Professor Nikos Koundourakis is an experienced exercise physiologist and conditioning coach whose career spans more than two decades in professional football, combining day-to-day applied performance work with a strong academic foundation in human physiology. He currently serves as a Professor at the International Soccer Science & Performance Federation (ISSPF) (January 2020–present), where his teaching centres on the endocrinology of soccerand how hormonal, metabolic, and biochemical responses can inform training design, recovery, and long-term athlete management in elite environments.
Alongside his ISSPF role, he has worked continuously in football performance and rehabilitation positions across Greece and Cyprus. He was Exercise Physiologist and Head Rehabilitation Coach at Pafos FC (June 2019–May 2020), and previously held the same role at Apollon Limassol FC (June 2017–May 2019), leading the conditioning and return-to-play process for injured players while supporting integrated performance planning. Prior to Cyprus, he worked in Greece as an Exercise Physiologist and Conditioning Coach at OFI Crete FC (September 2015–June 2017), following a long period at Ergotelis FC (January 2012–August 2015) where his responsibilities included training control and ergometrics, physical conditioning, injury rehabilitation, and applied nutrition/supplement strategies. Earlier in his career, he spent more than a decade with OFI Crete FC (April 2000–September 2011), developing extensive expertise in conditioning, rehabilitation support, and performance preparation across a wide range of competitive demands.
Academically, Professor Koundourakis holds a PhD in Exercise Physiology with a specialist focus on exercise endocrinology and exercise biochemistry from the School of Medicine, University of Crete. He speaks Greek and English, and his practical affiliations include OFI Crete FC, Ergotelis FC, Apollon Limassol FC, and Pafos FC. Within ISSPF, his content is positioned in sports physiology, with a distinctive focus on translating endocrine and physiological principles into practical coaching decisions that support performance, recovery, and player availability across the training week and competitive season.
Find Us on WhatsApp
Are you passionate about football and eager to learn from the best in the game? Join our WhatsApp Community today!
Connect with football coaches, performance analysts, and sports science professionals, sharing knowledge, tips, and the latest insights in football performance.