ROBERTO FORZONI

e-Mail: roberto@robertoforzoni.com

 

  • Performance consultant and coach with experience working with National Governing Bodies (FA, LTA & EIS), Premier League Teams, Olympic and World Class individuals in sport and business
  • Extensive experience working in highly-pressurised, results-orientated, football environment, with skills in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, counselling and brief solution-focussed therapy
  • Passionate, creative, dependable and enthusiastic achiever with a reputation for building highly motivated teams with a proven track record and improving organisational efficiencies

 

 

 

KEY SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

  • Leadership, management and coaching experience in sport and business
  • Exceptional performance related results
  • International speaker and presenter, including guest lecturer at numerous universities including Loughborough, University College London and Brunel universities

CAREER HISTORY

Private Practice

Performance Consultant

                                                                    

General consultancy with a variety of clients from professional sport and business, including Coutts Bank, Risk Audit & The Association of Project Managers

 

 2000 to date
University Lecturing

Loughborough University

University College London (UCL)

Brunel University

Royal London Hospital

Kingston University

Wolverhampton University

Greenwich University

London Metropolitan University

 

 Visiting sport psychology lecturer on post-graduate and under-graduate programmes at numerous universities,

 

4 years part-time role at Brunel University:

Module leader on three psychology modules; two at MSc level, one at BSc level.

Student dissertation supervisor.

Specialising in positive psychology, confidence, motivation, group dynamics, individual differences and the use of motivational video in sport.

 

 2002 to date
LTA High Performance Centre, Bromley

Performance Consultant

 

 Working closely with performance director, staff and coach support offering feedback on effective methods to create a high-performance environment and culture.

Overseeing performance psychology area of the centre, including at over-seas training camps.

Helping elite tennis players become psychologically strong on court in pressure situations by using an interactive approach to mental skills development.

 

 2002 to date
Charlton Athletic FC

Performance Consultant

Manager Chris Powell

 

 Invited by manager, Chris Powell to enhance performance culture and help to achieve season’s aim of promotion 2011 to date

 

 
Southampton FC

Performance Consultant

Manager: Alan Pardew

 

 Strategic development for season when team started with 10 point deficit and ended missing out on Play-Offs by one position.

 

 2009-2010
Fulham FC

Performance Consultant

 

 Invited to make presentations to the staff and players (1st team scouting department and Youth Team players) to help enhance awareness of psychology of perception, mental toughness and the importance of mental skills.

 

 2007-2010
Lawn Tennis Association

National Performance Psychology Manager

 Responsible for psychological support to British elite tennis players, coaches and staff.

Ran the psychological support services at national training camps.

Support for senior players, including Andy Murray at US Open.

 

 2007-2009
Charlton Athletic FC

Performance Consultant

Manager Alan Pardew

 Invited by Alan Pardew again to enhance the group psychology and team dynamics during a difficult time at the club. 2008-2009

 

 
Crystal Palace FC

Performance Consultant

 

 Working with Academy Manager, Dave Moss.

Invited to speak to Youth Team players during season 2008/9

 

 2008-2009
West Ham United

Performance Consultant

Managers:

Alan Curbishley &  Alan Pardew               

Season 2007/8: Contracted for the season on a three tiered consultancy role, working with the manager, first team players and backroom staff.

Responsible for identifying and implementing areas and strategies for performance improvement.

Helped achieve 20% improvement in points (49 vs 41) and six place improvement over previous season in the Premier League (10th vs 15th).

Season 2006/7: Brought in for the final 10 games of the season.

Helped achieve 78% point return after 23% season average, winning 7 out of last 10 matches.

Season 2005/6: First season back in Premier League. Achieve initial target of 40 points by January 2006, FA Cup Final and UEFA Cup qualification.

 

 2005-2008

 
The Football Association

Consultant and Staff Tutor

 Sport Psychology / coach support for England (U19 level) v Italy, 2001.

Assisting in development and delivery of Level 1, 2 & 3 psychology and Level 1 coaching courses., and development of NVQ psychology modules for MACE Scheme. First author of The Official FA Guide to Psychology in Football book, 2004. Interpreter to Fabio Capello on F.A. Pro Licence, including lecture and pitch demonstration (2001).

Interpreter to Italian World Cup manager, Arrigo Sacchi on F.A. Managers and Coaches course, including video lecture and pitch demonstration (2000).

Published various articles on psychology in football in the FA coaches journal, Insight.

 

 2000-2007   
English Institute of Sport

Sport Psychologist

 Psychological support for World Class athletes and boxers, helping improve performance by improving mental toughness, character and attitude.

Working closely with athletes, coaches and performance directors.

Support for boxing squad for the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne – achieving 8 medals (5 Gold, 1 Silver and 2 Bronze)

 

 2005-2007                                              2005-2007
Brighton & Hove Albion FC

First Team Coach

Manager: Steve Coppell

 Helped team achieve a fourfold points improvement from 13% average to 52% points total in last 16 games of the season 2002/3.

First team coach under Steve Coppell in 2003/4 season until Coppell left to manage Reading.

 

 2002-2004

 
Brentford FC

First Team Coach

Manager: Steve Coppell

 First team coach / Reserve team manager working with Steve Coppell and the lowest budget in the Division.

Achieved 2nd division play off final.

 

 2001-2002
Crystal Palace FC

First Team Coach

Steve Coppell & Alan Smith

 Progressing from Academy team manager to first team coach and sport scientist with Steve Coppell and then Alan Smith.

Achieved semi-final of League Cup.FA

 

 1999-2001
Charlton Athletic FC

Academy Team Manager                    

Academy coach managing U14s progressing to U15s.

Squad included Michael Turner (Sunderland) and Glenn Morris (Southend)

 

 1997-1999

 
Non-League Coaching

Coaching & Management

 

 Coaching and managing at a three non-league clubs:

Dulwich Hamlet Suburban League Premier (1997-1999)

Chipstead FC Combined Counties League (1996-1997)

Croydon Athletic FC Spartan League (1995-1996)

 1995-1999

 

 

 

 

QUALIFICATIONS & CPD

 

PhD (current): The psychological effects of motivational DVDs in sport: Brunel University.                                                      On hold

BRIEF An introduction to Solution Focussed Practice                                                                                                                         2011

BASES Re-Accreditation: British Association of Sport & Exercises Scientists. First accredited 2004, 2010

Certificate in Clinical Hypnotherapy: London College of Clinical Hypnosis Certificate  2006

FA Psychology Diploma: Football Association , 2003

FA Fitness Diploma: Football Association,  2003

Certificate in Counselling Skills: Oxford, Cambridge and RSA (OCR),  2003

MSc Sport Sciences (Distinction):Brunel University, 2001

Diploma in Sports Psychology: Newcastle College, 1999

UEFA A Licence (pending final assessment). Football Association, 1998

UEFA B Licence: Football Association, 1997

Chartered Engineer (CEng) and MCIBSE status, 1985

BSc (Hons – First Class), South Bank University, 1982

 

 

 

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS: British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES)

 

BUSINESS EXPERIENCE: Director of two sports businesses: Forsport and Selsport

 

MEDIA: SKY News, SKY Sports, BBC, Chanel 5 News –  Various interviews on psychology in sport

 

PUBLICATIONS & EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

Personal Motivational Videos: So where’s the downside?. The Sport and Exercise Scientist Journal.  2006

The Football Association Official Guide to Psychology in Football: Hodder Publishers.  2004

Psychology in Football – Does it Really Work? FACA Insight Journal.2004

Fitness Training For Soccer Part 2: Forsport DVD . 2004

Fitness Training For Soccer Part 1: Forsport DVD. 2004

Motivation in Football Part 1: FACA Insight Journal. 2002

Motivation in Football Part 2: FACA Insight Journal.  2002

Individual Defending Techniques: Forsport DVD. 2002

Football Drills – Individual Skill Drills: Forsport DVD . 1998

Football Drills – Small Sided Games and Combination Play: Forsport DVD. 1998

 

PRESENTATIONS & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Date Title Venue Audience
Dec 2009 The Laws of Effective Teams Fulham FC Surrey Coaches Association
Jun 2009 Performing Teams AEGON, Edingburgh AEGON staff
Oct 2008 Winning Psychology LTA National Centre The European Congress of Tennis Coaches
Sep 2008 The Laws of Effective Teams ReadingMadjeski Stadium Association of Project Management: Members
Jun 2008 “Winning is our Business”Maximising Performance through mental preparation The National Performance Coaches Conference; National Tennis Centre, Roehampton National and International coaches
Jun 2008 A Winning Mindset The LTA  Sports Science Conference, Millenium Gloucester Hotel International Sport Science staff
May 2008 Maintaining Momentum in teams Coutts Head Office, The Strand Coutts Bank International Division
May 2008 Building Effective Teams Bromley Court Hotel Coutts Bank Tax Division
Apr 2008 Career Transitions Bromley High School 6th Form, Bromley High students and teachers
Nov 2007 Building Effective Teams Bromley Court Hotel Coutts Bank International Division
Jun 2007 Psychology of sport The American School in London Students, parents and staff
May 2007 Psychology of sport University College School, Hamstead Students and staff
Jan 2007 The Use of Video In SportKey note speaker Wolverhampton University Staff, students and guests
May 2006 Psychology in Football  Arsenal FC, Highbury Stadium London Football Association Coaches Association
Mar 2006 The Use of Video in Psychology Cardiff BPS, BASES & FA Psychology in Football – joint conference
Feb 2006 Video and Sport  Lilleshall The EIS National Conference EIS Staff
Oct 2005 The use of video in psychology Vancouver, Canada Association for the Advancement of Aied Sport Psychology (AAASP)
Apr 2005, Psychology in Football  Arsenal FC, Highbury Stadium London Football Association Coaches Association
Mar 2005 Leadership in Professional Football Symposium Kingston University, London Students, staff and invited guests
Jul 2004 Mental Skills in Football Derby County FC The Football Association ‘Psychology in Football Conference’
Mar 2001 Participation motives in elite soccer Greece International Society of Sport Psychology (ISSP), 10th World Congress,:
Jul 2002 Sport Psychology in Football Warwick University The Football Association Manager & Coaches Course