Former Bundesliga manager Alexander Nouri takes on new role at McDonald’s
Alexander Nouri, a former Bundesliga manager, has left professional football to manage two McDonald’s restaurants in North Rhine-Westphalia, reports BritPanorama. The 46-year-old now oversees branches in Herzogenrath and Kohlscheid, marking a significant career shift from the pitch to the fast-food sector.
Nouri’s journey in football included coaching roles with clubs such as VfB Oldenburg and a notable stint as manager of Werder Bremen. His playing career featured time at clubs like Werder Bremen and Holstein Kiel before he transitioned into coaching after retiring in 2011.
His last position in football was with Greek club Kavala, from which he departed in 2022, the same year he completed his coaching badges. During that period, fellow coach Julian Nagelsmann, now at the helm of the Germany national team, was also completing similar qualifications, illustrating the contrasting career paths that can emerge within the same coaching cohort.
“Ultimately, both worlds are about bringing people together. In football, it’s the players; here, it’s the employees,” Nouri noted in an interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung. He posits that the core principles of leadership and motivation remain consistent whether in sports or fast food, stating, “the basic principle is the same: you have to understand who is in front of you, what motivates him, what he needs to perform.”
Nouri’s tenure at Bremen had its highs, including guiding the team to Bundesliga survival in 2017 and pushing for European qualification. However, his subsequent season ended in disappointment, with his dismissal just ten games in without a single victory. This volatility contributed to his decision to step away from football management.
“When you sign your contract, you’re also signing your dismissal,” he reflected, indicating a preference for the stability that his new roles at McDonald’s provide. It’s a distinctive change, highlighting how the skills learned on the pitch can translate unexpectedly into other fields of work.
This narrative serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of sporting careers and the often-unforeseen directions they can take, yet also speaks volumes about adaptability in a rapidly changing world. Nouri’s pivot could offer a glimpse into how sports professionals find purpose beyond the game, illustrating that football’s lessons extend far beyond the confines of a pitch.
