1st Team Physical Performance Coach

City Football Group; Manchester; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading football club in the UK is seeking a 1st Team Physical Performance Coach. This role requires expertise in optimizing player performance and implementing recovery protocols, working within a multi-disciplinary team. Ideal candidates will possess a postgraduate degree and significant experience in an elite environment.

Benefits

25 days annual leave plus birthday off

Private healthcare

Annual discretionary bonus

Lifestyle discounts

Qualifications

• Significant experience in elite football environment.
• Process-driven with attention to detail.
• Experience in developing performance impact programmes.

Responsibilities

• Work with the 1st Team Physical Performance team on player training.
• Develop individual reconditioning processes for injured players.
• Collaborate on Individual Player Development Plans with coaches.

Skills

Communication

Collaboration

Coaching

Player profiling

Performance data interpretation

Education

Postgraduate degree in physical performance

UKSCA accreditation

PhD in a related field

Tools

GPS technology

Optical tracking systems

Force diagnostic equipment

Job description

Closing Date of Applications – 15/07/2025

Our Story

Manchester City is an English Premier League club whose roots began in East Manchester. From its first incarnation as St Mark’s West Gorton in 1880, the club became Manchester City FC in 1894. Behind each title lies emotion, moments and memories that resonate with millions of supporters around the world. Manchester City fans are known for their commitment and togetherness, as a Club that fights to the end.

The role

Due to an internal promotion, an exciting opportunity has opened for a 1st Team Physical Performance Coach to join our elite football environment. This role is central to driving elite standards across all physical performance domains, with a strong emphasis on individual player profiling, performance optimisation, and re-conditioning from injury. Working as part of a progressive, multi-disciplinary team, you’ll collaborate closely with coaches, medical, data, and sports science staff to design and deliver integrated, player-centric programmes. These will span across load management, return-to-play strategies, and long-term athletic development — ensuring every player is physically prepared to meet the demands of high-intensity football at the top level.

You’ll bring expertise in interpreting performance data, planning and delivering pitch-based and gym-based sessions, and contributing to a culture of continuous improvement. If you're passionate about innovation, collaboration, and making a measurable impact in an elite sporting environment, this is your opportunity to thrive.

Please click ‘Apply’ and upload your CV and Cover Letter to be considered for the role.

This is Your City

As part of our team, you will be entitled to 25 days annual leave plus an additional day off for your birthday, private healthcare and a simply health cash plan, an annual discretionary bonus, plus a range of partnership and lifestyle discounts.

Your Impact

1. Physical Performance:

Work alongside other 1st Team Physical Performance practitioners and directly contribute

to the delivery of integrated [multi-disciplinary]:

• Player workload management and training schedules
• Pitch and gym-based training design and delivery
• Match Day Physical Support.
• Recovery protocols
• Injury risk reduction protocols with groups and individual players.

2. Player Re-Conditioning:

• Optimise the individual reconditioning process for injured players, including the planning, communication and monitoring of all supplementary conditioning and end-stage pitch-based training sessions.
• Develop positive working relationships with all key stakeholders in the Rehabilitation/Reconditioning process (injured players, S&C, Medical, Psychology,Nutrition, Performance Analysis) to ensure all interventions form part of an integratedplan which is communicated effectively within the wider Medical, Sport Science and Coaching group.
• Work collaboratively with the Head of Physical Performance, departmental team members and medical and physiotherapy staff to drive the development and improvement of our processes for managing injuries.

3. Integrated Practice and Individual Player Development Plans (IDPs):

• Support and actively contribute to the formulation of Individual Player Development Plans by working in collaboration with 1st Team Coaches, Performance Analysts and the Medical Team.
• Ensure players are consistently profiled and, all aspects of their performance and development are tracked and regularly reported

What we are looking for

Essential

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills – the ability to communicate effectively with people at all levels.
• Postgraduate degree in a field related to physical performance
• UKSCA accreditation or equivalent and maintained CPD portfolio.
• Significant experience working in an elite football environment
• Process-driven with careful attention to detail.
• Excellent collaborator with other high skill and high experience practitioners.
• Significant experience of working effectively within a high-performing, multi-disciplinary team.
• Significant experience conditioning players to return to performance following injury.
• Significant experience developing and delivering physical development programmes to achieve objective performance impact. Embracing a variety of methods to meet the specific needs of team and/or individual player.
• Highly skilled in coaching individuals, groups and full squad in both indoor/gym and pitch/field environments.
• An ability to reflect on current working practice & adapt as required.
• An ability to utilise performance related data to inform practice.
• An ability to provide insight to players, coaches and MDT derived from profiling, monitoring, training and competition data.
• Skilled operator of monitoring and profiling technologies including GPS, Optical Tracking, Force diagnostic equipment and internal response monitors.

Desirable

• BASES Accreditation
• PhD in a related field
• UEFA B Coaching Licence

City Football Group promotes equal opportunities in employment and we positively welcome applications from all candidates regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

We will screen all applicants and select candidates whose skills and experience seem to meet our needs. We will carefully consider your application during the initial screening and will contact you only if you are selected for an interview.

Employment is subject to the provision of proof of eligibility to work in the UK.

Due to our safeguarding promise, all UK based CFG roles will be subject to a DBS check upon commencing employment with us. This will be either a basic, standard or enhanced check depending on the job role and responsibilities.