Al-Ahli strengthens its performance system with international expertise in medicine, rehabilitation and physical conditioning.
As part of its efforts to develop its professional operations and enhance various technical and medical aspects, Al-Ahli has further strengthened its staff with the addition of a group of specialists with diverse international experience in football, including sports medicine, physiotherapy, sports science and physical conditioning, in line with the club’s aspirations to enhance performance standards and player's welfare.
Among the new appointments is Spanish doctor Simón Bueno López, who joins the medical team following a career spanning several years with Spanish club Villarreal, during which he began working with the youth teams before moving to the first team, where he served as assistant doctor and then first-team doctor between 2021 and 2024, before taking on the role of the club’s medical coordinator in 2024.
Bueno López has a specialized academic background, holding a degree in medicine from CEU Cardenal Herrera University, and is currently pursuing a PhD in medicine. He also holds a FIFA Diploma in Football Medicine and has participated in a number of specialist medical programs and conferences, with expertise in diagnosing injuries, analyzing medical tests, utilizing modern diagnostic techniques and monitoring players’ vital signs.
Dutch physiotherapist Jesper Gabriëls is also joining the medical team, bringing with him experience gained in both the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia, where he worked with the first team at Al-Qadisiyah Club, undertaking the diagnosis and treatment of injuries, supervising rehabilitation and prevention programs, and providing medical cover for training sessions and matches.
Gabriëls has previously worked with the first team at Dutch club Vitesse, and also served as head of the medical team for the Ittihad Club Football Federation’s ‘Future Falcons’ program. He holds a Master’s degree in Sports Physiotherapy from the University of Bath in the UK, as well as a FIFA Diploma in Football Medicine and a number of specialist qualifications in physiotherapy and physical conditioning.
On the technical side, Portuguese sports science and fitness specialist Luke Garcia joins the coaching staff, having gained extensive experience in the United States, Portugal and Canada, most recently with the American club Los Angeles Galaxy as a physical performance coach for the Under-23s, where he worked on developing physical programs, monitoring training loads, analyzing performance data and recovery programs.
Garcia also has previous experience with Portuguese club Benfica in the fields of physical performance and sports science, in addition to his work with Canadian club Toronto FC in the youth sector. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Applied Sports Science and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in High-Performance Sport, alongside holding specialist professional qualifications in physical conditioning.
The coaching staff is further strengthened by the expertise of Austrian fitness coach Sebastian Kirchner, who has an impressive track record in physical conditioning and sports science, gained through his time with Red Bull Salzburg, where he has served as fitness coach for the first team since 2019, where he has contributed to the development of physical training programs, the analysis of performance data, and the monitoring of training loads and injury prevention programs.
Kirchner has previously worked with Liefering, the Red Bull Salzburg Academy and the Olympic Training Centre in Salzburg. He holds a Master’s degree in Sports and Exercise Science from the University of Innsbruck, as well as a UEFA Fitness A license and speaks German and English, with a good knowledge of Portuguese.
The appointment of these individuals forms part of the club’s strategy to build an integrated system combining international experience and scientific expertise, with the aim of supporting players and developing performance both on and off the pitch.