Behind the Counter: Former Bundesliga Coach Now Runs Two McDonald’s Restaurants
Former Bundesliga coach Alexander Nouri is taking an unexpected turn in his professional life. After years in football management, he is stepping into the world of fast food by running two McDonald’s franchises in Germany. His story raises questions about career reinvention and what life after football can look like beyond the touchline.
Alexander Nouri’s Life After Football: Behind the Counter
After a long journey through football, Alexander Nouri now manages two McDonald’s restaurants in two towns in northern Germany, marking a striking shift from professional sport to entrepreneurship in the fast-food sector. Nouri, 46, initially applied as a franchisee and has even undergone hands-on training, including working in the kitchen to understand daily operations and procedures. In interviews, he emphasises that the core skills from football, leadership, understanding people’s motivations, and building cohesive teams, translate directly to his new role, even if the setting has changed.
Nouri further explained that while he doesn’t go into the job claiming to know it all, the principles of guiding a team and motivating individuals remain the same whether it’s players or employees in a restaurant. For someone who has lived and breathed football at professional levels, this move is as much about stability and personal growth as it is about embracing a fresh challenge.
Nouri’s Football Career
Before this dramatic career change, Nouri had a substantial presence in German football. As a coach, he rose through the ranks, becoming interim and then permanent head coach of Werder Bremen in the 2016/17 Bundesliga season, guiding the club through difficult games and achieving results that briefly lifted the club away from relegation danger. Earlier in his managerial career, Nouri coached Bremen’s U23 side, securing promotion to the 3. Liga before being trusted with the first team. Following roles included FC Ingolstadt and Hertha BSC, where he served as assistant under Jürgen Klinsmann and briefly as interim manager. Next to an overseas experience with Greek club Kavala.
Other Football Personalities in Culinary & Hospitality
Alexander Nouri’s move into fast food reflects a wider trend of football figures turning to hospitality after their careers. Former England midfielder David Bentley co-founded the La Sala group, running restaurants and beach clubs focused on lifestyle and leisure. Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville launched Café Football and Hotel Football, creating spaces where football culture and hospitality meet. Other players, including Nwankwo Kanu, have invested in restaurants after retirement, using their profile to build long-term businesses. These ventures show how football personalities increasingly channel their experience, visibility, and discipline into everyday spaces far beyond the pitch.
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