A Turbulent Off‑Season for Angel City
Angel City FC announced on Tuesday that it has mutually agreed to part ways with head coach Alex Straus, who had been at the helm since April 2025.
The decision comes as the club sits in 12th place within a 16‑team league, a position that has intensified scrutiny on the coaching staff.
Senior assistant Leif Gunnar Smerud will assume the role of interim head coach, tasked with stabilizing a squad that has struggled to find rhythm early in the season.
Club sporting director Mark Parsons praised Straus for his energy and passion, noting that the German‑born tactician guided one of the youngest rosters in NWSL history while delivering steady progress.
Parsons also highlighted Straus’s pedigree, recalling his success at Bayern Munich Women where he captured back‑to‑back Frauen‑Bundesliga titles, and his prior league championship with Sandviken/Brann in Norway.
The organization took the opportunity to thank Straus for his leadership, acknowledging the strides made during his tenure and wishing him well in future endeavors.
With the search now underway, Angel City hopes to appoint a permanent head coach who can build on the foundation laid by Straus and push the team toward a more competitive standing.