Valter Di Salvo

Valter Di Salvo (born 2 July 1963 in Rome, Italy) is the Italian head fitness coach at Real Madrid. He was re-signed by the Spanish champions from Manchester United, who had brought him to the club at the recommendation of United's Portuguese assistant manager, Carlos Queiroz. Queiroz had signed Di Salvo during his season as manager of Real Madrid in 2003–04. Di Salvo is heavily involved in setting the training schedules and diets of the Manchester United players, including pre-match warm-ups. Before Real Madrid, he worked in a similar role at Lazio under Sven-Göran Eriksson from 1998 to 2003, having been previously involved with the club's youth team.

Di Salvo bases much of his training sessions around the gym and technical exercises, rather than outdoors work, according to a ManUtd.com interview with Paul Scholes. [cite interview |subject=Paul Scholes |subjectlink=Paul Scholes |interviewer=Ben Hibbs |title=Interview: Paul Scholes |url=http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={79A08487-FD7F-455F-8553-D25CE87F047A}&newsid=414354 |city=Manchester |date=2007-03-27 |accessdate=2007-07-04 ] This approach was criticised by former Manchester United midfielder David Beckham, blaming Di Salvo's methods for his lack of fitness and stamina at Euro 2004. However, Beckham's claims were countered by his Real Madrid team-mate and Portugal captain Luís Figo, who claimed that he himself had maintained his fitness levels right the way through to the final of the tournament. [cite news |author=Charlie Wyett |title=I'll fit you in |url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2004320596,00.html |publisher=The Sun |accessdate=2007-07-04 ]

Di Salvo has been pictured with Real Madrid in an article and interview in their official website and is believed to have re-signed with them in Summer 2007. [cite interview |subject=Valter Di Salvo |interviewer=Cristina Monge |title=Interview: Valter Di Salvo |url=http://www.realmadrid.com/articulo/walter_realmadridcom_di_41479.htm |city=Madrid |accessdate=2007-07-31 ] Real Madrid have been linked with Di Salvo before, reportedly having spoken to the 43-year-old coach without United's permission. [cite news |author=Stuart Mathieson |title=Reds in Valter-weight battle with Real |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_united/s/1010/1010860_reds_in_valterweight_battle_with_real.html |publisher=Manchester Evening News |accessdate=2007-07-09 ]

Di Salvo has a Ph.D. in Sports Science, and his thesis was entitled "Training of elite football players according to their positional roles". While at Lazio, he also qualified as a professor of Theory and Methodology of Sport Training at Rome's University Institute of Motor Science.

References

External links

* [http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={3AAACB2A-0D97-4B70-B013-4A6844658E17}&teamid=1454&bioid=91970 Profile] at ManUtd.com