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Writer's pictureJames Donnelly

Player Case Study: Max's Journey to Elevating His Game

Updated: Nov 14


  • Age: 15

  • Location: Denmark

  • Current Level: Playing at an amateur club

  • Position: Winger/Midfielder

  • Ultimate Career Dream: To achieve everything possible in football, including winning the Champions League, La Liga, Premier League, and the World Cup


Initial Goals: Max joined the Matchfit programme with the primary goal of becoming a better player overall. He aimed to improve his nutrition and strength and conditioning (S&C) to support his dream of becoming a professional footballer. Specifically, over the next six months, he wanted to enhance his speed, stamina, and strength, with the long-term objective of playing at the highest level in Denmark within a year.


Initial Situation: Before joining the programme, Max had been playing at an amateur level and recognised several areas for improvement. While his strengths included technique, dribbling, and passing, he struggled with consistency in his performances, particularly under pressure in matches.


He noted that he played fantastically when training individually but performed worse when training with his team and even more so during matches. Additionally, Max had experienced heel and hip injuries, which had impacted his training and performance. Despite having about two years of strength training experience, he sought to refine his approach and achieve greater results through the Matchfit programme.


Fitness Assessment Findings: Max’s initial fitness assessment highlighted both his strengths and areas needing improvement:


  • Strength and Power: Max's upper body strength and core stability were identified as areas with potential for significant improvement. His max press-ups and plank times were below what might be expected for an athlete of his ambition.


  • Agility and Speed: His 505 agility test times and 30m flying sprint times indicated room for improvement in his quickness and ability to change direction efficiently.


  • Stamina and Endurance: While Max had a decent baseline of stamina, he needed to enhance his conditioning to maintain high performance levels throughout matches.


Reasons for Joining Matchfit: Max was motivated to join the Matchfit programme to become a better overall player. He specifically wanted to address his nutrition and S&C to support his ambitions of becoming a professional footballer. The structured approach and focus on individual needs within the programme were key factors in his decision to join.


Improvements Observed: Over the first 90 days of the programme, Max experienced significant improvements across multiple areas:


  • Strength: Max’s max press-ups improved by 59.09%, and his max wall sit time increased by an impressive 97.67%, demonstrating substantial gains in both upper body and lower body strength. His max plank time also improved by 45.45%, reflecting enhanced core stability.


  • Agility and Speed: His 505 agility test scores improved by 12.41% on the left side and 6.2% on the right side, indicating better balance and directional change ability. Additionally, his 30m flying sprint time improved by 5.78%, showing increased speed from a moving start..


  • Stamina and Endurance: Max’s stamina and endurance saw a remarkable 50% improvement, allowing him to maintain a higher level of performance throughout longer periods of play.


  • Overall Performance: His broad jump improved by 15.26%, indicating enhanced lower body power and explosiveness.



Performance Changes: These improvements translated into better performance on the field. Max noticed that he was able to maintain his energy and focus longer during matches, and his increased strength and agility made him more competitive in 1v1 situations. His ability to execute quick directional changes improved, allowing him to be more effective in his winger and midfielder roles.


Confidence and Mentality: Max mentioned that seeing the significant improvements in his retesting results was a major boost to his motivation. The tangible progress he made over the first 90 days helped him stay consistent with his training, and he began to feel more confident in his abilities during matches.


Programme Flexibility: The structured and personalised approach of the Matchfit programme was a key factor in Max’s success. The focus on specific areas of improvement, combined with the ability to track progress, made it easier for him to stay motivated and see the results of his hard work.


Player’s Perspective: Max appreciated the clear and measurable improvements he achieved through the programme. The results not only validated his efforts but also encouraged him to continue pushing himself towards his long-term goals.


Hypothetical Scenario Without Matchfit: Without the Matchfit programme, Max likely would have continued to struggle with consistency in his performances, particularly under pressure in matches. His physical development in areas like strength, speed, and endurance might have been slower, potentially limiting his progress towards becoming a professional footballer.


Conclusion: Max's journey through the Matchfit programme has led to substantial improvements in strength, agility, speed, and endurance—all within just the first 90 days of his training process. These gains are a testament to his dedication and training consistency.


As he continues his training, the foundations he has built will support his continued development, bringing him closer to his ultimate goal of playing at the highest level in Denmark. The progress he has made so far is significant, and the potential for further growth over the coming months of the programme is promising.


Max is enrolled on our Elite Football Athlete programme, if you'd like more details for your son or daughter click the image below:



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