Dr. Raphael Villatore is a sports medicine physician and former physical therapist whose work sits at the interface of elite football medical care, recovery strategy, and applied performance support. He currently serves as Clinical Director at Al Duhail SC (since September 2025) and is also an NSMP Doctor at Aspetar (since August 2025), working within one of the world’s leading sport medicine environments in Doha, Qatar. Prior to these roles, he worked in the UAE with Al Jazira Sports & Cultural Club, first as Academy Lead Doctor (August 2023–June 2025) and then as First Team Doctor (February 2025–July 2025), supporting both long-term player development and first-team readiness across a demanding competitive calendar. Alongside his football appointments, he has held leadership responsibilities in clinical practice as Diretor Técnico at Hospital São Marcos in Brazil (July 2022–July 2023).
Academically, Dr. Villatore studied at UNESC – Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, completing a degree in Physical Therapy (2000–2005) before earning his Doctor of Medicine (MD, 2007–2013). He also holds postgraduate training in Sports Medicine, a Master’s in Football Medicine, and has built a career grounded in day-to-day football medical decision-making and evidence-informed recovery planning. His practical football experience includes work with Criciúma Esporte Clube, adding further depth to his club-based medical pathway.
Within ISSPF, he contributed as a Lecturer (December 2019–June 2024), with content centred on recovery methods in soccer, offering an applied overview of how medical and performance teams structure recovery across training and match cycles. His teaching focus connects sports medicine and physical therapy to real-world practice, including recovery method selection, post-match and microcycle recovery organisation, and decision-making frameworks that support availability and performance. Dr. Villatore speaks Portuguese, English, and Spanish, supporting his work across multicultural football environments.
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