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PAOK AcademyPhilosophy

paokfc.gr/Scientific Support

Scientific support

Children are chosen by the specialists based on their technical qualities and talents and not on their physical condition. Specialists who work at PAOK Youth and Developments Sections, say: “Even if the player has been blessed with good genes, he needs to train a lot and enhance his physical condition in order to bring himself to the level of a complete footballer”.

 PAOK medical staff measure and assess the physical qualities of each child to ascertain whether and how they can be improved through proper training. Those measurements are held three times per year in all age groups over 14, in order to monitor:

# Endurance

# Explosiveness

# Strength

# Speed

# Muscle oxygenation                        

# When and how much fatigue kicks in.

Each year, all children go through meticulous medical tests, including a detailed examination by an orthopedic surgeon and a growth specialist. Especially in younger ages (6 to 12), a pediatrician specialized in growth monitors the children every month.

 It should be noted that the “Double-Headed Eagle” are the only club in Greece to keep a detailed record of all their athletes.

Collaboration with the Human Biological Performance Evaluation Laboratory of the School of Physical Education and Sport Science (TEFAA) of Thessaloniki

Since the 2024–2025 competitive season, a successful scientific collaboration has begun and continues between the PAOK Academy’s Youth Departments, the PAOK B Team, and the Human Biological Performance Evaluation Laboratory of the TEFAA Thessaloniki, under the direction of Professor of Exercise Physiology Mr. Thomas Metaxas. This partnership provides comprehensive scientific support through the necessary ergometric tests, both in the laboratory and in the field, for our team’s football players.

Within the framework of this multifaceted collaboration, beyond ergometric evaluation of players’ performance during the annual training cycle to improve competitive performance and fitness levels, training load is investigated, along with the analysis and processing of each athlete’s GPS data during the microcycle and matches. The ultimate goal is the prevention and avoidance of muscular injuries, under the guidance of Mr. Ioannis Michailidis, Special Teaching Staff of TEFAA Thessaloniki.

Moreover, this collaboration includes meetings with the coaching staff of the teams, as well as training and guidance of strength and conditioning coaches, aiming at more effective planning of training loads and optimal management of the training process.

Measurements are carried out regularly and assessed in cooperation with PAOK FC’s technical staff, providing scientifically documented data for the individualization of training programs and the optimal development of players at a personal level, preparing them for the demands of joining the First Team and competing at the highest professional level.

This collaboration continues to provide top-level scientific support, actively contributing to the progress, development, and evolution of our football players across all age groups.

Psycho-spiritual support

A key factor in sports, and especially in developmental football, is the provision of a comprehensive psycho-spiritual support program. The goal is to balance mental strength, motivation and healthy collaboration. At the PAOK Academy, psychological support is a key part of the development of young athletes. The academy’s psychologist is by the young players’ side both on the pitch, helping them manage stress, pressure and failures, and off the pitch at the Academy House, where support is provided to those who may have difficulty adapting.

The goal is to strengthen self-confidence, concentration and mental resilience, but also to create a safe environment for collaboration with coaches and parents, so that each and every young athlete develops in a balanced way on a personal and professional level.

The PAOK Academy psychologist Evangelos Kleitsas emphasis the main axes on which the process of psycho-spiritual support is based, which are the following:

• Strengthening mental resilience

• Techniques for managing pressure and anxiety in training and competitions

• Athletic motivation and concentration, strengthening focus on goals and maintaining high motivation

• Management of failures and injuries, assistance in psychological rehabilitation after injuries or competitive failures

• Strengthening self-confidence and developing a positive self-image and belief in one’s abilities

• Teamwork and communication, cultivating healthy interpersonal relationships and cooperation in the team

• Collaboration with coaches to create a supportive environment around the athlete

Evangelos Kleitsas is a psychologist and mental coach. He was born in 1990 in Ioannina, he graduated from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, from which he holds a Bachelor’s degree. He holds a master’s degree from the University of Rome Tor Vergata, is a graduate of the Barcelona Innovation Hub with a specialization in the psychology of high performance in sports and holds a UEFA B diploma. He has also completed postgraduate training in Child Psychology at the University of the Aegean.

He has worked in schools and in the PAOK women’s football team. He speaks English and Italian.

Emphasis on nutritional therapy

Nutritionist and laureate in physical education Ioanna Paspala is responsible for the boys’ proper nutrition. PAOK Academy have made it a point to hold monthly educational meetings on issues of Nutritional Therapy in relation with sports and most particularly with football, adjusting the topic on the age of the participants.

The main aim is to make children understand the basic concept of nutrition and its importance in sports performance and health. The diminutive athletes are also subjected to measurements of their body characteristics, in order to assess their physical development and dietary needs. Measurements are held every two months to record significant height/weight changes. Repeated control and monitoring of the players’ physical characteristics is a highly important parameter in sports, as research shows their direct correlation with sports performance.

Children are urged to keep a “Journal of Weekly Dietary Intake”. After filling it, they are welcome to discuss it in order to realize the healthy and not so healthy choices they made and how they can improve and enhance their nutritional options.

 

The non-negotiable constant of education

 

Playing in a championship and combining it with school is no easy task. And by that we mean, obviously, the consistency, the mood for knowledge, and the time for systematic education. Children who engage in any sport at the top level – which, let’s be realistic, does not necessarily emerge along the way – must owe it to themselves to aim for the right education as a whole. A win on a Sunday on the pitch is not an end in itself.

And this is a constant for the PAOK Academy, which places special importance to the education of its players, especially those who live far away from their families, at the PAOK Academy House. PAOK collaborates with specific schools, so that there is a comprehensive and controlled picture of the young player’s attendance, and especially at the house, there is the opportunity for study, auxiliary courses and remedial teaching.

At the PAOK Academy we are proud of the players who, despite the long and daily training, are good students and even manage to be admitted to higher educational institutions, proving that it’s the will and the effort that make you a winner.

The head of the under-age players at PAOK FC on issues related to their school activity and their daily preparation as students is Ioanna Charalambous. She is a graduate of the Department of Philosophy & Pedagogy at the School of Philosophy of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and holds a master’s degree in special education on «behavioral relationships of teachers who interact with students in difficulty, in collaboration with their families» at the University of Turin .

She speaks English and Italian, and is also fluent in Braille. Also on her CV, among other things, she has a six-month internship at the 3rd Elementary School of Evosmos, as well as her tenure as a teacher to students of all school levels in their daily preparation for school at the “Arsis” hospitality and support center for unaccompanied minors.

PAOK AcademyPhilosophy

paokfc.gr/Scientific Support

Scientific support

Children are chosen by the specialists based on their technical qualities and talents and not on their physical condition. Specialists who work at PAOK Youth and Developments Sections, say: “Even if the player has been blessed with good genes, he needs to train a lot and enhance his physical condition in order to bring himself to the level of a complete footballer”.

 PAOK medical staff measure and assess the physical qualities of each child to ascertain whether and how they can be improved through proper training. Those measurements are held three times per year in all age groups over 14, in order to monitor:

# Endurance

# Explosiveness

# Strength

# Speed

# Muscle oxygenation                        

# When and how much fatigue kicks in.

Each year, all children go through meticulous medical tests, including a detailed examination by an orthopedic surgeon and a growth specialist. Especially in younger ages (6 to 12), a pediatrician specialized in growth monitors the children every month.

 It should be noted that the “Double-Headed Eagle” are the only club in Greece to keep a detailed record of all their athletes.

Collaboration with the Human Biological Performance Evaluation Laboratory of the School of Physical Education and Sport Science (TEFAA) of Thessaloniki

Since the 2024–2025 competitive season, a successful scientific collaboration has begun and continues between the PAOK Academy’s Youth Departments, the PAOK B Team, and the Human Biological Performance Evaluation Laboratory of the TEFAA Thessaloniki, under the direction of Professor of Exercise Physiology Mr. Thomas Metaxas. This partnership provides comprehensive scientific support through the necessary ergometric tests, both in the laboratory and in the field, for our team’s football players.

Within the framework of this multifaceted collaboration, beyond ergometric evaluation of players’ performance during the annual training cycle to improve competitive performance and fitness levels, training load is investigated, along with the analysis and processing of each athlete’s GPS data during the microcycle and matches. The ultimate goal is the prevention and avoidance of muscular injuries, under the guidance of Mr. Ioannis Michailidis, Special Teaching Staff of TEFAA Thessaloniki.

Moreover, this collaboration includes meetings with the coaching staff of the teams, as well as training and guidance of strength and conditioning coaches, aiming at more effective planning of training loads and optimal management of the training process.

Measurements are carried out regularly and assessed in cooperation with PAOK FC’s technical staff, providing scientifically documented data for the individualization of training programs and the optimal development of players at a personal level, preparing them for the demands of joining the First Team and competing at the highest professional level.

This collaboration continues to provide top-level scientific support, actively contributing to the progress, development, and evolution of our football players across all age groups.

Psycho-spiritual support

A key factor in sports, and especially in developmental football, is the provision of a comprehensive psycho-spiritual support program. The goal is to balance mental strength, motivation and healthy collaboration. At the PAOK Academy, psychological support is a key part of the development of young athletes. The academy’s psychologist is by the young players’ side both on the pitch, helping them manage stress, pressure and failures, and off the pitch at the Academy House, where support is provided to those who may have difficulty adapting.

The goal is to strengthen self-confidence, concentration and mental resilience, but also to create a safe environment for collaboration with coaches and parents, so that each and every young athlete develops in a balanced way on a personal and professional level.

The PAOK Academy psychologist Evangelos Kleitsas emphasis the main axes on which the process of psycho-spiritual support is based, which are the following:

• Strengthening mental resilience

• Techniques for managing pressure and anxiety in training and competitions

• Athletic motivation and concentration, strengthening focus on goals and maintaining high motivation

• Management of failures and injuries, assistance in psychological rehabilitation after injuries or competitive failures

• Strengthening self-confidence and developing a positive self-image and belief in one’s abilities

• Teamwork and communication, cultivating healthy interpersonal relationships and cooperation in the team

• Collaboration with coaches to create a supportive environment around the athlete

Evangelos Kleitsas is a psychologist and mental coach. He was born in 1990 in Ioannina, he graduated from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, from which he holds a Bachelor’s degree. He holds a master’s degree from the University of Rome Tor Vergata, is a graduate of the Barcelona Innovation Hub with a specialization in the psychology of high performance in sports and holds a UEFA B diploma. He has also completed postgraduate training in Child Psychology at the University of the Aegean.

He has worked in schools and in the PAOK women’s football team. He speaks English and Italian.

Emphasis on nutritional therapy

Nutritionist and laureate in physical education Ioanna Paspala is responsible for the boys’ proper nutrition. PAOK Academy have made it a point to hold monthly educational meetings on issues of Nutritional Therapy in relation with sports and most particularly with football, adjusting the topic on the age of the participants.

The main aim is to make children understand the basic concept of nutrition and its importance in sports performance and health. The diminutive athletes are also subjected to measurements of their body characteristics, in order to assess their physical development and dietary needs. Measurements are held every two months to record significant height/weight changes. Repeated control and monitoring of the players’ physical characteristics is a highly important parameter in sports, as research shows their direct correlation with sports performance.

Children are urged to keep a “Journal of Weekly Dietary Intake”. After filling it, they are welcome to discuss it in order to realize the healthy and not so healthy choices they made and how they can improve and enhance their nutritional options.

 

The non-negotiable constant of education

 

Playing in a championship and combining it with school is no easy task. And by that we mean, obviously, the consistency, the mood for knowledge, and the time for systematic education. Children who engage in any sport at the top level – which, let’s be realistic, does not necessarily emerge along the way – must owe it to themselves to aim for the right education as a whole. A win on a Sunday on the pitch is not an end in itself.

And this is a constant for the PAOK Academy, which places special importance to the education of its players, especially those who live far away from their families, at the PAOK Academy House. PAOK collaborates with specific schools, so that there is a comprehensive and controlled picture of the young player’s attendance, and especially at the house, there is the opportunity for study, auxiliary courses and remedial teaching.

At the PAOK Academy we are proud of the players who, despite the long and daily training, are good students and even manage to be admitted to higher educational institutions, proving that it’s the will and the effort that make you a winner.

The head of the under-age players at PAOK FC on issues related to their school activity and their daily preparation as students is Ioanna Charalambous. She is a graduate of the Department of Philosophy & Pedagogy at the School of Philosophy of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and holds a master’s degree in special education on «behavioral relationships of teachers who interact with students in difficulty, in collaboration with their families» at the University of Turin .

She speaks English and Italian, and is also fluent in Braille. Also on her CV, among other things, she has a six-month internship at the 3rd Elementary School of Evosmos, as well as her tenure as a teacher to students of all school levels in their daily preparation for school at the “Arsis” hospitality and support center for unaccompanied minors.

PAOK AcademyPhilosophy

Scientific Support

Scientific support

Children are chosen by the specialists based on their technical qualities and talents and not on their physical condition. Specialists who work at PAOK Youth and Developments Sections, say: “Even if the player has been blessed with good genes, he needs to train a lot and enhance his physical condition in order to bring himself to the level of a complete footballer”.

 PAOK medical staff measure and assess the physical qualities of each child to ascertain whether and how they can be improved through proper training. Those measurements are held three times per year in all age groups over 14, in order to monitor:

# Endurance

# Explosiveness

# Strength

# Speed

# Muscle oxygenation                        

# When and how much fatigue kicks in.

Each year, all children go through meticulous medical tests, including a detailed examination by an orthopedic surgeon and a growth specialist. Especially in younger ages (6 to 12), a pediatrician specialized in growth monitors the children every month.

 It should be noted that the “Double-Headed Eagle” are the only club in Greece to keep a detailed record of all their athletes.

Collaboration with the Human Biological Performance Evaluation Laboratory of the School of Physical Education and Sport Science (TEFAA) of Thessaloniki

Since the 2024–2025 competitive season, a successful scientific collaboration has begun and continues between the PAOK Academy’s Youth Departments, the PAOK B Team, and the Human Biological Performance Evaluation Laboratory of the TEFAA Thessaloniki, under the direction of Professor of Exercise Physiology Mr. Thomas Metaxas. This partnership provides comprehensive scientific support through the necessary ergometric tests, both in the laboratory and in the field, for our team’s football players.

Within the framework of this multifaceted collaboration, beyond ergometric evaluation of players’ performance during the annual training cycle to improve competitive performance and fitness levels, training load is investigated, along with the analysis and processing of each athlete’s GPS data during the microcycle and matches. The ultimate goal is the prevention and avoidance of muscular injuries, under the guidance of Mr. Ioannis Michailidis, Special Teaching Staff of TEFAA Thessaloniki.

Moreover, this collaboration includes meetings with the coaching staff of the teams, as well as training and guidance of strength and conditioning coaches, aiming at more effective planning of training loads and optimal management of the training process.

Measurements are carried out regularly and assessed in cooperation with PAOK FC’s technical staff, providing scientifically documented data for the individualization of training programs and the optimal development of players at a personal level, preparing them for the demands of joining the First Team and competing at the highest professional level.

This collaboration continues to provide top-level scientific support, actively contributing to the progress, development, and evolution of our football players across all age groups.

Psycho-spiritual support

A key factor in sports, and especially in developmental football, is the provision of a comprehensive psycho-spiritual support program. The goal is to balance mental strength, motivation and healthy collaboration. At the PAOK Academy, psychological support is a key part of the development of young athletes. The academy’s psychologist is by the young players’ side both on the pitch, helping them manage stress, pressure and failures, and off the pitch at the Academy House, where support is provided to those who may have difficulty adapting.

The goal is to strengthen self-confidence, concentration and mental resilience, but also to create a safe environment for collaboration with coaches and parents, so that each and every young athlete develops in a balanced way on a personal and professional level.

The PAOK Academy psychologist Evangelos Kleitsas emphasis the main axes on which the process of psycho-spiritual support is based, which are the following:

• Strengthening mental resilience

• Techniques for managing pressure and anxiety in training and competitions

• Athletic motivation and concentration, strengthening focus on goals and maintaining high motivation

• Management of failures and injuries, assistance in psychological rehabilitation after injuries or competitive failures

• Strengthening self-confidence and developing a positive self-image and belief in one’s abilities

• Teamwork and communication, cultivating healthy interpersonal relationships and cooperation in the team

• Collaboration with coaches to create a supportive environment around the athlete

Evangelos Kleitsas is a psychologist and mental coach. He was born in 1990 in Ioannina, he graduated from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, from which he holds a Bachelor’s degree. He holds a master’s degree from the University of Rome Tor Vergata, is a graduate of the Barcelona Innovation Hub with a specialization in the psychology of high performance in sports and holds a UEFA B diploma. He has also completed postgraduate training in Child Psychology at the University of the Aegean.

He has worked in schools and in the PAOK women’s football team. He speaks English and Italian.

Emphasis on nutritional therapy

Nutritionist and laureate in physical education Ioanna Paspala is responsible for the boys’ proper nutrition. PAOK Academy have made it a point to hold monthly educational meetings on issues of Nutritional Therapy in relation with sports and most particularly with football, adjusting the topic on the age of the participants.

The main aim is to make children understand the basic concept of nutrition and its importance in sports performance and health. The diminutive athletes are also subjected to measurements of their body characteristics, in order to assess their physical development and dietary needs. Measurements are held every two months to record significant height/weight changes. Repeated control and monitoring of the players’ physical characteristics is a highly important parameter in sports, as research shows their direct correlation with sports performance.

Children are urged to keep a “Journal of Weekly Dietary Intake”. After filling it, they are welcome to discuss it in order to realize the healthy and not so healthy choices they made and how they can improve and enhance their nutritional options.

 

The non-negotiable constant of education

 

Playing in a championship and combining it with school is no easy task. And by that we mean, obviously, the consistency, the mood for knowledge, and the time for systematic education. Children who engage in any sport at the top level – which, let’s be realistic, does not necessarily emerge along the way – must owe it to themselves to aim for the right education as a whole. A win on a Sunday on the pitch is not an end in itself.

And this is a constant for the PAOK Academy, which places special importance to the education of its players, especially those who live far away from their families, at the PAOK Academy House. PAOK collaborates with specific schools, so that there is a comprehensive and controlled picture of the young player’s attendance, and especially at the house, there is the opportunity for study, auxiliary courses and remedial teaching.

At the PAOK Academy we are proud of the players who, despite the long and daily training, are good students and even manage to be admitted to higher educational institutions, proving that it’s the will and the effort that make you a winner.

The head of the under-age players at PAOK FC on issues related to their school activity and their daily preparation as students is Ioanna Charalambous. She is a graduate of the Department of Philosophy & Pedagogy at the School of Philosophy of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and holds a master’s degree in special education on «behavioral relationships of teachers who interact with students in difficulty, in collaboration with their families» at the University of Turin .

She speaks English and Italian, and is also fluent in Braille. Also on her CV, among other things, she has a six-month internship at the 3rd Elementary School of Evosmos, as well as her tenure as a teacher to students of all school levels in their daily preparation for school at the “Arsis” hospitality and support center for unaccompanied minors.

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