Club Physiotherapist

What the role involves

• Diagnose and treat injuries and run rehab plans
• Attend training and matches
• Advise coaches on return-to-play

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.

• Experience

  Work experience and internships

  Placements at clubs, associations, agencies and sports businesses. Often unpaid or low-paid, but the strongest way to get a first contact.

• Experience

  Volunteer at a club

  Matchday volunteering, welfare, secretary, social media or committee roles at a local club. Clubs are short of people and give responsibility quickly.

• Experience

  Fitness, gym or sports-coaching background

  Experience in personal training, other sports or fitness helps move into strength and conditioning, performance support and coaching.

Qualifications and licences

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

• Medical registration

  Physiotherapy Degree & Professional Registration

  A regulated healthcare route. In the UK, the title physiotherapist is protected and registration with the national regulator is required to practise. Football physios usually add sports and pitch-side training.

• 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

• Injury Assessment & Rehabilitation
• Injury Prevention
• First Aid & Trauma Care
• Communication

Tools you may use

• Rehabilitation and treatment equipment
• Force plates and testing equipment
• GPS and wearable trackers

Where this role is found

• Top-flight clubs
• Lower-league & semi-professional 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.

• Head of Performance

  Strongly preferred

  Leads sport science, strength and conditioning and often links with medical and nutrition.

Common stepping stones into this role

• Sports Therapist
• Soft-Tissue Therapist (Masseur)

Pay and context by region

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