Latest news with #FrauenBundesliga
New York Times
5 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Curiosity and a new challenge drew former Bayern Munich Women's coach to Angel City
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.' Advertisement While the decision to leave Europe wasn't an easy one, 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 is coming to Los Angeles after spending 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 has struggled with consistency. If you ask him, there's no question that Angel City will eventually 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. Advertisement 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.' 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 really 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 work to do 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, many of whom were 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.'
BBC News
18-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
World Football Union Berlin's rise to the Frauen Bundesliga
From the third tier of German women's football to the Frauen-Bundesliga in successive seasons, Union Berlin's women's team have been on a rapid rise. They won the Bundesliga 2 title on the final day of the regular season on goal difference from Nurnberg, and next term will line up against the biggest names in German women's football such as Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich. World Football's Delyth Lloyd has been speaking to Union Berlin forward Dina Orshmann about how it feels for the club to be in the top flight for the first time. PHOTO CREDIT: Dina Orshmann playing for Union Berlin (Credit: Union Berlin)
Daily Mirror
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
EA FC 25 Bundesliga TOTS – Bayern Munich dominate as three TOTS squads released
The EA FC 25 Bundesliga TOTS promo squad is now available in Ultimate Team packs, featuring some of the best players from the 2024/25 Bundesliga season. Three new TOTS squads have been released in Ultimate Team, with the EA FC 25 Bundesliga TOTS including some end-game Ultimate Team items. We're now into week three of the EA FC 25 TOTS promo, with the Ligue 1 TOTS and Premier League TOTS the two standout Ultimate Team releases so far. But after a public fan vote, EA Sports has released the EA FC 25 Bundesliga TOTS squad, with a Frauen Bundesliga TOTS and Turkish Super Lig TOTS also being released. As we predicted, German champions Bayern Munich dominate the squad, but interestingly, the highest-rated player in the squad is Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah, with the German rated 97 overall. The EA FC 25 FUT Champions rewards have also been updated ahead of the Bundesliga TOTS release, with new TOTS rewards available to earn. The EA FC 25 Bundesliga TOTS squad is now available in Ultimate Team packs until Friday, May 16 at 10am PDT / 1 pm EDT / 6 pm BST, when the Serie A TOTS will take its place. EA FC 25 Bundesliga TOTS revealed Harry Kane and Tah are the two highest-rated players in the EA FC 25 Bundesliga TOTS squad, with both rated 97 overall with four PlayStyle Plus'. The likes of Jamal Musiala, Alphonso Davies and Michael Olise are other standout inclusions in the squad, while the likes of Pernille Harder and Victor Osimhen are the highlights from the Frauen Bundesliga and Super Lig TOTS squads. Here are all the TOTS players now available in Ultimate Team packs, along with official ratings: EA FC 25 Bundesliga TOTS ST: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) - 97 OVR* CB: Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen) - 97 OVR* CAM: Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich) - 96 OVR* CAM: Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen) - 96 OVR RW: Michael Olise (Bayern Munich) - 96 OVR LB: Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich) - 96 OVR ST: Patrik Shick (Bayer Leverkusen) - 95 OVR LB: Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen) - 95 OVR CDM: Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich) - 95 OVR CB: Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich) - 95 OVR ST: Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund) - 94 OVR CB: Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund) - 94 OVR ST: Hugo Ekitike (Eintracht Frankfurt) - 94 OVR CB: Piero Hincapie (Bayer Leverkusen) - 94 OVR GK: Robin Zentner (Mainz) - 94 OVR CB: Willy Orban (RB Leipzig) - 93 OVR CM: Nadiem Amiri (Mainz) - 93 OVR ST: Tim Kleindienst (Borussia Monchengladbach) - 92 OVR RM: Ritsu Doan (Freiburg) - 92 OVR LW: Jamie Gittens (Borussia Dortmund) - 93 OVR (TOTS Highlights for moment of the season) CM: Mathias Svanberg (Wolfsburg) - 92 OVR (TOTS Highlights for goal of the season) ST: Mohamed Amoura (Wolfsburg) - 91 OVR (TOTS Highlights for newcomer of the season) *Four PlayStyle Plus' EA FC 25 Frauen Bundesliga TOTS ST: Pernille Harder (Bayern Munich Women) - 97 OVR* CAM: Laura Freigang (Eintracht Frankfurt Women) - 96 OVR* CM: Svenja Huth (Wolfsburg Women) - 96 OVR LM: Klara Buhl (Bayern Munich Women) - 95 OVR ST: Alexandra Popp (Wolfsburg Women) - 95 OVR LW: Lineth Beerensteyn (Wolfsburg Women) - 95 OVR CB: Marta Cazalla (Hoffenheim Women) - 94 OVR LB: Carolin Simon (Bayern Munich Women) - 94 OVR CB: Sara Doorsoun (Eintracht Frankfurt Women) - 93 OVR GK: Rafaella Borggrafe (Freiburg Women) - 92 OVR LM: Kristin Kogel (Bayer Leverkusen Women) - 91 OVR ST: Lara Prasnikar (Eintracht Frankfurt Women) - 94 OVR (TOTS Highlights for moment of the season) ST: Sophie Weidauer (Werder Bremen Women) - 93 OVR (TOTS Highlights for goal of the season) ST: Cornelia Kramer (Bayer Leverkusen Women) - 91 OVR (TOTS Highlights for newcomer of the season) *Four PlayStyle Plus' EA FC 25 Super Lig TOTS ST: Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray) - 97 OVR* CAM: Dusan Tadic (Fenerbache) - 96 OVR CB: Davidson Sanchez (Galatasaray) - 96 OVR CM: Fred (Fenerbache) - 95 OVR RM: Edin Visca (Trabzonspor) - 94 OVR CAM: Rafa (Besiktas) - 94 OVR GK: Berke Ozer (Eyupspor) - 94 OVR CB: Abdulkerim Bardakci (Galatasaray) - 94 OVR LB: Arthur Masuaku (Besiktas) - 93 OVR LW: Oguz Aydin (Fenerbache) - 92 OVR RB: Zeki Yavru (Sansunspor) - 91 OVR ST: Anderson Talisca (Fenerbache) - 94 OVR (TOTS Highlights) CM: Gedson Fernandes (Besiktas) - 91 OVR (TOTS Highlights) ST: Jonathan Banza (Trabzonspor) - 91 OVR (TOTS Highlights) *Four PlayStyle Plus' More players from these three TOTS squads will be released as SBCs and Objectives in the next week, while TOTS-themed Evolutions will also be available.
Daily Mirror
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
EA FC 25 Bundesliga TOTS release date, predictions, and expected Ultimate Team content
The Bundesliga TOTS squad will be released in EA FC 25 Ultimate Team later this week alongside the Frauen Bundesliga TOTS and Super Lig TOTS After a week of Premier League, WSL, and EFL TOTS items in Ultimate Team packs, the Bundesliga, Frauen Bundesliga, and Super Lig are next. We are well into the EA FC 25 TOTS promo now, with the event starting off with the Ligue 1 TOTS squad, and it's been all about the Premier League TOTS, as well as the WSL and EFL TOTS, over the last week. But as we head towards Friday, it's almost time for EA Sports to switch things up with some new TOTS items. The next major leagues to get TOTS items will be the Bundesliga, Frauen Bundesliga, and Super Lig. The former was decided (sort of) by a TOTS vote launched by EA prior to the promo launching. Here's everything there is to know about the EA FC 25 Bundesliga TOTS squad ahead of its release. EA FC 25 Bundesliga TOTS release date The EA FC 25 Bundesliga TOTS release date is Friday, May 9 at 10am PDT / 1pm EDT/ 6pm BST. We know this for sure as this is the date and time EA historically releases major promo squads, including the PL TOTS and Ligue 1 TOTS squads, as well as other promos, including the Immortals Team 2 squad. EA FC 25 Bundesliga TOTS predictions This is who we think will be included in the Bundesliga TOTS, with 21 players being released in a squad made up of 18 TOTS and three TOTS Highlights. These players are just predictions, as are the player ratings. GK: Robin Zentner (Mainz) - 92 OVR RB: Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen) - 94 OVR CB: Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich) - 93 OVR CB: Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund) - 94 OVR LB: Maximilian Mittelstadt (Stuttgart) - 93 OVR CDM: Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich) - 95 OVR CM: Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart) - 94 OVR CAM: Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen) - 97 OVR RW: Michael Olise (Bayern Munich) - 95 OVR ST: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) - 97 OVR ST: Jonathan Burkardt (Mainz) - 93 OVR ST: Patrik Shick (Bayer Leverkusen) - 95 OVR ST: Hugo Ekitike (Eintracht Frankfurt) - 94 OVR LB: Nathaniel Brown (Eintracht Frankfurt) - 91 OVR ST: Mohamed Amoura (Wolfsburg) - 92 OVR ST: Tim Kleindienst (Borussia Monchengladbach) - 92 OVR CAM: Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich) - 96 OVR CAM: Alassane Plea (Borussia Monchengladbach) - 91 OVR CM: Aleix Garcia (Bayer Leverkusen) - 93 OVR (TOTS Highlights for newcomer of the season) ST: Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig) - 94 OVR (TOTS Highlights for goal of the season) CAM: Andrej Kramaric EA FC 25 Bundesliga TOTS expected content As always, we expect EA to release a number of TOTS evolutions that will allow players to upgrade their stars in both stats and PlayStyle Plus', as well as Bundesliga-themed SBCs and a Bundesliga TOTS Cup competition that will feature more themed rewards.
The Guardian
06-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
‘It means everything': how Union Berlin Women completed epic journey to the top
'I can't describe how I feel,' Lisa Heiseler says as she reflects on a momentous weekend for Union Berlin Women. Just three days after her side secured a historic promotion to the Frauen-Bundesliga, the captain is clearly still processing everything that has happened to her and her teammates. 27 April 2025 will be a date for ever etched in the memories of Union Berlin's women's team and their fans. A 6-1 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach in front of over 14,000 jubilant fans at the Stadion An der Alte Försterei saw Ailien Poese's side secure promotion with three games to spare, one that will see them play in the top echelon of German football for the first time and at the first time of asking. 'There's this video going around of when I was a 14-year-old girl saying my dream was to play in the women's Bundesliga,' Heiseler says. 'Now I have done it, I can't believe it. I'm so proud of the club that we've been able to take this step together. I've been here my entire life so it is indescribable. This club is in my heart … they have helped me to live my dream so it means everything for me.' The success marks the culmination of Union Berlin's meteoric rise in recent years. Just two seasons ago, they were playing in front of 100 people in the Regionalliga Nordost, the third tier of German football. However, back-to-back promotions will see them now go toe-to-toe with the nation's best teams in the autumn. It is an ascent that has mirrored that of the men's side who achieved promotion to the Bundesliga in 2019. Union Berlin is a special club that has its own unique history. In 1969, a group of women studying nearby became one of the first women's teams in East Germany, coached by Bernd Müller and Bernd Vogel from the men's first team. When the East German Football Association ruled that women's football was a recreational sport, the club were not allowed to run a team so the players joining Kabelwerk Oberspree (KWO Berlin). When the reunification of Germany took place in 1990, KWO Berlin was dissolved and all the women's players joined Union. Nowadays, Union Berlin is owned by over 69,000 members and it is famous for its distinctive fan culture. The women's team turned professional in the 2023-2024 season, a move that was supported strongly by the president, Dirk Zingler, and it was one that immediately paid off. Heiseler has been at the heart of it all. Now 26, the Berlin native has been at the club since she was 13 years old and has literally been there every step of the way. 'Growing up here in Köpernick, the club did everything possible for me to become a footballer,' she says. 'Even when I was at school, I was able to combine it with football. On the pitch, I have seen an improvement since turning professional. I have grown more confident and I lead a more professional life with food and nutrition.' 'We play in a new training centre into which millions have been invested to give us the opportunities that we've had. We can now live from football and can focus on it. We don't have to work. Some of us choose to but we don't have to. Only a couple of years ago, we were playing in front of 100 people at the old ground … and now we have an average of almost 6,000 people here in the 2. Frauen-Bundesliga. It is an astonishing development.' This campaign has seen the team hit new heights. Poese's side have lost just twice in the league, have outscored their opponents and possess the joint meanest defence in the league; Heiseler, herself, is the current top scorer with 17. The captain credits her team's 'togetherness' as being key. 'There is a lot of constructive criticism within the team,' she says. 'We are very open with each other and that has allowed us to improve things. For example, we needed to be better in front of goal and we've worked on that. That has also led to this unity. We all stand up for each other.' It will no doubt be a busy summer for the club as they build towards their first ever Bundesliga campaign. 'The first goal, of course, is to establish ourselves and to not get relegated,' Heiseler says. 'But then we need to establish themselves as a team. Personally, I want to show that I can measure up among the best football players in Germany and go up against them.' For now, however, focus remains firmly on the end of this season. A 3-2 victory away to Freiburg at the weekend saw them rise to the top of the table. To lift the 2. Frauen-Bundesliga trophy in front of their home fans on the final day would be the perfect finale to a memorable campaign. Talking points The wait is over: Paris FC win Coupe de France: Paris FC overcame arch-rivals PSG in a penalty shoot-out to lift the Coupe de France for only the second time. The victory came almost two decades after they last won domestic silverware. It marked a particularly special moment for club stalwart Gaëtane Thiney. The 39-year-old midfielder will retire from football at the end of the season after 17 years with the French team. Paris FC players celebrate after winning the Coupe de France in a shootout. Photograph: François Lo Presti/AFP/Getty Images Bayern at the double: Bayern Munich claimed their first domestic double when they beat Werder Bremen to lift the DFB Cup. The 4-2 victory came just five days after they had secured the Frauen-Bundesliga trophy. It meant more silverware for Denmark international Pernille Harder who has now lifted 10 league titles in a row. Quote of the day There's no ceiling for this club. You've got a fantastic owner in Michele Kang, who wants to support women's football, who wants to promote the women's game and do what she can for it. When you've got someone like that in charge, the world's your oyster' – Megan Campbell after London City Lionesses won the Championship title and sealed promotion to the WSL. London City Lionesses celebrate with their medals. Photograph: Molly Darlington/Recommended viewing Special moments win you Championships and Isobel Goodwin's stunning opener against Birmingham City was one such moment. The London City Lionesses striker's opener capped off an eye-catching season in which she won the Golden Boot with 16 goals. Recommended listening Check out the latest edition of Women's Football Weekly, due to drop later and available wherever you get your podcasts. Still want more? Suzanne Wrack reports as representatives of Goal Diggers FC walked 12 miles from their training pitches in Haggerston Park to Wembley Stadium to deliver an open letter to the FA, after the governing body's decision to ban transgender women from the women's game. Our writers pick over the weekend's WSL action in our talking points. Here you go. Composite: Guardian Pictures; Getty Images; Every Second Media/Shutterstock;How Sonia Bompastor took over from Emma Hayes and made Chelsea unbeatable in the WSL. By Tom Garry. And Carli Lloyd has used her US Soccer Hall of Fame induction speech to open up about the new perspective she has gained from retirement and motherhood.
