Valter Di Salvo

Who is Valter Di Salvo?

Valter Di Salvo is an Italian fitness coach who is employed by the Qatar Football Association as the Director of Performance and Enhancement and Football Science at the Aspire Academy. He moved to Qatar after his second spell at Spanish club 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 was 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. 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.