First Team Sports Physiologist

First Team Sports Physiologist – Al Ain Football Club

Job Title: First Team Sports Physiologist

Department: Performance & Sports Science

Reports To: Head of Performance / Head of Medical

Location: Al Ain Football Club Training Ground & Match Venues

Contract Type: Full-Time

Job Summary:

Al Ain Football Club is seeking a highly skilled and experienced First Team Sports Physiologist to join our high-performance team. The successful candidate will play a key role in monitoring player physiological responses, optimizing performance, and developing fitness programs to ensure peak physical conditioning. This role involves working closely with sports scientists, strength & conditioning coaches, and medical staff to assess cardiovascular fitness, endurance, muscle function, and energy utilization for footballers.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Physiological Monitoring & Testing

• Conduct VO2 max, lactate threshold, and metabolic testing to assess player endurance and fitness levels.
• Implement heart rate variability (HRV) and oxygen saturation analysis to monitor fatigue and recovery.
• Assess anaerobic and aerobic capacity to tailor player-specific conditioning programs.
• Utilize blood lactate testing to track energy expenditure and optimize performance strategies.

2. Fitness & Conditioning Program Development

• Develop scientifically-based training programs to improve cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, and energy efficiency.
• Work closely with sports scientists and strength & conditioning coaches to integrate physiological insights into training regimens.
• Use altitude training, heat acclimatization, and hydration strategies to improve player adaptation to different playing conditions.
• Provide individualized conditioning plans based on player position and physiological profile.

3. Fatigue & Recovery Management

• Monitor player fatigue markers using biochemical and physiological testing methods.
• Implement personalized recovery protocols to enhance player readiness for training and matches.
• Conduct sleep, stress, and nutrition analysis to optimize physiological adaptation.
• Advise coaching staff on periodization and workload management strategies to prevent overtraining.

4. Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation Support

• Collaborate with medical staff to track physiological changes during injury rehabilitation.
• Assess muscle imbalances, oxygen uptake, and biomechanical efficiency in recovering players.
• Assist in return-to-play assessments by evaluating muscle function, endurance, and overall fitness.
• Implement recovery exercises focusing on injury resilience and performance optimization.

5. Matchday & Training Responsibilities

• Provide real-time physiological data analysis to coaches during matches and training sessions.
• Work with performance analysts to interpret live heart rate, hydration, and energy expenditure data.
• Assist in warm-up and cooldown routines with a physiological approach to enhance efficiency.
• Use GPS and movement tracking data to correlate workload with physiological responses.

6. Research & Innovation in Sports Physiology

• Stay updated with the latest research in exercise physiology and high-performance football science.
• Introduce new performance testing techniques to enhance player assessment.
• Collaborate with external researchers and institutions to develop advanced physiological methodologies.
• Conduct education workshops for players and coaching staff on physiological optimization strategies.