This summer, AS Saint-Étienne strengthened its team with the arrival of Dr. Foivos Papastaikoudis, an internationally renowned sports psychologist. At 39, this specialist, both a researcher and a practitioner, is responsible for instilling a new culture of performance within the club. His recruitment demonstrates the leadership’s willingness to professionalize all aspects of performance, integrating leading mental preparation for the Stéphanois players. Papastaikoudis, a Ph.D. from Oxford Brookes University focused on the impact of the challenge on young talent, brings scientific expertise and a human and personalized approach.

The experience of Papastaikoudis is rich and varied, extending to several English football clubs, MMA and athletics. In particular, he spent six years with Chelsea FC youth and led the psychology department of Brighton Academy, in direct collaboration with the men’s and women’s teams. His philosophy is based on an understanding of the history and life course of each player, considering the young person as a being under construction rather than a simple product to be modeled. It insists on individual adaptation, valorisation of forces, acceptance of weaknesses and accompanying periods of doubt.

In Saint-Étienne, Papastaikoudis’ mission will be to intervene in the management of pressure, emotional regulation and the building of trust, both at individual and collective level. It will accompany players in the injury, misform, transition to the elite or end of career phases, and will help the staff to better understand the players’ psychological profiles. His expertise, validated by his status as Chartered Sport Psychologist in the UK, is a major asset for a club in reconstruction, faced with popular pressure and high ambitions. It is a fundamental lever for building a strong collective, able to face the challenges of the season in League 2.