First Team Club Doctor

Location

Le Havre, Normandy, France

Department

Performance — Medical Service

Contract

Full-time, permanent.  Travel Matchday travel across France and Europe (where applicable)

ABOUT LE HAVRE AC

Le Havre Athletic Club – the oldest football club in France and a member of Ligue 1 – is seeking an experienced Team Doctor to lead the first-team medical service. The role sits at the centre of an interdisciplinary performance environment and is responsible for protecting, supporting, and optimising the health, availability, and performance of our professional players.

ROLE OVERVIEW

The Team Doctor holds the technical direction of the club medical service and is the senior clinical decision-maker for the first-team squad. Working closely with physiotherapy, physical performance, and coaching staff, the doctor delivers high-quality medical assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing health management across training, matchdays, rehabilitation, and travel.

This is a demanding, high-stakes role requiring sound clinical judgement, emotional intelligence, and calm authority.

In line with French regulation and the LFP Charter for club doctors, the post-holder exercises full clinical and professional independence, is bound by medical confidentiality, and acts at all times in the best interest of player health.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Hold technical direction of the first-team medical service, ensuring high standards of clinical care, governance, and confidentiality.
• Deliver medical assessment, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and health support to first-team players across  training, matchdays, rehabilitation, and travel.
• Provide home and away matchday medical cover, including pitchside emergency care and management of acute injury and illness.
• Lead periodic medico-sporting surveillance and player health screening in line with FFF / LFP requirements.
• Conduct pre-signing and pre-season medicals, and provide medical opinion during recruitment in accordance with professional ethics.
• Manage injury and illness, coordinating with physiotherapy and physical performance on integrated rehabilitation and return-to-play, ensuring medical progression aligns with the physical and football specific demands of the squad.
• Oversee medication management, imaging, and specialist referrals, maintaining relationships with external consultants and medical facilities.
• Lead anti-doping compliance, player education, and Therapeutic Use Exemption processes.
• Coordinate and supervise the medical and paramedical team (physiotherapists, nurses, and other support staff) as hierarchical lead of the service.
• Maintain accurate, confidential medical records and medico-legal documentation, and provide medico- administrative advice to the club.
• Plan and coordinate medical provision for domestic and international (UEFA) travel.
• Contribute to player education on health, illness prevention, and professional lifestyle, and engage in ongoing professional development.

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS (ESSENTIAL)

• Doctor of Medicine, registered with the Ordre des Médecins and authorised to practise in France (EU/EEA qualifications recognised; non-EU via the French recognition route).
• Capacité en médecine et biologie du sport (CAMS) or an equivalent sports-medicine qualification (DESC / DU / DIU), as required for club doctors under LFP rules — or eligibility under the five-year professional-club derogation.
• Current emergency / immediate care and resuscitation competence for pitchside provision, including head- injury and concussion management.
• Working knowledge of anti-doping regulation (AFLD / WADA) and Therapeutic Use Exemptions.
• Demonstrable experience in elite or professional sport, ideally within professional football.
• Fluent French (essential); working English an advantage.
• Strong interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, and calm authority under pressure; commitment to confidentiality, medical ethics, and clinical independence.
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and matchdays, and to travel domestically and internationally; willingness to be based in, or relocate to, the Le Havre area.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• DIU de médecine du football (FFF) or equivalent football-specific medical training.
• Prior Ligue 1 / Ligue 2 or comparable top-division or international club experience.
• Expertise in musculoskeletal medicine, concussion management, and cardiac screening.
• Familiarity with electronic medical records and athlete-management systems, and with integrating medical, GPS, and performance data.
• Experience operating within a multi-club or centralised performance model.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit a CV and covering letter outlining your qualifications, registration status, and relevant experience to [email protected]