NBA
NFL
NHL
MLB
College/University - USA
Football - English Premier League
Rugby Union - England Premiership
Australian Football LeagueThe Nxt Level
The Core Team
With a shared background in sports performance and medicine, collaborating with the world’s premier athletes and sporting teams our combined expertise naturally culminated in the creation of The Nxt Level Group.
David Clancy
CEO
MSc, BSc, HC, ERF CertRP
David has been in the field of sports medicine, physiotherapy and performance support for over 15 years. A Physiotherapy background and MSc in Sports and Exercise Medicine paved the way into high performance sport, private practice and Isokinetic Medical Group in Harley Street, London. He was a consultant support for Europe-based players regarding Medical Care and Performance Services for the Brooklyn Nets and the San Antonio Spurs of the NBA.
David held a research position in Royal College Surgeons Ireland, and is a faculty member of Florida International University. Teams that he has worked with include Aston Villa FC, Isokinetic Medical Group, Maccabi GB, Houston Texans, and UCD AFC. He has had articles published in peer-reviewed Sports Medicine publications, presented at international conferences and is an editor/author for the Elsevier book titled “The Essential Skills for Physiotherapists: a personal and professional development framework”.
David, who holds a specialist Certificate in Recruitment Practice from the Employment & Recruitment Federation, has been engaged in recruitment and headhunting for teams in North America, the Middle East and Europe, across several sports. David has experience in the corporate and pro sport world of organisational design, programme ideation and iteration, implementation and follow-up with his other company Hauora, a performance wellbeing growth partner that works with high performance organisations in business and sport.
He has completed executive leadership certifications with London Business School (Innovation through Design Thinking), London Interdisciplinary School (Cross-Functional Leadership) and HEC Paris (Leading with Sense). He advocates, campaigns and fundraises for Childrens’ Health and Down Syndrome.
Richard Pullan
PERFORMANCE SPECIALIST
Richard Pullan is a trailblazer in the fields of sports recruitment and performance. With a diverse background spanning various athletic endeavors, Richard’s journey has been marked by innovation and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
His entrance into The Nxt Level Group came on the heels of a highly successful career in sports recruitment, during which he co-founded Sporting Health Group alongside Mike Davison in 2010. This venture proved transformative for the NBA, as Richard’s team introduced groundbreaking concepts such as the first full-time sports scientist and the establishment of the Performance Director role, along with installing a Doctor at the training center to oversee all practice sessions where early diagnosis of injury or potential injury is critical. These innovations have since become integral components of professional basketball, revolutionizing player development and performance optimization.
Richard’s passion for sports performance was ignited early on, as he explored a multitude of sports during his formative years. This intrinsic drive led him to undertake extraordinary challenges, including scaling mountains and completing an unsupported row across the Atlantic Ocean. These experiences instilled in him a deep understanding of human potential and the critical role of physical conditioning in achieving athletic feats.
In 2003, Richard founded The Altitude Centre, a pioneering institution at the forefront of simulated altitude training and heat acclimatization. Under his leadership, The Altitude Centre has emerged as the premier destination for athletes seeking to gain a competitive edge through innovative training methodologies.
Richard’s expertise has been sought after by teams such as The FA, Manchester City FC, Liverpool FC, and Leicester City FC, where he has played a pivotal role in the creation of state-of-the-art training facilities and the integration of the latest performance and recovery technologies.
Richard’s unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of sports performance has left an indelible mark on the industry. His visionary leadership and relentless pursuit of excellence continue to inspire athletes and sports professionals worldwide, shaping the future of athletic achievement.
Richard Kosturczak
MARKET INTELLIGENCE SPECIALIST
BSc
Richard has worked as a Physiotherapist for the past 14 years in a variety of settings; Sports Medicine, Professional Football, National Health Service (UK), Private Healthcare (UK), and most recently Occupational Health for a large multinational British company.
Alongside providing rehabilitative and wellbeing care to his clients, he has always had a drive to assist and mentor individuals with their professional development. He is passionate about bringing people together to support the development and service of the wider department with innovation and enhancement of working pathways, processes and strategies.
Richard’s market intelligence role involves market mapping, talent identification, and recruitment support. He has experience in the development of sophisticated market databases for professional football, NBA, NFL and professional rugby – with a particular focus on distinguishing emergent and established leaders in these performance settings.
Alexia Sotiropoulou
INTERNATIONAL MARKETS SPECIALIST
BA, MA
Greek by birth, Alexia is fluent in five languages: Greek, English, Italian, Bulgarian, and Russian. She hails from a family where her father, a renowned doctor, also worked as a prominent real estate agent in Greece. Her father instilled in her the art of salesmanship and interpersonal skills, while her mother taught her the importance of prioritizing people.
With over 13 years of expertise in public relations, particularly in sports medicine and performance in Italy, Alexia has excelled in establishing and nurturing profound connections with teams, professional athletes, Physicians and Physiotherapists.
Alexia holds both a BA and an MA in Interior & Architectural Design, during which she honed her skills in public relations and communication. Her ability to foster strong connections within the sports medicine community has been instrumental in her career.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Alexia is deeply involved in volunteer work, collaborating with organizations like TEDx and assisting immigrants and refugees in Greek refugee camps. Additionally, she is an avid amateur tennis player, displaying her passion for sports both on and off the court.
Mike Davison
ADVISOR
MBA, MA, BA
Mike has been part of the international Sports Medicine and Performance community for over 20 years. A former Strategy & Business Architecture Consultant with Accenture, his professional path diverted into the Sports and Health industries whilst undertaking his MBA at Oxford University.
Since 2002 he has actively worked to professionalise and raise standards within Performance and Medical departments in sport globally, through the recruitment of diverse talent, the building of global knowledge networks and practically working with organisations on their people, systems and processes. His passion is to connect people and implement world-leading ideas.
Teams that he has worked with include Liverpool FC, Chelsea FC, The Football Association, Brighton & Hove Albion, Brentford FC, Aston Villa FC, Isokinetic Medical Group (FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence), Houston Texans and Red Bull Performance. He has also academically published in the field of injury epidemiology and prevention of injuries, and is a Board Member of the Football Research Group that conducts injury and performance analysis studies for UEFA.
Rachel Woodland
Client Engagement Lead
BSc, MSc
Rachel has spent the past 10 years supporting clients around the world, with her most recent experience focused in the elite and high-performance sporting environment. Her work connects people and sports across learning and development, leadership, and culture.
Her passion for supporting others, refining processes and practices, and delivering with care is also reflected in her sporting journey, where she has transitioned from player to coach at Fulham FC Women.
Rachel holds both a BSc and MSc in International Business, using education as a platform to live abroad and explore diverse people and cultures, curiosities that continue to shape her work today.
As Client Engagement Lead, Rachel builds strong relationships rooted in authenticity, connection, and a commitment to growth through high performance. She is driven to understand each client, ensuring people-first outcomes and sporting excellence.
Our Mission
Provide the best talent to teams to create a competitive advantage.
Our Values
Authenticity
Authenticity is integral to our client relationships. Our goal is to exceed your expectations everyday to demonstrate that we are reliable and knowledgeable partners.
Collaboration
We believe collaboration is key to deliver the best possible outcome for those we work with. By working together with our clients we can tailor our services to their specific and unique needs.
Courage
Courage is a catalyst for growth and transformation, empowering individuals and organisations to face challenges head-on. It fuels resilience, innovation, and the pursuit of extraordinary achievements.
Curiosity
By daring to question we can arrive at previously unseen solutions for complex problems. Curiosity is the driving force behind discovery and learning, sparking innovation and bold decisions.
Disruption
We believe in rebel ideas, our process goes beyond headhunting and talent identification. We provide custom learning and development programs that empower your team to flourish in any environment.
Who We Support
