Dr. Eirini Manthou

Dr. Eirini Manthou is a sport nutritionist and academic whose work bridges elite football practice with applied research in health, performance, and lifestyle-based nutrition. She currently works within Olympiacos FC, supporting both the Academy (Sport Nutritionist since October 2020) and Olympiacos Team B (U23) (Sport Nutritionist since September 2020), where she contributes to player development through performance fuelling strategies, recovery planning, body composition management, and long-term athlete education aligned to the demands of an elite club pathway.

Alongside her club role, Dr. Manthou is an Educator at the International Soccer Science & Performance Federation (ISSPF) (March 2020–present), delivering content within sports nutrition in soccer. Her teaching is grounded in practical application, helping coaches and practitioners translate nutritional science into match-week planning, training-day adaptations, and sustainable habits that support availability and performance across the season.

Academically, she completed a BSc (Hons) in Physical Education and Sport Science at the University of Thessaly(1999–2003), followed by an MSc in Human Nutrition with a specialisation in Sports Nutrition at the University of Glasgow (2004–2005). She later earned a PhD at the University of Glasgow (2005–2008), focused on the management of obesity and wellbeing through lifestyle changes, which complements her applied work in weight management, health-focused nutrition, and performance outcomes.

Dr. Manthou also holds senior leadership roles in higher education. She is the Programme Leader for the MSc Applied Sport and Exercise Nutrition delivered at Athens Metropolitan College in collaboration with Oxford Brookes University (September 2019–present), and previously served as Programme Leader for BSc Sports Coaching and Physical Education (University of East London pathway) at Athens Metropolitan College (August 2017–September 2019). Her broader lecturing and research experience includes contributions across institutions such as the University of Glasgow and multiple Greek universities and organisations, supporting the growth of evidence-informed practice in sport and health contexts.

Her research interests span sports nutrition, exercise and health, weight management, functional foods, and exercise biochemistry, and she has published in the field while also acting as a reviewer for peer-reviewed journals. Professionally, she has extensive experience delivering education to athletes and coaches through seminars and applied support within team environments.

Dr. Manthou speaks English, Greek, and German. Her academic affiliation includes Athens Metropolitan College (Oxford Brookes collaboration), the University of Thessaly, and the University of Glasgow, while her current practical affiliation is with Olympiacos FC Academy and Team B (U23). Within ISSPF, her content feature sits under sport nutrition, with an emphasis on the interaction between nutrition, exercise, and health in high-performance football.

Eirini Manthou holds an MSc and PhD in “Human Nutrition” from the University of Glasgow with specialisation in Sport Nutrition. She received her first degree at the Dept. of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Thessaly, Greece.

Eirini has broad lecturing and research experience in various renowned universities and entities such as University of Glasgow, University of Thessaly, University of Thrace and the Hellenic Mediterranean University. Now she is a Programme Leader and Lecturer in “MSc in Applied Sport and Exercise Nutrition” offered in Metropolitan College, Athens (in collaboration with Oxford Brookes University). Also, she is an educator in the “Sports Nutrition in Soccer” in the International Soccer Science & Performance Federation.

Her main areas of research interest are nutrition and exercise in health and disease, sports nutrition, weight management, specialized/ functional food, biochemistry of exercise and high performance nutrition. She has published numerous articles and serves as a reviewer in established peer reviewed journals in the exercise and nutrition field.

Eirini has also extensive professional experience while working successfully in teams or while leading seminars in the field of sport and exercise nutrition to educate athletes and coaches. Currently she is working as Sports Nutritionist at Olympiakos FC main Academy and Team B (U23). She is a member of Nutrition Society UK, the European network for the promotion of health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA) and the Higher Education Academy, UK and she holds an ISAK accreditation, Level I.