Alessio Norrito

Dr. Alessio Norrito is a Lecturer in Sociology and Management of Sport at the Manchester Metropolitan University Business School. He holds a PhD from Loughborough University and an MSc from the University of Edinburgh. His research focuses on sport for development and peace, particularly examining how sport and leisure can improve well-being in marginalized communities and refugee populations. Key areas include refugee resettlement through football, sport-based crime reduction programs, and socioecological analyses of migrant athletes in elite football systems. He has been funded by UEFA Academy and recognized with the 2024 Young Researcher Award from the European Association for the Sociology of Sport.

Dr. Norrito's academic background includes roles as managing editor of the Journal of Sport for Development and Co-Lead of the Loughborough UNESCO Student Network. His work has been featured in Sky Sports, The Conversation, and Italian media outlets. His teaching spans undergraduate and postgraduate levels in sport management and sociology, emphasizing both theoretical frameworks and practical applications in diverse contexts.

Research highlights include studies on Mediterranean migration routes, the role of football in fostering hope among refugees, and socioecological barriers faced by migrant athletes in Germany and Italy. He has pioneered projects such as the UEFA-funded exploration of footballers' forced migration trajectories, demonstrating how sport can serve as both a bridge and a mirror for societal challenges.

• Awards: Young Researcher Award 2024, European Association for the Sociology of Sport
• Grants: UEFA Academy-funded research on forced migrant footballers' careers
• Labs/Teams: Journal of Sport for Development (Managing Editor), Loughborough UNESCO Student Network (Co-Lead)