ECA and Feyenoord came together this week to host a wide range of clubs and scientific institutions to share cutting edge insights and latest innovations in player health at ECA’s Medical and High-Performance Forum. The two-day event saw 55 participants meet at the home stadium of the 16-time Eredivisie champions.
Feyenoord kicked off the event with and introduction from club CEO and ECA Board Member Dennis te Kloese. The hosts went on to share their One Football Department ethos with head of medical & performance Stijn Vandenbroucke and performance & rehab trainer Jan Müller sharing how a cohesive model where coaches, analysts, medical staff, and players collaborate seamlessly toward shared objectives. At the heart of Feyenoord's ethos is the Constraint-Led Approach (CLA), which closely aligns training sessions with game demands to drive growth and adaptability across the team.
The club also emphasised its focus on the bio-psycho-social needs of players and staff, recognising that physical, mental, and emotional well-being are essential for sustainable performance. Guided by their core values - unifying, relentless, and ambitious - Feyenoord is actively encouraging cross-departmental collaboration throughout its entire organisation .
The second session of the day featured Dr Tim Meyer and Benedict Gondwe from Saarland University, who provided exclusive insights into the organisation of medical and performance units across elite European clubs, sparking valuable discussions among ECA Member Clubs.
Day one concluded with a behind-the-scenes tour of Feyenoord’s first team cutting-edge training ground, giving attendees a first-hand view of the innovative facilities and methodologies that drive success at one of Europe’s leading clubs.
Day two saw participants reconvene at the De Kuip, with UEFA starting the event with a key medical update on the “Get Trained Save Lives” campaign which they have been using to highlight the importance of learning CPR techniques.
The session concluded with three compelling case studies showcasing innovative approaches from top clubs. Feyenoord led the way as Folkert Boer and José Fonseca from their Data & Innovation Hub shared how the club leverages their cutting-edge data tools with their One Football Department ethos to enhance performance and decision-making across their football operations.
Serie A side Parma Calcio 1913 followed with an in-depth look at how they harness underlying player data to drive on-pitch success, offering a behind-the-scenes perspective on the workings of their football department.
The day wrapped up with Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain, who presented their strategy for managing and preventing groin injuries. PSG’s case study provided valuable perspectives into their injury prevention techniques, reinforcing their commitment to safeguarding player well-being while maintaining top-level performance.
Reflecting on the event, Feyenoord CEO Dennis te Kloese said; “It was an honour to host the ECA Men’s Medical and High-Performance Forum. We take great pride in sharing our One Football Department approach and the innovations driving our performance. We hope the knowledge and experiences exchanged during these sessions provide valuable takeaways for other clubs to enhance their own practices in player health and performance.”