I am a very passionate strength and conditioning coach that progressively developed into an applied sport performance scientist, with a main emphasis on football (soccer). My work (>200 publications) has focused on intervention strategies and profiling assessments that may improve players’ physical and technical potential, using a scientific approach whenever possible. Using my background in strength & Conditionning (2 Msc), statistics (1 Msc) and a PhD in exercise physiology, I have developed different training 'tools' such as the 30-15 Intermittent Fitness to program high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and the 5'-5' (now 4'-3') running test to monitor training status using accelerometers, GPS and heart rate (variability). I also have extensive experience with fitness and strength training, injury prevention, recovery, nutrition, match analysis and youth development. I have been ranked as the 4 (2019) to 6th (2021) scientific expert in Soccer in the world.

Currently, I consult and speak for various organizations, and hold the position of Head of Performance at Lille OSC, together with the role of Head of Performance Research at Kitman Labs, in charge of the Performance Intelligence Research Initiative with Derek McHugues.

Over the past 20 yrs, I have worked and consulted a bit all over the world and in various sports (Soccer, Handball, AFL, Rugby, Basketball, individual sports), worked at the Aspire Academy in Qatar (2009-2014), which allows me to merge theory, experience and pragmatism for a holistic and contextualized approach of high performance. This has lead me to the position of Head of Performance at Paris Saint Germain, which I held from July 2014 to July 2020.

Co-founder of HIITScience (The Science and Application of High-Intensity Interval Training, HIIT), a web platform (course, book & podcast) aimed at improving our understanding of the use of HIIT for performance in elite sports, I am also co-editor of Sport Performance & Science Reports, the first review-free, open-access scientific journal.

Thema Athletik-Konferenz

Programming the microcycle in elite football: can we optimize performance and injury risk?