Head of Performance

What the role involves

• Lead the performance team and its plans
• Coordinate training load with the head coach
• Review physical data and injury trends

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

Employers commonly ask for one or more of these.

• Degree

  Sport & Exercise Science Degree

  A degree covering physiology, biomechanics, psychology and research methods. It is the most common base for sport scientists, performance analysts and S&C coaches.

• Short course

  Strength & Conditioning Accreditation

  A professional accreditation that confirms coaching competence in strength and conditioning, usually after a degree and supervised practice.

• Business & management

  Football Management Certificate (UEFA CFM)

  A management programme for football administrators with modules on strategy, finance, legal, marketing and organisation. Offered with partner universities.

Skills and knowledge

• Leadership
• Load Monitoring
• Strength & Conditioning
• Communication

Tools you may use

• GPS and wearable trackers
• Force plates and testing equipment
• Dashboard tools

Where this role is found

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

Where this role leads

• Technical Director

  Strongly preferred

  Sets the football philosophy and builds the pathway from academy to first team.

Common stepping stones into this role

• Club Physiotherapist
• Head of Medical
• Sport Scientist
• Strength & Conditioning Coach
• Sport Psychologist
• Performance Nutritionist

Pay and context by region

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