Nadine Nurasyid began her career as a successful football player before becoming the first female head coach in the German Football League with the Munich Cowboys. Today, she is a sought-after coach and football expert. Our author was fortunate enough to interview this year’s football ambassador for the City of Munich – and even pass a few balls with her.
I meet Nadine Nurasyid on a scorching summer day at the Dante Stadium in Munich’s Neuhausen district. The neighbouring swimming pool is buzzing with activity. I’ve often been drawn to the incredible soundscape, stood by the fence in my swimming costume, watching one football spectacle or another: anthems blaring from the loudspeakers, cheerleaders dancing and waving yellow and black pom-poms. A ball flying in from the edge of the pitch, angular blokes with helmets and shoulder pads charging at one another, wrestling, falling and blocking each other’s paths. The ball disappears, and the game seems to come to a standstill. Is that it already? At this point, I can no longer make out any system or structure to the game.
However, I'm sure that football expert Nadine will be able to explain the game to me in a moment. Additionally, I have a small request: With the opportunity of having Germany's football expert all to myself, I'll ask her to show me here on the pitch how to hold and throw a football properly.
And there she comes: with a beaming smile, sunglasses, shorts, sneakers, and a glittery shirt. She has a quick chat with the groundsman, then we sit down in the shade on the upper tiers of the stadium. I start with my questions:
Ms Nurasyid, can you explain in a few sentences what football is all about?
Yes, of course. 11 offensive players (attackers) play against 11 defensive players (defenders). The main objective is for the offensive team to gain ground while the defensive team tries to stop them with great physical effort. Each attacking player must cover about ten yards, which is approximately nine metres. If the team fails to do so within four attempts, the ball goes to the opposing team. The goal is to retain possession of the ball and cover enough ground to reach the opposing team’s end zone.
Is it enough for a single player to reach the end zone?
Exactly. The player must either carry the ball into the end zone or catch it there. This is known as scoring a “touchdown”. Both the offence and defence follow a set choreography, which must be executed precisely. It's not only about which players I send onto the field, but also about which choreography or play proves to be the right one.
“When you put on the equipment, you slip into a new role. For me personally, it was something very special to be able and allowed to physically dominate an opponent.“
Is that comparable to soccer tactics?
Yes, but it’s much more complicated. Soccer has a continuous flow with back-and-forth movements. Football is different: There’s play, then a pause – everyone regroups, the next play is planned, executed, and then there’s another pause. In between, there’s plenty of time for communication and strategy. When you watch football for the first time, you might think that the players are just mindlessly crashing into each other, but that’s definitely not the case. You need to keep your eyes on the right spots and quickly interpret your “key reads,” which means draw conclusions about tactics and the next moves based on precise observations of the opponent.
Your passion for football was sparked here at the Dante Stadium, where your career began in 2013. What makes football so special?
Its complexity and athleticism. A lot of things happen in football, and much of it happens very quickly, so you always have to stay focused and keep your head in the game. You also see a wide range of body types on the field, each with unique skills based on the requirements of their position. Some players need to be fast, others strong, and that’s what makes the game so exciting – along with the athleticism and protective gear. When you put on the equipment, you slip into a new role. For me personally, it was something very special to be able and allowed to physically dominate an opponent.
Do you still play football?
No, I don’t play anymore – due to my coaching. I thought playing was intense and “time-consuming“ – until I started coaching.
“I really look forward to the Oktoberfest, it's an absolute must for me. I also enjoy spending time in the English Garden and along the Isar river, which is great for both me and my dog.“
And now you've also been appointed official football ambassador for the city of Munich. Yes, it’s in connection with the NFL game in Munich on 10 November. This brings a lot of responsibilities on top.
For example, the city will officially welcome the NFL (National Football League) with a special dinner, and I’ll attend it, but my main focus as an ambassador is to raise the profile of football. When a major event like this comes to our city, we want the sport to grow locally, inspire young talent and gain some new fans.
Speaking of young talent. Do parents send their children to football training, or do some find it too dangerous?
Yes, of course, American football carries a certain reputation, but there is still no shortage of young talent. In addition to tackle football with protective equipment, i.e. with shoulder pads and helmets, there is also the non-contact variant flag football, which is of course the perfect sport for beginners. Flag football will also be an Olympic sport at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
Where do you actually sit as a coach? In one of those little houses on the edge of the pitch?
No, I am in the team zone, on the grass, but off the pitch.
“Everything is set for football: We’ve got great beer and good food, so nothing can go wrong!“
Are you allowed to run around and give instructions to your team?
Yes, as long as I stay within my line and don’t enter the referee's zone. If I cross it, there will definitely be a penalty. Not all coaches are on the touchline, some are up in the box, and I’m connected to them by radio. The choreography I mentioned earlier isn’t usually visible from the touchline –you need a view from above.
Is there a connection between ballet and football? You danced in the Bavarian State Ballet as a child?
Indeed, there is: Discipline and an eye for detail. Discipline is crucial in both sports. While it's easy to imagine this in ballet due to its aesthetic nature, laypersons or spectators might not immediately associate this with football. However, even in football, everything is meticulously planned and choreographed, and it is often the small details that make the difference between victory and defeat.
On 10 November, the NFL is coming to Munich with a game between the Carolina Panthers and the New York Giants. What can you say about the teams?
It's incredible that the NFL is coming to Munich. Normally, you would have to travel to the USA for such an experience and further training. This is a regular season game, and the Panthers didn't perform so well last year. However, statistics show that a team that struggles one year often improves the next. The Panthers definitely have players worth watching, including a young quarterback with a promising future.
“Football is not just about what happens on the pitch, it’s about the whole experience. “
Where will you be watching the game?
It hasn't been decided yet, but I'll probably be in the stadium – in the Allianz Arena.
As a Munich resident, do you have any tips for visitors during the match-free period?
I recommend taking time to stroll through the historic city centre with its sights. There will also be fan activities in several locations. Or visit the English Garden to watch surfers at the Eisbach, even in winter. And don’t miss the Viktualienmarkt to enjoy some delicious food and drinks.
In your personal free time, what do you do in Munich? Do you occasionally go to the opera?
I haven't been to the opera for a while, but it's definitely on my agenda again. What I find really exciting is the development of the Werksviertel neighbourhood. I still have a few things on my bucket list there, like exploring the rooftop bars, maybe taking another ride on the Ferris wheel and trying out all the different culinary options. I am always drawn to places with good food, so naturally, I am a big Tollwood festival fan, whether it's summer or winter: you can eat your way through it. I really look forward to the Oktoberfest, it's an absolute must for me. I also enjoy spending time in the English Garden and along the Isar river, which is great for both me and my dog.
You danced ballet as a child, then moved on to martial arts and soccer and finally came to football at 27. You don’t also do cheerleading by any chance?
No, I don’t – but it's also a tough sport and I really take my hat off to it.
“Discipline is crucial in both sports. While it's easy to imagine this in ballet due to its aesthetic nature, laypersons or spectators might not immediately associate this with football.“
You can't imagine football without cheerleading, can you?
Definitely not. Cheerleading is just as much a part of it as the pre-game parties, where people meet up beforehand, have the first cool drinks, hot dogs and burgers and get in the mood for the spectacle. Football is not just about what happens on the pitch, it’s about the whole experience. That also includes the half-time show, which usually features a music act.
Is there anything else you would like to share with guests travelling to Munich for the NFL game?
Yes, make sure you arrive in Munich early and enjoy the whole spectacle. Take time before and after the game to explore the city. Very important: get to the Allianz Arena in good time, because the underground trains will be packed. If you arrive early, you can also enjoy the pre-match show and the activities on the esplanade outside the stadium and all the other places we've already mentioned. And apart from that: Everything is set for football: We’ve got great beer and good food, so nothing can go wrong!
Nadine Nurasyid was born in Munich in 1986. As a child, she was an ambitious ballet dancer and performed with the Bavarian State Ballet. She only began her career with the Munich Cowboys at the age of 27, initially as a player, later becoming the coach of the men's team and thus the first female head coach of a men's team in the German Football League.
She currently coaches the Stuttgart Surge team as Defence Assistant Coach. Nurasyid is also in great demand as a TV expert for American football on DAZN and RTL. Over the course of her sporting career, she has achieved great success as a player, including for the German national team, and as a coach. Nadine Nurasyid was honoured as "MVP Defence" in the Ladies Bowl in 2018 and as "Coach of the Year" in 2022. Her achievements as a player, her success as a coach and her TV appearances as a football expert make her one of the best-known personalities in German American football.
The city of Munich has found the perfect football ambassador in Nadine Nurasyid to promote football in Munich and far beyond on the occasion of the Carolina Panthers v New York Giants game in the Allianz Arena on 10 November 2024.
