Xabier Monasterio is a physiotherapist, researcher, and Assistant Professor at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU). He collaborates with Athletic Club’s academy as Head of Growth and Maturation and Lead Performance Practitioner for U15 and younger male players, supporting the monitoring of growth, maturation, health, and injury risk in youth football. He completed his PhD in 2022, focusing on growth, maturation, and injuries in young football players, and has published research on topics including biological maturation, growth-related injuries, and injury risk in youth sport. His current research interests include growth and maturation monitoring, apophyseal injuries, lumbar bone stress injuries, and the application of research to support decision-making in youth athlete development. Xabier regularly collaborates with clubs, practitioners, and researchers internationally and teaches physiotherapy at undergraduate level.
