday. “I think there is still a lot of work to be done, but it’s not done over 24 hours or one week or three weeks.”

While leaving Europe wasn’t easy, Straus emphasized that curiosity and challenge played a major role.

“It’s a completely different culture. A different league. But football is a small world,” he said. “There’s this weird gap in understanding between Europe and the U.S. We don’t really know how good the best teams are on either side. I needed to find out. I’m halfway through my career, and I didn’t want to wait until I have grandchildren to take that leap.”

Straus comes to Los Angeles after three years coaching German powerhouse Bayern Munich. He led the team to three consecutive Frauen-Bundesliga titles from 2022 to 2025. Before joining Bayern, the 49-year-old Norwegian coached SK Brann in the top flight of his native Norway, winning the league twice.

The hiring marks a significant shift for the ambitious Los Angeles club, which is counting on his UEFA Champions League experience and understanding of youth development to steer an Angel City team that struggles with inconsistency.

If you ask him, there’s no question Angel City will find success.

“Whether it’s in one year or five, I don’t know, but it will happen. Everything around this club says it will,” Straus said. “I want to be part of that.”

The move isn’t just professional for Straus. California, with its weather and culture, was a draw, but so was the promise of a project where the women’s team isn’t playing second fiddle. And Angel City worked really hard to convince him to join.

“In Europe, even with clubs like Bayern or Chelsea, there’s still a men’s team getting the lion’s share. Here, at Angel City, we are the team. That’s rare,” he said. “The facilities, the focus, the fan base, it’s a powerful setup. That’s something America has ahead of Europe right now.”

The team has already made a signing that feels aligned with Straus’ leadership. Last month, Angel City signed former Wolfsburg forward Sveindís Jónsdóttir, who was used to seeing Staus on the opposite touchline in the Frauen-Bundesliga.

“I’d already been talking to Angel City, and I was trying to decide what I wanted to do, and then I saw that he’s gonna be the coach, and it made me more excited about Angel City, knowing how well he’s done for Bayern,” Jónsdóttir told The Athletic ahead of her signing. “I know his style of play. He can make every team look good and play well. It made my choice even easier.”

Angel City signing Sveindís Jónsdóttir saw Alex Straus’ success playing against his teams in Germany. (Martin Rose / Getty Images)

Though there may be an understanding gap between Europe and the U.S., according to Straus, the difference between domestic and international players isn’t a factor in his coaching.

“It’s not about where they’re from, it’s about the environment they’re coming into,” he said. “We often overstate the difference between American and European (soccer). The structure is different. There is a wage cap. It’s a playoff league. But ultimately, it’s about creating a good environment for good players.”

Still, the transition won’t be instant. Straus acknowledges that he has to build that environment in L.A.

“It’s early days. I’m still the new guy in class,” he said jokingly. “We’re just starting to create the culture, the behaviors, the habits that we want.”

Strauss arrived in LA last Sunday, and this weekend will mark his first with the full squad, with many players away on national team duty last week. He’s had time to get acquainted with the team during the last few months through hours of videos on Angel City’s games over the last couple of years. But he isn’t in a rush.

“First of all, you need to know people, not the players,” he said. “The players I knew long before I came. I need to know the people and I need to know what makes them tick.”

Backed by one of the NWSL’s most powerful ownership groups led by Willow Bay, Bob Iger, Julie Uhrman and Kara Nortman, Angel City is the league’s most valuable club and a sponsor favorite, thanks to steady attendance and good brand awareness. But despite its off-field dominance, the club now finds itself at a critical crossroads; it’s time to deliver results on the pitch.

“I wanted to see what we can do to get the legacy of Angel City to become like the other big sports brands in the city, to become the same here,” Straus said. “That excites me.”

(Top photo: Melina Pizano / Getty Images)

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