Former Bundesliga and USMNT coach leaves football to run McDonald’s

Former head coach of Werder Bremen, Hertha Berlin, and Ingolstadt, Alexander Nouri, has officially turned his back on the professional football world. After a career defined by the volatility of the sport, the coach who once assisted Jurgen Klinsmann and Gregg Berhalter at the USMNT has embarked on a new business venture.

Nouri now operates three McDonald’s branches in north-west Germany. He explains that the move was driven by a desire for long-term stability and a lifestyle that allows him to build something sustainable alongside his family, rather than facing the constant uncertainty of short-term coaching contracts.

I am very fulfilled in myself. I have a clear vision, to be able to work towards this vision with people you love, with your family; that’s something very special. Alexander Nouri

The context for this career shift is rooted in the immense pressure of top-flight football, where a coach’s tenure can be cut short despite previous successes. Nouri notes that he is applying the leadership and management principles he learned during his time in the game to oversee his team of 150 employees, finding a different kind of reward in a stable environment.

While he acknowledges that he will never replicate the raw emotional highs of a last-minute goal in front of 60,000 fans, Nouri is content with his departure from the football «bubble». He remains connected to the community through youth tournaments linked to his restaurants, but he has fully committed to his future as an entrepreneur.