Training elite players can be an exact science. Dr. Valter di Salvo has based researched years on this thesis alone. Dr. di Salvo is the premier leader in linking science and fitness performance of the top soccer players in the world. In 2010, he was hired as the Director of Performance and Enhancement and Football Science at the Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence in the Qatar Football Association. Dr. di Salvo is in charge of all of Qatar football performance, a population of approximately 1.5 million. And adding to this large task is the pressure of Qatar’s selection as the host country for the 2022 World Cup.

Dr. di Salvo’s history includes an impressive resume of developing and working with the top international teams and some of the best players in the game. His methods of success included training sessions around the gym and technical exercises in addition to heavy involvement in setting players’ training schedules, designing pregame warm-ups and creating player diets.

Dr. di Salvo began his career with Lazio Football Club in Italy before being hired by Manchester United as a fitness coach. From Manchester United, he was hired by Real Madrid to serve as the Director of the TEC Performance Center.  The Center was based on proper management of different areas in which sport science aspects, supported by new technologies, are combined with the specific soccer needs of players.  While working for these two clubs, Dr. di Salvo helped develop the performance of players such as Kaka, Beckham, Figo, Scholes, Cristiano Ronaldo, Cannavaro and more. Dr. di Salvo’s methods are a major part of the players’ ability to play longer at a higher level than most soccer players.

Dr. di Salvo was a full professor in “Methods and Didatic of Sports Activity” at the Univeristy of Rome ‘Foro Italico’ in 2002. He earned his PhD in Sports Science at the University of Lisbon with the thesis “Training of elite football players according to their positional roles”. He has shared this idea and his experiences at numerous international conferences, including Leaders in Football, Aspire4Sport and the European College of Sports Medicine conference.

Attendees of the 2012 NSCAA Convention can listen to Dr. Valter diSalvo speak about “The Performance Management of Elite Soccer Players” Thursday, Jan. 12 from 9:30 - 10:20 a.m. in room 2103AB. They will also be able to watch him perform a field session on “Physical Training Sessions Specific for Playing Positions at 12:45 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14.

For more information on the 2012 NSCAA Convention, click here, or visit Convention Schedule to add Dr. Valter di Salvo to your customized schedule.

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