Ex-Bundesliga Coach Now Runs Fast-Food Restaurants - Ex-football coach Alexander Nouri trades the pitch for McDonald’s franchises
Former Bundesliga coach Alexander Nouri is switching careers to run two McDonald’s restaurants. Starting in early 2026, he will manage franchises in Herzogenrath and Kohlscheid, North Rhine-Westphalia. The move follows years of experience in professional football, where he led teams like Werder Bremen and Hertha BSC.
Nouri’s football career included high-profile roles across Germany. He coached Werder Bremen until 2017, when a losing streak led to his dismissal. After that, he briefly took charge at FC Ingolstadt before joining Hertha BSC in 2019 as Jürgen Klinsmann’s assistant. When Klinsmann left, Nouri stepped in as head coach for a short period. His last known job in football was a brief spell in Greece in 2022.
Now, he is preparing for a different kind of leadership. Nouri applied to become a McDonald’s franchisee and completed the required training, which included hands-on tasks like flipping burgers. He sees parallels between managing a football team and running a fast-food restaurant, particularly in understanding and motivating people. The transition marks a complete shift from the pitch to the restaurant industry. By 2026, Nouri will oversee operations in two locations, bringing his experience in teamwork and management to a new setting.
Nouri’s move from football to fast food reflects a significant career change. His two McDonald’s franchises in North Rhine-Westphalia will open in early 2026. The former coach now focuses on building a business rather than training players.
