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MLS Los Angeles FC

FC Bayern and Los Angeles Football Club Launch Joint Venture to Develop Talent

March 13, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Los Angeles FC News Release


FC Bayern Munich and Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) have today announced a global soccer development cooperation, named "Red&Gold Football", which will provide a platform for young talent featuring high-level development and a pathway to first team soccer. The initiative sees the European powerhouse and reigning Major League Soccer champions set up a joint venture based in Munich.

"A partnership of this magnitude is the next step in our evolution as a Club," LAFC Co-President & General Manager John Thorrington said. "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."

FC Bayern and LAFC each own 50 percent of the shares "Red&Gold Football". The joint venture envisions further cooperation with other football clubs and development academies throughout the world as part of a global development initiative.

"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. The fact that the 2026 World Cup will largely take place in the USA, where we already have an office in New York, makes Los Angeles even more attractive. I expect a boost in quality and young talent in Major League Soccer, which will have a positive impact on our partnership," said Oliver Kahn, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Management at FC Bayern.

FC Bayern Munich opened its first international office in New York in 2014 with the ambition to help support the growth of soccer and support the level of the game in North America. Following the success of the first international venture, the club opened an office in Shanghai in March 2017 and Bangkok in April 2022.

"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, Hasan Salihamidzic, FC Bayern's Chief Sports Officer said. "In the future, we will be able to offer our young players a career path that is even better tailored to them and thus a better transition into our professional teams and professional soccer. This makes FC Bayern more attractive as a youth development club."

"This is a truly special moment for LAFC," LAFC Co-President & CBO Larry Freedman said. "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."

The 2022 MLS Cup Champion, LAFC has represented the greater Los Angeles area in MLS since 2018. The two-time Supporters Shield Champions are dedicated to building a world-class Club that represents the diversity of Los Angeles and is committed to delivering an unrivaled experience for fans. Since 2018, LAFC has won more regular season matches than any MLS club and sold out every single regular season and playoff game.

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Major League Soccer Stories from March 13, 2023


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