About

Iván López Martínez.

Sports physiotherapist · Head of Physiotherapy at Al-Ittihad FC · 20+ years in elite football.

Iván López Martínez, Head of Physiotherapy at Al-Ittihad FC

About

Two decades on the sideline of elite football.

I'm a sports physiotherapist specialized in elite football rehabilitation. For over twenty years I've led medical departments at top-tier clubs across Spain, Russia, and Saudi Arabia — designing modern return-to-play protocols, coordinating multidisciplinary medical teams, and bringing injured players back to competition safely and on time.

My approach combines evidence-based manual therapy, on-field rehabilitation, and close collaboration with medical imaging specialists (MSK ultrasonography) and performance coaches. Every program is built around one principle: the athlete returns stronger than before the injury, not just healed.

  • Head of Physiotherapy, Al-Ittihad FC
  • Former Head Physio, Lokomotiv Moscow FC
  • Decade at Atlético de Madrid Academy
  • Harvard Medical School · AI in Health Care

Professional Journey

A career built in world-class dressing rooms.

  1. 2022 — Present

    Head of Physiotherapy

    Al-Ittihad FC · Saudi Arabia

    Leading the physiotherapy department of one of Asia's top professional football clubs. Designed and implemented an updated rehabilitation model aligned with high-performance demands, coordinating multidisciplinary medical staff and overseeing on-field RTP strategies for the first team.

  2. 2016 — 2022

    Head Physiotherapist

    Lokomotiv Moscow FC · Russia

    Six years delivering elite-level physiotherapy and sports rehabilitation for first-team players in top-level Russian Premier League competition. Worked within international multidisciplinary environments during European competition cycles.

  3. 2006 — 2016

    Physiotherapist & Supervisor

    Atlético de Madrid Fútbol Base · Spain

    A decade developing young talent at one of Spain's most demanding academies. Integrated rehabilitation workflows with coaching and medical staff, supervised university student placements, and managed medical equipment inventory.

  4. 2014 — 2016

    Clinic Supervisor & Orthopedic Treatments

    Clinic Ortega y Gasset 60 · Madrid

    Supervised orthopedic treatments and maintained high standards of patient care in a private clinical setting.

  5. 2005 — 2016

    Physiotherapist

    YNMD Physiotherapy Clinic · Spain

    Delivered physiotherapy and rehabilitation services in private practice, applying manual therapy and modern treatment methods.

  6. 2004

    Internship

    Real Oviedo CF · Spain

    Completed internship in sports rehabilitation alongside the club physiotherapy team.

Education & Credentials

Academic foundation.

Continuous professional development spanning physiotherapy, sports medicine, osteopathy, and — most recently — the intersection of AI and healthcare.

Languages

Two continents. Three languages.

Spanish

Native

English

C2 — Proficient

Russian

A2 — Basic

Want to work with me or download a protocol?

Reach out for elite-football consulting, rehabilitation model design, or athlete cases.

Get in touch