Ex-Bundesliga boss Alexander Nouri quits football to manage McDonald's restaurants

January 08, 2026 • 0 • min read

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Ex-Bundesliga boss Alexander Nouri quits football to manage McDonald's restaurants

Former Bundesliga head coach Alexander Nouri has made one of the most surprising career moves in modern football, stepping away from management to run two McDonald's restaurants in Germany.

The 46-year-old German-Iranian, who once coached Werder Bremen, Ingolstadt and Hertha Berlin, will begin a new chapter outside football from January 2026, taking charge of McDonald's branches in Herzogenrath and neighbouring Kohlscheid in North Rhine-Westphalia.

After a 14-year playing career, Nouri transitioned into coaching and quickly rose through the ranks.

He earned his coaching badges in 2016, alongside future superstar tactician Julian Nagelsmann, graduating top of the class.

From Bundesliga Survival to Burger Service

Nouri's most notable spell came at Werder Bremen, his boyhood club, where he was tasked with avoiding relegation during the 2016/17 season.

An impressive 11-game unbeaten run, including nine wins, lifted Bremen away from danger and saw them narrowly miss out on European qualification.

However, he struggled to replicate that success elsewhere.

Shorter spells followed at Ingolstadt, Hertha Berlin, where he served as interim boss, and Greek side Kavala, which proved to be his final coaching role in 2022.

Now, instead of overseeing training sessions and matchday tactics, Nouri will be managing staff rotas, customer service and operations in the fast-food industry.

'Both Worlds Are About Leading People'

Speaking to Süddeutsche Zeitung, Nouri explained that the move was less drastic than it might appear.

Ultimately, both worlds are about bringing people along. In football, it's players; here, it's employees.

But the basic principle is the same: you have to understand who's sitting in front of you, what motivates them, what they need to perform.

Nouri also cited the lack of stability in football as a decisive factor in his decision to walk away from the sport.

He recalled a phrase from his coaching education that stayed with him throughout his career.

When you sign your contract, you're also signing your dismissal.

Seeking Stability Beyond the Touchline

A father of two, Nouri said he had grown increasingly aware that status in football is tied to the role rather than the individual.

I was always aware that the role you currently hold carries a certain status.

As the start date for his new job approaches, Nouri believes he has found renewed purpose away from the constant pressure and uncertainty of professional football.

A Varied Career Across Continents

Before retiring from football entirely, Nouri built a diverse CV.

As a player, he featured as an attacking midfielder for Werder Bremen II, Seattle, Uerdingen, Osnabrück, Kiel and Oldenburg.

His coaching journey began in 2013 at Oldenburg, before roles with Bremen's first and second teams, Ingolstadt, Hertha and Kavala.

He also worked as an assistant coach at Hertha and served on the technical staff of the United States national team.

Having been out of work since 2022, Nouri's move into restaurant management marks a definitive end to his football career, and one of the most unexpected post-football transitions in recent memory.

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