Club Doctor

What the role involves

• Assess illness and injury and manage concussion
• Decide on fitness to play with the medical team
• Lead emergency response at matches

Ways in, with or without formal qualifications

Experience, knowledge and interests count in football. These routes are what people in this role commonly point to.

• Network

  Mentors, conferences and online communities

  Football runs on relationships. Meeting people at conferences, courses and online communities opens more opportunities than cold applications.

Qualifications and licences

You need the relevant qualification, licence or registration in this role.

• Medical registration

  Medical Degree & Sport and Exercise Medicine Training

  Club doctors are registered medical practitioners, commonly with specialist training in sport and exercise medicine and extra pitch-side qualifications.

• Safety & welfare

  First Aid in Football

  Emergency and first-aid training adapted to football, from introductory courses to advanced trauma care for medical staff.

Skills and knowledge

• Sport & Exercise Medicine
• First Aid & Trauma Care
• Communication
• Leadership

Tools you may use

• Rehabilitation and treatment equipment

Where this role is found

• Top-flight clubs
• Academies & youth development
• Women's professional football

Where this role leads

• Head of Medical

  Required

  Leads the club medical department and sets health, injury and return-to-play policy.

Common stepping stones into this role

Usually an entry point reached directly through study, volunteering, playing or work experience. See the routes below.

Pay and context by region

Illustrative estimates scaled from a UK baseline. Check local job adverts and union or association data.