Alexander Straus was fewer than two weeks from his first coaching session as coach. But, Angel Metropolis president and co-founder needed to see her new supervisor at work.
She flew to Portugal, the place Straus was finishing his three-season stint as FC Bayern Munich coach — a membership the 49-year-old Norwegian led to a few consecutive Frauen-Bundesliga titles and a 57-7-2 league report.
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As Uhrman watched Straus coach Bayern Munich on the inaugural World Sevens Soccer event, she already was conversant in his technical acumen that was on show en path to a championship victory over Manchester United. That was not a shock.
However what caught Uhrman’s consideration was Straus’ relationships together with his gamers.
Angel Metropolis coach Alex Straus speaks to reporters throughout his first information convention whereas membership president and co-founder Julie Uhrman appears to be like on and laughs Wednesday in Thousand Oaks. (Al Seib/For The Occasions)
“What I noticed was one thing that you aren’t getting in an interview course of and you do not learn on the [curriculum vitae,]” Uhrman stated. “The connection he had together with his groups was palpable. The best way that they might have fun him, the enjoyment that they introduced him, and vice versa, was simply one thing you possibly can’t study in an interview course of and it is one thing that is so vital to Angel Metropolis.”
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So, when Straus, reserved and quiet till he opened his mouth, started to talk throughout his introductory information convention Wednesday morning because the third Angel Metropolis head coach in 4 seasons since inception — with Uhrman and sporting director Mark Parsons bookending him on the podium — he leaned on his beliefs.
How Straus needs Angel Metropolis to play on the pitch, is identical as how he needs to work together together with his gamers within the locker room — and the state-of-the-art efficiency middle on Cal Lutheran College’s campus.
“My philosophy is centered round folks,” stated Straus, who requested the media to “bear with” his English after spending 4 years in Germany. “I am right here to facilitate for our gamers to have the ability to exit on a pitch, have a transparent plan and know the best way to execute it.”
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Straus continued: “I have to know folks, and I have to know what makes them tick. So how can I get the perfect out of Sarah Gorden or Christen Press or Riley Tiernan or Alyssa Thompson? How can I get the perfect out of them?”
Earlier in his profession, Straus stated he overly cared about trophies, medals and success. In 2018, he stated his worldview shifted. Straus — who stated he thought-about earlier teaching alternatives in America, however didn’t really feel the timing was proper — realized he wanted to craft bonds and relationships together with his gamers to domesticate a optimistic workforce tradition, one that would result in championships.
Uhrman noticed the bonds on show in Portugal whereas Straus was nonetheless with Bayern Munich and Parsons has watched the child steps Straus is taking with Angel Metropolis in his first few days as official coach.
“By this course of, Assembly 1 to Assembly 3, I simply did not suppose this particular person existed,” Parsons stated, including that through the teaching search he spoke to Straus’ former gamers and employees. “I actually imply that I did not imagine any such high quality existed, and I could not be happier that we have got him right here.”
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What stood out to Parsons, he stated, was that even gamers who did not play a lot beneath Straus — who might have left for higher alternatives — would nonetheless communicate positively concerning the readability, confidence that Angel Metropolis’s new coach supplied them.
Straus — and the Angel Metropolis backroom employees — are properly conscious that successful isn’t an in a single day course of. The membership sits in seventh place in NWSL standings with a 4-2-4 report. In some matches, Angel Metropolis has exerted management and performed the model Parsons stated he needs to see asserted. However in different matches, equivalent to current defeats to Bay FC and Racing Louisville, Angel Metropolis has faltered — typically dropping regardless of controlling possession. Uhrman burdened she needed a coach who might assist the workforce bounce again from defeat, or setbacks. She and Parsons imagine Straus can try this.
He doesn’t take falling quick calmly. When pushed on his UEFA Girls’s Champions League report since 2022 on Wednesday throughout a aspect media session, Straus spent six-and-a-half minutes breaking down why Bayern Munich fell quick within the quarterfinals or group levels, including what he realized from every dropping expertise.
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Straus stated he’s all the time open to speaking. Angel Metropolis gamers, nonetheless, can have just a few extra days to get to know the brand new coach earlier than Straus takes the touchline Saturday at BMO Stadium towards the Chicago Stars.
“One factor is to win one 12 months, one sport,” Straus stated. “However it must be constant, and it must be constructed on a basis the place you’re all the time those which have been spoken about relating to difficult for successful the championship.
“That is why we’re right here, and that is what we wish to do.”
This story initially appeared in .
