HPFC TEAM
Passion, Experience, Expertise
Dr. Marc Quintana, Ph.D, UEFA Pro
Dr. Marc Quintana, co-founder of Forefront Football based in Catalonia Spain, has spent 10 seasons at FC Barcelona in various roles and capacities which included: academy coach, East and Middle East Academy Coordinator, U-18 methodology coordinator within the methodology department, and professor within the Master's of Professional football at INEF & FC Barcelona. Dr. Quintana hold a Ph.D in sports sciences. Forefront Football is a professional football consultancy which provides advanced solutions to players, coaches and clubs. To learn more about Forefront Football click here.
Prof. Xavi Damunt, UEFA Pro
Prof. Xavi Damunt, co-founder of Forefront Football based in Catalonia Spain, has spent 10 season at FC Barcelona in the following roles and capacities: academy coach, academy coordinator, and head of the innovation and technical development within in the methodology department. Prof. Damunt has previously worked as coach at RDC Espanyol and acts as professor within the Master's of Professional Football Program at INEF and FC Barcelona. Most interestingly, Prof. Damunt is the co-author (other author Prof. Isaac Guerrero) of the groundbreaking book, A systematic training based on emotions: a proposal for the optimization of the developmental player. The prologue to this book was written by FC Barcelona legend Andrés Iniesta, and world renowned football expert, Prof. Paco Serul-Lo. Forefront Football is a professional football consultancy which provides advanced solutions to players, coaches and clubs. To learn more about Forefront Football click here.
Bijan Azizi, UEFA A, USSF A
Coach Bijan Azizi is a former professional player who spent his playing career in the Iranian Premier League. Subsequent to his playing career, coach Azizi began his professional coaching career taking on the leadership of pro clubs such as Shahdari Tabriz FC, and the world renowned club Persepolis FC. During his time in Iran, he also served as a tactical analyst on Iran's biggest football show which is viewed globally by an audience of 35 million nightly. In Canada, coach Azizi has served as head coach to both the provincial and national programs.
Alen Vukobrad, UEFA A (Croatia)
Coach Alen Vukobrad is a professional football coach currently working at the professional youth level in Croatia, where his team competes against clubs such as Dynamo Zagreb and NHK Hajduk Split. Previously, Coach Alen has served as assistant technical director of Barca Academy (Toronto), where over 7 years he was in charge of delivering over 50 official FC Barcelona camps. Coach Alen has also coached professionally in the CSL. Currently, he is head scout in North America for the Croatian Football Federation.
Derek Salvador, BA, CSCS, HPT (C)
Derek Salvador is a football-specific strength and conditioning specialist and a University of Toronto lecturer in the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education. We are honored to have Derek and his organization, Novanta Sports Performance, serve as our Sports Sciences & Strength and Conditioning advisor. Derek Salvador graduated from the University of Windsor with a Bachelors's degree in Psychology. Subsequently, Derek went on to complete a certification as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA and furthered advanced his education with a certification from Humber College in the field of Human Performance Training. Derek, who most recently served as the Strength and Conditioning Specialist to York 9 F.C of the Canadian Premier League, has a wealth of experience and a proven track record when it comes to collaborating with high performance football (soccer) players. During his career Derek Salvador has acted as Strength and Conditioning coach to EPL, Bundesliga, MLS, SPL, and National Tem players, all of which you can read about on his website.
Sam Tajik, B-Diploma
Coach Sam, who played youth and semi-professional football in Canada, and third division football in Italy, began his coaching career as an assistant to coach Mo nearly 10 years ago. Over a period of 3 years, and as assistant at two different clubs, Sam continued to develop his skills and knowledge, which led to positions as high performance assistant coach and head developmental coach at Barca Academy Toronto. During his 3 years at Barca Academy Toronto, Sam helped to deliver numerous official F.C. Barcelona Summer Soccer Camps in Toronto, Canada. Furthermore during this time, coach Sam had the privilege of working under three different F.C. Barcelona Technical Directors, and received internal club education in methodology. Sam holds certifications from FC Barcelona in the areas of: Leadership, Ethics and Social Responsibility, Barca Methodology, Football Tactical Analyst, Sports Nutrition, and High Performance Sports Psychology.
Raymond Fernandez, BA, R.Kin., CEP
Raymond Fernandes is HPFC's on-field high performance sports therapist. Raymond graduated from York University with a Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology and Health Science in 2015. He is a Registered Kinesiologist with the College of Kinesiologists of Ontario, as well as a Certified Exercise Physiologist through the Health and Fitness Federation of Canada. Raymond has completed courses in Soft Tissue Release, Kinesio Taping, and Concussion management. Raymond has previously served as on field therapist at Barca Academy Toronto.
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Dr. Bayegan, LLB, LLM, Ph.D
Dr. Bayegan, Founder and CEO of HMB Immigration Consultants, serves as HPFC's legal advisor and director of projects in Turkey and the Middle East. Ms. Bayegan holds a Bachelor of Science in the field of psychology from York University, a Bachelor of Social Sciences in the area of sociology of law and commercial law from Birmingham University (UK), and a Master's of Law in the areas of commercial and international law, also from Birmingham University (UK). Dr. Bayegan holds a Ph.D in Law.
Dr. Bayegan, (Hon) B.Sc., DC, MA, MPF, UEFA B (Spain)
Dr. Bayegan holds a Masters of Professional Football from FC Barcelona and the National Institute of Physical Education of Catalonia. Dr. Bayegan is a football specialist who has previously served as team doctor for his provincial federation. He holds a specialized honours degree from the University of Toronto in the field of molecular genetics and microbiology, with a major in sociology. He has also completed a masters of sociology at the University of western Ontario. Dr. Bayegan is a chiropractic clinician and a graduate of Canadian Memorial Chiropractic in Canada. Lastly, he has completed advanced certifications from FC Barcelona in the areas of: Football coaching & methodology, neuroscience of training, high performance sports psychology, and football tactical analysis. Dr. Bayegan has previously served as high performance coach at Barca Academy, and worked as a coach and tactical analyst in Spain within clubs such as Intercity CF, Novelda, and Benidorm.
Dr. Gringmuth, FRCCS (C), FCCPOR(C)
Dr. Robert H. Gringmuth is a sports and rehabilitation specialist who has been treating high performance athletes for over 30 years, providing expert diagnostic assessment, treatment and post-conditioning programs. Dr. Gringmuth, who is regarded as one of the leading football-specific sports specialist in Canada, has previously served as part of the official medical committee of the FIFA U20 World Cup in 2007 in Canada. Furthermore, Dr. Gringmuth has served numerous times as team doctor to both the Men's and Women's Canadian National Soccer Teams at international tournaments and events. He has also acted as coordinator of healthcare services for the Toronto Blizzard Soccer Club, The Toronto Shooting Stars Indoor Pro Soccer Club, the Ontario Soccer Association (Team Ontario), Toronto Thunder Hawks and the National Training Centres (east) for Canada Soccer. Lastly, Dr. Gringmuth has served as Medical coordinator for international club games held in Toronto, Canada, which were played by the Celtics, F.C. Porto, Liverpool and A.S. Roma.