Football is a way to climb the ladder and get from nowhere to being a millionaire idolised by millions, if you have real talent and put in the work. Football gives second chances to people who blew the first one.
Late bloomers in football
Troy Deeney in 2015/16 shone for Watford in the Premier League, becoming the league’s tenth highest scorer at 28 years old, after years of working on building sites and weekend benders. Jamie Vardy was the same, he was drinking pints and still doing factory shifts until he was 23. We’ve all heard that story before.
Football forgives some mistakes… but not forever and not for everybody. Lee Roche had played Champions League and Premier League for Manchester United in the early 2000s, but quit the game at 27 and became a labourer.
From the pitch to the touchline – Nouri’s unexpected rise
Alexander Nuri — football player – alchetron.com
Alexander Nouri never managed to make much of his playing career. He had shown potential with Germany U16 at Euro 96 but never got past the lower divisions of German football. He had zero Bundesliga appearances and only 17 appearances in the 2nd division. His beloved Werder Bremen never needed him as a player.
However, as a coach things were completely different. He worked his way through the ranks, starting as an assistant coach and eventually head coach in the lower divisions of German football. At 32 he’d retired as a player and already had his Pro License qualification at Oldenburg. The upward trend continued: assistant coach, then head coach, then Werder’s reserve team.
By 2016, he and Julian Nagelsmann earned their full Pro Licenses. Opportunities soon came knocking. Werder struggled to survive relegation in 2015/16, and then began the next season poorly — an early cup exit to minnows Sportfreunde Lotte, losses to Augsburg, 0-6 thrashings by Bayern Munich and Borussia Monchengladbach. After sacking Victor Skrypnyk, Nouri took over as interim and eventually permanent coach.
The miracle run that almost saved everything
Werder stabilised somewhat, however, they were still shaky — 16th after 20 rounds. Then came the explosion: 11 games unbeaten, 9 wins included. They beat RB Leipzig and Schalke 3-0 each, and hammered Freiburg 5-2. By late April they’d jumped from relegation spot to Europa League position, and were producing the wild, exciting Werder of the Ailton era.
The season finale wasn’t ideal, however, they still scored 3 goals in each of their final 3 games (even though they lost 3-4, 3-4 and 3-5). Their 8th place finish was their best in 7 years — especially impressive considering the disastrous start. As such, they extended Nouri’s deal.
Coach Nouri – foottheball.com
The collapse that ended it all
However, 2017/18 quickly turned nasty. No wins in the first 10 Bundesliga games, only 3 goals scored total, and bottom of the table. That 11 match unbeaten run from the previous spring had turned into 13 consecutive winless games (including loss in the final games of the season). After a 0-3 home defeat to Augsburg, the board fired him. Thank you and goodbye.
It would be another year before he’d land a new job, this time with 2nd Division Ingolstadt — lasted 8 rounds, 3 points. However, by November 2019 he was once again assisting — this time for the well-known Jürgen Klinsmann at ambitious, money-splashing Hertha Berlin.
Short stints, growing frustration
That winter Hertha spent €77 million, but Klinsmann quit in February citing “a lack of trust.” Nouri took over as interim for 4 games (5 points) and then the club hired veteran Bruno Labbadia.
Following another break, late 2021 saw a surprising move to Greek 2nd Tier Kavala. It would only last a few months — after 15 games Nouri had won only 3, and it was enough to force him out of the club.
Alexander Nuri — coach of Werder Bremen – goal.com
The big switch – McDonald’s at 46
Attention returned to Alexander in January 2026, when photos emerged showing Alexander working — not visiting — a McDonald’s. It turns out the 46-year-old ex-coach had completely abandoned the world of football. He now manages two franchises near Cologne (Würselen and Herzogenrath), completed the full training course — including kitchen and grill shifts — and bought into the McDonald’s system.
In an interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung he spoke of the transition:
“I’m not saying I already know everything. I’m here to learn.
Ultimately, both worlds have one thing in common: connect with people. In football it’s players; here it’s employees. The main principle remains the same: understand the person in front of you — what motivates him/her, what does s/he need to perform at its best.”
Why he left — and why others won’t
Nouri referred to the constant instability in football. He repeated the sentence that haunted his coaching years: “When you sign a contract, you’re also signing your dismissal papers in advance.” He’s no longer trapped by that constant pressure and uncertainty.
“I’m sure there are many people in football today thinking about a different life path. They simply don’t have the courage to pursue it,” he said.
When the game doesn’t feel like fun anymore — that’s it. For the first time in a very long time, Alexander Nouri appears truly happy.
