Two SoCal teams. Two powerhouse coaches. One shared strategy: bring a bold European style to the NWSL. Welcome to the new era of West Coast soccer, led by Angel City’s Alex Strauss and San Diego Wave’s Jonas Eidevall.
Angel City FC – Alex Strauss
This season, two of the NWSL’s SoCal teams have something in common beyond palm trees, loyal fans, and packed stadiums. They’re both led by European coaches.
After a stressful start to the season, including player health scares (we love Savy King!) and strange substitution choices that left fans questioning leadership, fans of Angel City FC breathed a sigh of relief with the announcement of the start of Alex Strauss as new Head Coach after the interim leadership of Sam Laity.
Strauss is a seasoned Norwegian coach who helped lead Bayern München to three consecutive titles. Known for his tactical precision and player-focused development, Strauss has brought a smart, attacking system that leans on technical skill, structured pressing, and confidence on the ball. But he’s also bringing an awareness of the importance of the people.
“You need to know the people, not the players…it’s about what gives them the confidence to be creative, to be open to development, to be coachable. How can I get the best out of them?” Strauss said in a press conference.
Strauss’s approach reflects the best of European club culture, emphasizing team cohesion, awareness, off-the-ball movement, and a “collaborative mindset,” according to ACFC.
San Diego Wave – Jonas Eidevall
Down the coast in San Diego, Swedish coach Jonas Eidevall, formerly of Arsenal Women, is bringing his own version of Euro-influence to the San Diego Wave. Known for his high-pressing style and team cohesion, Eidevall is already influencing the Wave for the better, with the team standing at number four in the league. Eidevall was also named NWSL’s Coach of the Month for May.
“In terms of my philosophy and beliefs, I view football as something that is everything together, all the time. What I mean by that is that I don’t think you can view attack in a separate way to defence [sic]. Everything sits together. The way you attack will impact the way you defend because you will inherit the positions from when you lose the ball, and vice versa when you’re defending,” Eidevall wrote in an op-ed for Arsenal.
As the NWSL becomes more international and competitive, having coaches like Strauss and Eidevall signals a major shift toward European-style football. It’s not just about raw talent or a few star players carrying a team; it’s about developing smart, complete players who understand the modern game, can play as a cohesive unit, and can play at a tactical level, open to technical feedback and long-term development.
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