Comments from Stuart Webber & David Wagner
- Dr John Iga joins Huddersfield Town- 36 year-old appointed Head of Performance Services
- Explanation from Stuart Webber & David Wagner
Huddersfield Town has today appointed Dr John Iga to the newly created role of Head of Performance Services.
This new role will see John take overall responsibility for the Sports Science and Medical departments from First Team level and throughout all Academy age groups, with all staff in these disciplines reporting to him.
36 year-old John, pictured above on the far right, is one of the country's leading names in Sports Science, having served as Head of Sports Science at the Football Association for four years before leaving earlier this year.
In that role he worked on all aspects of Sports Science and Performance Nutrition with every national team, as well as working specifically with the Under-21 group on match days.
John, who has a PhD in Exercise Physiology, joined the Football Association from Wolves, where he was Head of Academy Science and Medicine and led the Club's Sport Science activity across all levels. At Molineux he helped the Club develop the first BASES-accredited Sports Science laboratory in professional sport in the UK.
Huddersfield Town Head Coach David Wagner explained:
"The work on fitness and nutrition that our players receive is vitally important to our First Team. We are asking our lads to play the 'full throttle' style of football that I like and to do that, they must be as healthy as possible.
"John's record speaks for itself and after I met him, I was sure that he was somebody we needed to bring to Huddersfield Town. He will bring a new professionalism to this area, which is exactly what is needed to be the best.
"John is one of the leaders in his discipline in the world and it is another sign of the progress that we are making as a Club that he wants to be a part of our journey. I have talked about our desire to take the next steps in the development of the squad and I believe that John's arrival is a big one."
Huddersfield Town's Head of Football Operations Stuart Webber added:
"John's appointment to this new role is a huge one for the Club.
"We have seen the big steps taken in our style and identity on the pitch since David was appointed and now this is another big step off the pitch.
"Not only will he take modernise and improve our Sports Science, Medical and nutritional operations at First Team level, but he will also implement a 'One Club', joined-up philosophy in this field all the way through the Under-21 and Academy age groups.
"Everybody knows how important the Academy is to this Club's long-term plan for success and sustainability and we felt this was an important step forward in this area."
Alongside this appointment, Head of Sports Science Al Stewart has departed Huddersfield Town.
Al joined the Terriers from Hull City in June 2014 having previously worked with England Lacrosse, Scotland Rugby League and Manchester City's Academy.
Everyone at Huddersfield Town would like to wish Al the best of luck in the future.
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