Doctoral thesis defense by Fran Herruzo on sports coaches' migration and mental health
On October 23, 2025, Fran Herruzo, collaborator researcher at IRE-UAB, defended his doctoral thesis titled “Transnationalism, Migration Processes, and Mental Health in Football Coaches”, supervised by Miquel Torregrossa and Anna Jordana Casas, as part of GEPE-UAB.
The thesis aims to analyse the effects of international mobility on football coaches, exploring how migration processes impact their psychological well-being. Through a transnational approach, Fran Herruzo has investigated the factors that influence the migratory experience of these professionals and how they affect their mental health, as well as the institutional support mechanisms that can facilitate their adaptation. The work includes, among others, a case study exploring the migratory experiences of a group of six Spanish football coaches who moved to various countries in the Arabian Peninsula, and an autoethnography by the researcher himself.
The study’s findings point to a growing trend in research on this topic. It also highlights the crucial role played by sports clubs in the adaptation process of the coaches they hire, acting as facilitators.
The research identifies key barriers and facilitators in cultural adaptation, as well as risk and protective factors for the mental health of migrant coaches. One of the most significant findings is the link between high levels of acculturative stress and professional withdrawal, underscoring the need for psychological support strategies and institutional assistance programs.
From the institute, we congratulate Fran Herruzo on this important academic achievement and his valuable contribution to advancing knowledge in the field of sport psychology.
Fran Herruzo holds a PhD in Health and Sport Psychology from UAB. He has a degree in Psychology and a Master’s in Sport and Physical Activity Psychology.He is a UEFA B licensed football coach, and has developed his career in clubs such as FC Barcelona, Deportivo Alavés, Al Fateh SC and Ittihad Club (Saudi Arabia), Al Rayan SC (Qatar), Riga FC (Latvia). He has worked as a psychologist with athletes from various disciplines, both in developmental and elite stages, as well as with professional football coaches.