After becoming an integral member of the backroom team at Middlesborough Football Club, Taewoo explained how studying at Edge Hill University gave him the skills, experience and industry connections needed to build a career in elite sport.
Taewoo achieved a First-Class degree in BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy before going on to be awarded an MRes.Â
The combination of academic study, practical experience and industry-focused research gave the now 25-year-old the foundations not only to land his dream job in football, but also to develop expertise which are now supporting the rehabilitation of professional athletes at the club. The club came within 90 minutes of promotion to the Premier League last season.
Taewoo said: “Edge Hill stood out to me straight away. The first memory I have was walking onto campus and thinking, ‘This is just amazing.’ I remember being blown away by how impressive the University was. I felt sold before I even sat down for the course presentation.
“What reinforced my decision was the Sports Therapy programme itself. It has an excellent reputation, and the lecturers brought experience from a range of elite sport environments.
“Edge Hill University is in a prime location in the North West, so I wanted somewhere where I could gain practical experience and develop a real understanding of the industry. That gave me the confidence to pursue the career I wanted.”
Taewoo’s time on campus in Ormskirk provided access to specialist equipment, enabling him to gain first-hand knowledge of how professional sports clubs operate, which later proved invaluable when entering the graduate job market.
After graduating, Taewoo joined Middlesbrough in October 2024, where he now works alongside the first-team squad and staff, supporting players through injury rehabilitation programmes.
During his time at Edge Hill University, Taewoo developed specialist expertise in using an IKD (isokinetic dynamometer) machine, an advanced sports rehabilitation device that measures muscle strength by moving at a fixed speed while providing matching resistance.
Taewoo continued: “The facilities are outstanding. Not just within the department, but across the University, the entire campus was so welcoming. It gives students exposure to industry-standard equipment and technology. I was able to work with specialist equipment during both my undergraduate and master’s studies, which enabled me to develop specialist expertise with the IKD machine.
“For example, when I attended my interview at Middlesbrough, we walked past the IKD machine and straight away I started talking about my experience using it. The club told me they weren’t using it extensively at the time because not many staff had experience with it. That immediately became a conversation point during the interview and allowed me to explain how I could use the machine within my own practice. Now it has become an established part of our rehabilitation process.”
Matt Greig, Associate Head of Department in Sport, was one of Taewoo’s lecturers and understands the demands of working in professional football, having previously been employed by the Football Association.
Matt said: “It is fantastic to see what Taewoo is doing now. It’s lovely that he has kept in touch and still sees value in that mentorship. His entire journey has been fascinating. It has been a real pleasure to work with him and see that spark in his eye. He worked incredibly hard and showed real courage throughout his studies.
“Taewoo did exceptionally well in his undergraduate degree, but it was the opportunities he chose to pursue beyond the curriculum that really set him apart. It is a great example of what can happen when talented students combine ambition with academic mentoring and the opportunities created through the hard work and dedication of our staff.
“Taewoo developed his final-year dissertation and clinical placement experience around professional football. His dissertation focused on strength assessment using technology that only a limited number of elite clubs have access to.
“He showed similar courage in pursuing an MRes and worked incredibly hard to balance the demands of postgraduate research while continuing to gain experience in professional football.
“His postgraduate research continued that focus on football injury rehabilitation and the application of technologies used within elite clubs. That expertise proved valuable when he joined Middlesbrough, where his specialist knowledge quickly became recognised. We have now published elements of both his BSc and MRes research. It is relatively rare for undergraduate research to achieve publication.
“Taewoo’s expertise was certainly developed at Edge Hill, but every one of our students has the opportunity to build that same combination of skills, experience and confidence.”
Inspired by Taewoo’s journey? Discover how our Sports Therapy degree combines hands-on learning, placements and industry connections to help you build a career in sport.
November 12, 2026
