Emil Atanasov

Assoc. Prof. Emil Atanasov serves in the Faculty of Sports at Bulgaria's National Sports Academy 'Vasil Levski', where he holds appointments in the Football and Tennis Department and Football Sector. Appointed associate professor in 2014, he led the department as Head from 2018 until January 2024 while maintaining continuous lecturing duties since 2005 under the Bulgarian Football Union framework.

His academic credentials include:

• 2002: Bachelor's degree in 'Football Coaching' from National Sports Academy 'Vasil Levski'
• 2003: Qualification in 'Sports Journalism' and Master's in Pedagogy ('School Sports and Leisure Sports')
• 2004: Full-time doctoral student appointment
• 2008: Doctoral dissertation defense and assistant professor appointment

Research focuses on football coaching methodologies, physiological assessment of athletic performance, and youth development systems. His work integrates UEFA-certified training frameworks with national curriculum development for sports schools, emphasizing women's football progression and recovery science in competitive environments.

Prof. Atanasov has directed major national initiatives including the 'System for Evaluating Sports Training Results in Sports Schools' (2013) and 'Physical Fitness Assessment of Secondary School Students' (2018). As academic mentor in the 'Student Internships' project (2018), he shaped practical training protocols while contributing to Erasmus+ integrity projects for football clubs (2021).

Leadership extends to operational roles as Director of the National Football Academy (2022-present) and former Director of Youth Football Schools for PFC 'Beroe' (2016-2017). His UEFA educational participation across 12 countries since 2005 established him as a key architect of Bulgaria's coach education ecosystem.