Daniele Bonanno

Daniele Bonanno is an Italian sports scientist and football performance specialist. He is known for his work in performance coordination and applied sports science, particularly within professional football systems in Europe and the Middle East. Bonanno currently serves as Football Performance Coordinator at Aspire Academy in Doha, Qatar.

Education Bonanno obtained a bachelor's degree from the Istituto Universitario di Scienze Motorie (IUSM) in Rome and later earned a master's degree in Sport Science from the University of Rome “Tor Vergata.” He completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Education and a Certificate in Special Educational Needs at the University of Foro Italico. He also obtained a Diploma in Major Events Management from SDA Bocconi – Josoor Institute (Qatar) and an MBA from the University of St Mark & St John in the United Kingdom.

Career Bonanno has over twenty years of experience in professional football, focusing on performance management and applied sports science. He is currently the Football Performance Coordinator at Aspire Academy in Qatar, where he works within the Football Performance and Science Department led by Professor Valter Di Salvo. His responsibilities include coordinating performance integration between the Qatar Football Association (QFA) and the Qatar Stars League (QSL) under a unified national performance framework. Bonanno has contributed to the creation of a national football data management and technology infrastructure that connects clubs, national teams, and Aspire Academy. The system is designed to centralize and synchronize player performance information, allowing continuous monitoring and supporting evidence-based decision-making in Qatari football.

Before his current role, Bonanno served as Head of Football Strength and Conditioning at Aspire Academ. He also worked as a sports rehabilitation specialist at Isokinetic – FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, and as a physical coach for clubs including Al Nassr FC in Saudi Arabia and Al Nasr Club in the United Arab Emirates, as well as with the Italian Football Federation (FIGC).

Selected publications Bonanno has co-authored several peer-reviewed articles in international journals on topics including football performance, athlete recovery, and sports data analytics. He has collaborated with researchers such as Warren Gregson and Valter Di Salvo.

Perspectives on Postmatch Fatigue From 300 Elite European Soccer Players Night-to-night Variability of Objective Sleep Outcomes in Youth Middle Eastern Football Players Data Analytics in the Football Industry: Operational Frameworks and Practices in Professional Clubs and National Federations A Survey of Organizational Structure and Operational Practices of Elite Youth Football Academies and National Federations