Career change as a football coach
With your experience you can switch to 8 jobs in Germany: 3 with on-the-job training and 5 with training or a course.
In the job search you can sort by what matters to you, save jobs and see where they lead.
Career change paths
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Care worker in the open all-day school program
Also: Exercise leader for sports activities at schools
With on-the-job training
In all-day care at primary schools you look after children after lessons, supervise homework and lead sports and movement activities.
- What you bring:
- You can motivate children, enforce rules and lead groups confidently.
- How to get there:
- School authorities, independent providers and sports clubs hire people with an exercise leader or coach license (Übungsleiter- oder Trainerlizenz) and give them on-the-job training (Einarbeitung). An extended police clearance certificate (erweitertes Führungszeugnis) is mandatory. There are also part-time positions.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people€3,340gross per monthMedian salary
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Event manager for sports events
Also: Event coordinator
With on-the-job training
As an event coordinator you plan sports events, running events or company parties, take care of permits, service providers and the schedule, and are the contact person on the day of the event.
- What you bring:
- You have organized tournaments, competitions or training camps and know clubs, federations and volunteers.
- How to get there:
- Agencies, federations and organizers give you on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in the company. They expect organizational talent and confident use of the computer. If you want a qualification of your own, you can do retraining (Umschulung) as event management clerk (Veranstaltungskaufmann), which usually takes about two years.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Often at weekendsLots of contact with people€4,165gross per monthMedian salary
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Fitness trainer
Also: Exercise leader in rehabilitation sports
With on-the-job training
In a gym, in rehabilitation facilities or in workplace health promotion you look after members and course groups, and you often work more regular hours than in club sports.
- What you bring:
- You can create training plans, correct movements and keep people motivated over the long term.
- How to get there:
- Gyms and rehabilitation providers usually expect a coaching license, which you can earn in courses of a few weekends at federations or private academies. For rehabilitation sports you need a separate exercise leader license for sports in rehabilitation, which sports federations such as the German Disabled Sports Association (Deutscher Behindertensportverband) and its state associations issue. You can also do vocational training (Ausbildung) as sports and fitness clerk (Sport- und Fitnesskaufmann).*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Physically demandingLots of contact with people€2,910gross per monthMedian salary
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Manager of a fitness or sports studio
Also: Club manager
With further trainingPromotion
As studio manager or club manager you plan courses and staff, take care of member recruitment, billing and facilities, and negotiate with municipalities and partners.
- What you bring:
- You know training, coaching teams, members and the operation of sports facilities from hands-on experience.
- How to get there:
- Alongside your job, you can take the further training course for certified senior sports specialist (Sportfachwirt) at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). The duration depends on the provider, and it can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). Depending on your prior education, you are admitted with vocational training and work experience, or with at least four years of work experience, and voluntary work is taken into account.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Often at weekendsLots of contact with people€3,740gross per monthMedian salary
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Swimming pool operations specialist (Fachangestellter für Bäderbetriebe)
Also: Lifeguard at a swimming pool
With retraining
At the swimming pool you ensure the safety of bathers, give swimming courses and look after water treatment and technology.
- What you bring:
- You swim confidently, can lead groups and keep track of things when many people are exercising at the same time.
- How to get there:
- You can do retraining (Umschulung) or vocational training (Ausbildung) as swimming pool operations specialist (Fachangestellter für Bäderbetriebe). Retraining usually takes about two years, and regular vocational training takes three. You get started faster with the German Lifesaving Badge in silver (Deutsches Rettungsschwimmabzeichen in Silber) and an introduction as a lifeguard in seasonal jobs.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demandingLots of contact with people€3,548gross per monthMedian salary
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Early childhood educator (Erzieher)
Also: Early childhood educator with a focus on movement
With further training
As an early childhood educator (Erzieher) in a daycare center (Kita), after-school care center (Hort) or all-day school you look after children in everyday life, plan movement and play activities, and support their development.
- What you bring:
- You can get children moving, lead groups and talk well with parents.
- How to get there:
- You do vocational college training (Fachschulausbildung) under state law. Full-time it usually takes three years including practice phases, and depending on the state, it is also offered practice-integrated with pay. Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications) is possible. You usually need an intermediate school-leaving certificate (mittlerer Schulabschluss) and completed vocational training or longer work experience. Each state regulates the details itself.*Regulated by law (State law: state recognition under each state's vocational college regulations).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsPhysically demandingLots of contact with people€3,995gross per monthMedian salary
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Masseur and medical bath attendant
With further training
As a masseur and medical bath attendant you treat patients on a doctor's prescription with massages, lymphatic drainage, baths and heat treatments, often including athletes.
- What you bring:
- You know muscles, movement patterns and sports injuries, and you enjoy working directly with people.
- How to get there:
- You train at a state-recognized school: two years of training ending with a state exam, followed by six months of practical work in a hospital or another medical facility. You need a lower secondary school certificate (Hauptschulabschluss) or completed vocational training lasting at least one year. Depending on the state and school, tuition fees may apply.*Regulated by law (Masseurs and Physiotherapists Act (MPhG) §§ 1, 4, 5).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Physically demandingLots of contact with people€3,435gross per monthMedian salary
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Driving instructor
With further training
As a driving instructor you give theory lessons and driving lessons and prepare learner drivers for the exam.
- What you bring:
- You can teach people new skills, recognize progress and stay calm even in tricky moments.
- How to get there:
- You train at a recognized driving instructor training school (Fahrlehrerausbildungsstätte) with an internship at a training driving school. For class BE this takes at least 12 months, and then you take an exam. The authority then issues the driving instructor license. Requirements include a minimum age of 21, a class B driving license held for at least three years and completed vocational training or equivalent prior education.*Regulated by law (Driving Instructor Act (FahrlG) §§ 1, 2, 7).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Fixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people€3,977gross per monthMedian salary
Salary: median of all full-time employees in the job, gross per month excluding special payments, as of April 2025. Half earn more, half earn less. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), table 62361-0030, license dl-de/by-2-0. Assigned to the jobs by quereinsteiger.de. No guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently asked questions
Which jobs can I do as a football coach without vocational training or retraining?
Without a new qualification, often with on-the-job training: Care worker in the open all-day school program, Event manager for sports events and Fitness trainer.
Which retraining or further training suits me as a football coach?
With vocational training, retraining, further training or a course: Manager of a fitness or sports studio, Swimming pool operations specialist (Fachangestellter für Bäderbetriebe), Early childhood educator (Erzieher), Masseur and medical bath attendant and Driving instructor.
What promotion options do I have as a football coach?
Promotions include, for example: Manager of a fitness or sports studio.
Which of these jobs pay the most?
According to official statistics, the highest median full-time salaries are: Event manager for sports events (€4,165 gross per month), Early childhood educator (Erzieher) (€3,995 gross per month) and Driving instructor (€3,977 gross per month). Half of employees earn more, half earn less; when you start it is often lower. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), April 2025. No guarantee of accuracy.
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