LAFC and Bayern Munich enter into talent development partnership
By Alex Windley
LAFC and Bayern Munich have announced a joint soccer talent development operation dubbed “Red&Gold Football.”
The partnership aims to identify young talent and provide them with the facilities and tools necessary to take the step up to first-team football.
“We are extremely excited to work together with FC Bayern to identify and develop young talent in Southern California and beyond, and believe this relationship will provide players throughout our systems the ability to maximize their potential and see a clear pathway to first-team football,” said LAFC GM and co-president John Thorrington. “A partnership of this magnitude is the next step in our evolution as a club."
Bayern Munich isn’t the only European club to establish a residency/partnership in the US, however. Barcelona has its 'Barca Academy' in select cities, as do Paris Saint Germain and Juventus.
“FC Bayern will expand its promotion of young talent with Los Angeles Football Club. On an international level, soccer is developing rapidly, which is also evident in the transfer market. We see this partnership as an opportunity to strengthen FC Bayern in the sporting competition with the best clubs in Europe and the Bundesliga," mentioned Oliver Kahn, Bayern CEO and chairman of the board of management.
This isn’t the first time the German giants will step into the US soccer landscape. In 2014, they opened their first office in States to help grow the game in North America. They’ve also partnered up with FC Dallas in the past as well.
"The cooperation with Los Angeles Football Club gives us the chance to develop talent internationally within our own system. Our campus, which remains at the heart of FC Bayern's youth development, will also benefit," said Bayern's chief sporting officer Hasan Salihamidzic.
LAFC is one of the premier teams in MLS. After winning MLS Cup in 2022, the club will look to expand its global brand reach with its newly announced partnership and also hopes to attract more talent to the organization.
"We look forward to working together with our partner FC Bayern to not only develop talent and continue to grow our sport and our brand on the global stage, but to share best practices and improve our organizations off the pitch as well," said Larry Freedman, LAFC co-president and CBO. “This is a truly special moment for LAFC."