Meet the SoccerFitness experts
Our experts - Jens Bangsbo & Casper Skovgaard - share more than 30 years of academic and professional experience
Jens Bangsbo
Coaching the best in the world
Professional Background
Jens is a UEFA pro-license coach (2014) and UEFA, AFC and FIFA instructor.
After working with Carlo Ancelotti at Juventus FC between 1999-2001, Jens became the Assistant Coach of Juventus FC winning two Italian Championships, two Italian Super-cups, and in 2003 reaching the Champions League final with the team. Until 2004 at Juventus, he was a coach of players such as Zinedine Zidane, Gianluigi Buffon, Alexandro Del Piero and Pavel Nedved – Ballon d’Or winner in 2003.
In the season of 2007/2008, he was a technical/tactical consultant for Lorenzo Serra Ferrer at AEK Athens. Afterwards, He became an assistant coach for Leonardo at Antalyaspor in the fall of 2017.
Jens has been the Assistant Coach of the Danish National Team where he was part of the coaching staff for EURO 2004, World Cup 2010, and EURO 2012.
Jens is currently working as consultant for Gian Piero Gasperini at Atalanta B.C.
Earlier Career
Jens has played more than 350 matches in the Danish Premier League and in the Danish National Team.
He studied mathematics and physiology at the University of Copenhagen, graduating in 1984 and achieving the honorary degree ‘Doctor of Science’ in 1994. Thereafter, He became a professor at the Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports in 2003.
Sharing of knowledge both on and off the field made Jens write more than 15 books about football. Three of them focused on the tactical aspects of football: “Soccer Systems and Strategies”, “Offensive Soccer Tactics” and “Defensive Soccer Tactics”. Additionally, he has written books about fitness training specific to demands in the game of football.
Other Achievements
As part of Nike’s Boot Camp, Speed and Ignite initiatives, Jens has developed player specific programs for Andres Iniesta, Carlos Tevez, Nani, Ronaldinho, and Cesc Fabregas.
He has developed the Creative Speed test for 5 time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.
Jens is the inventor of the Yo-Yo tests, which are the most used tests in soccer. His ability to translate scientific knowledge into practice is widely respected all over the world.
Fitness Training in Elite Football - Individual Development - Alicante, Spain
Casper Skovgaard
From Sicence to Practice
Professional Background
Casper Skovgaard completed his PhD degree in Human Physiology in collaboration with Team Danmark, the Danish elite sports organization, and the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2017. Casper has played at the highest youth-level in Denmark.
Earlier Career
Casper was Head of Strength and Conditioning for the renowned academy at FC Nordjælland for 3 years. He has been working as Strength and Conditioning Coach and Assistant Coach for Premier League, 1st and 2nd Division clubs in Denmark.
Casper has recently worked as Head of Strength and Conditioning at Antalyaspor, Turkey, as part of the Technical Staff managed by Leonardo. Other staff members were Angelo Castellazzi, Jens Bangsbo and Serginho. During this period, he was the coach of players such as Samuel Eto’o, Samir Nasri, Jeremy Menez, William Vainqueur, Johan Djourou and Sandro.
Other Achievements
Casper has worked as a Team Danmark Sport Physiologist for world-class badminton, ice hockey and handball players as well as world-class rowers and kayakers.
Our two experts have worked together previously, and have decided to create SoccerFitness to further educate professional coaches in the field of soccer fitness.
