An event to remember
Explore the Highlights of the Barin Sports Conference with Michael Owen
Explore the Highlights of the Barin Sports Conference with Michael Owen
Explore the Highlights of the Barin Sports Conference with Michael Owen
Explore the Highlights of the Barin Sports Conference with Michael Owen
Explore the Highlights of the Barin Sports Conference with Michael Owen
Explore the Highlights of the Barin Sports Conference with Michael Owen
Explore the Highlights of the Barin Sports Conference with Michael Owen
Explore the Highlights of the Barin Sports Conference with Michael Owen
Redefining the future of sports
the conference: A Hub for Innovation and Ideas
Networking: A Key Conference Highlight
Building Connections: Founders, Investors, and Stakeholders Reshaping the Game
We celebrate meaningful connections. We had the privilege to meet the Bulgarian National Team, proud partners of Barin Sports for years, and the visionary investors driving our growth. Together, we united all stakeholders committed to a shared goal: a better future for sports – with fewer non-contact injuries, longer careers, and sports science accessible to everyone.
Fan Connection
Meet & Greet: Michael Owen in Person
The social aspect has always been at the heart of what we do. That’s why we gave countless Bulgarian fans a chance to meet the legendary Michael Owen, snap a photo, and create a memory they’ll treasure forever. Be sure to explore our photo gallery — if you attended the event, you might just spot yourself!
speakers
meet our
speakers

Pedro Silva
Performance Director, FC Porto
Pedro Silva, PhD, is a seasoned performance specialist with nearly 20 years of
experience working with elite football clubs around the world. His career began at
FC Zenit, followed by a role at Shanghai Port FC, and a successful tenure at
Olympique de Marseille (under head coach Andre Villas-Boas), where he oversaw
the team’s strength and conditioning, training load management, and
rehabilitation programs. Pedro is currently the Performance Director at FC Porto.
He assumed this role with the arrival the club’s new President with the goal to
continue to drive innovation in performance optimization. In addition to his
practical work, he has also served as an assistant professor at the Faculty of Sports
at Porto University, sharing his expertise with the next generation of sports
professionals. His passion lies in the intersection of sports science and technology,
continuously exploring new methods to enhance athletic performance.
Topic
Workload planning and management at the highest level of football: Long- term periodization

Marko Stojanović, Prof. Dr.
Professor of Sports Science
Marko Stojanović, Prof. Dr. is a world-renowned sports scientist, fitness trainer and professor at the University of Novi Sad (Faculty of Sport and Physical Education). He has a rich history working with top athletes for more than twenty years in the field of diagnosis, control and monitoring of the state of training and conditioning. With more than 70 published scientific papers in the field of sports science, Marko is true trendsetter in the industry. His peers have recognized this as he has been a lecturer and keynote speaker at many international conferences. He was a fitness trainer for FC Partizan and FC Olimpija (Ljubljana), and he is also a personal trainer for many top basketball and soccer players. Prof. Marko Stojanović is one of the most prominent people in the field of physical training in the region and founder of the Sports Science Center of Excellence "Trenažna Ekspertiza" - a regional leader in the field of fitness training and reconditioning.
Topic
Good brakes to run fast: Deceleration in modern football

Marko Matušinskij
Performance Scientist
Accomplished and results-driven sports performance professional with over 10 years of extensive experience in football and athlete development. Currently serving as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for both the Croatian U21 National Team and WFC Dinamo Zagreb, Marko specializes in strength and conditioning, injury rehabilitation, and sports science analysis. He is dedicated to fostering a high-performance culture that prioritizes excellence and accountability. Marko develops individualized training plans to optimize players' physical conditioning and skill progression, while implementing robust systems for performance monitoring and well-being. He oversees injury prevention protocols and collaborates closely with medical teams to ensure effective rehabilitation. Additionally, he participates at seminars and workshops, sharing insights on training session delivery and design, performance monitoring and assessment, strength training in soccer, and long-term athletic development.
Topic
Short-term periodization: practical approach and use cases for microcycles planning

Milan Dimitric
Strength and Conditioning Coach
Milan Dimitric is a highly accomplished Strength and Conditioning Coach, blending expertise in athletic coaching, recovery, and nutrition to maximize athlete performance. Certified as a Performance Enhancement Specialist and Nutrition Coach by the National Academy of Sports Medicine, he also holds certifications in CPR, AED, and First Aid. Milan is currently a full-time Strength and Conditioning Coach at Al Wasl FC in Dubai, where he played a key role in the team’s triumph in the 2024 UAE Pro League. Prior to this, he contributed to PFC Slavia’s success, helping the team secure the Bulgarian National Cup in 2018 and a bronze medal in the 2020 Bulgarian Championship
Topic
Ask more from your live data: One size doesn’t fit all (Individual approach and training session adjustments in real-time)

Prof. Ivo Petrov, M.D.
Cardiologist and Endovascular Therapist
Prof. Ivo Petrov, M.D. is a leading figure in the field of cardiology and a pioneer in endovascular therapy in Bulgaria, with specializations in internal medicine, cardiology, invasive cardiology, and angiology. He has achieved numerous medical firsts, including the country's first stent graft implantations for aortic aneurysms and dissection, MitraClip procedures for mitral valve stenosis, and carotid stenting for stroke treatment. Prof. Petrov is co-chair of the Bulgarian Society of Endovascular Therapy and a member of the American College of Cardiology, the European Society of Cardiology, and other prestigious international and national medical societies. His leadership in creating a national strategy for first aid training in cardiac emergencies has set a new standard for public health preparedness. His expertise in cardiovascular health directly connects to sports science, where physical endurance, heart health, and preventive care are crucial. His work in advancing treatment options and public awareness can significantly benefit athletes in optimizing their performance and overall well-being.
Topic
Beyond the visible: what to look for outside of the pitch

Vladimir Grozdanov
CEO and Co-founder, Barin Sports
Vladimir Grozdanov is the CEO and co-founder of Barin Sports, where he leads the development of innovative sports science technologies. With over 20 years of experience in electronics and computing—including a decade as a team leader at IBM's Semiconductor Research & Development Center—he has been instrumental in integrating data-driven solutions into athletic performance. Holding a Master's degree in Microelectronics and a Ph.D. candidate in Microelectromechanics (MEMS), Vladimir combines deep technical expertise with a passion for sports. His athletic background spans football, basketball, swimming, and karate, the latter inspiring the creation of the Barin project. At the Barin Sport Science Conference, Vladimir will share his insights on how cutting-edge technologies can transform training strategies and elevate athletic performance, redefining the future of sports science.
Topic
Not all GPS systems are created equal

Ivan Ucherdzhiev
Chief Technology Officer, Barin Sports
Ivan Ucherdzhiev is the Chief Technology Officer at Barin Sports, where he leads the hardware and software development teams in creating cutting-edge sports technology solutions. With a strong background in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, he has been instrumental in driving the company's technical innovation. He holds Master's degrees in Electrical and Electronics Engineering. After his team's victory in an international competition for self-driving model cars in Germany, Ivan specialized in Electronics and Robotics at Tokyo Metropolitan University in Japan. Ivan's passion for sports began with boxing, where he trained and competed as a young athlete. This athletic background, combined with his technical expertise, fuels his commitment to developing technologies that enhance sports performance. At the Barin Sport Science Conference, Ivan will explore the technological innovations behind Barin Sports' solutions, focusing on how advanced hardware and software integration support athletes in achieving peak performance.
Topic
Not all GPS systems are created equal

Dr. Emil Trifonov, M.D.
Director of Sport Science, Barin Sports
Dr. Emil Trifonov is the Director of the Sport Science at Barin Sports, where he leads the integration of advanced medical and sports science practices to enhance athletic performance. A medical doctor with a Master’s degree in High Sport Performance, he brings over 20 years of experience in sports medicine. He has led the Sports Science team at Al Ain FC, the UAE’s most successful club, playing a key role in the team’s triumph in the AFC Champions League and Pro League Cup in 2024. He has held a variety of roles such as Head Medical Officer at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games Doping Laboratory and has guided medical teams for AEK Athens, Emirates FC, and Bulgarian National Teams in football, volleyball, and boxing. Dr. Trifonov specializes in enhancing athletic performance through medical innovation. With experience across sports like football, volleyball, athletics, boxing, and martial arts, he will share insights at the Barin Sports Science Conference on how technological innovation and advanced medical practices can optimize athlete health and performance.
Topic
Beyond the visible: what to look for outside of the pitch

Vasil Tsvetkov, PhD
Sports Scientist, Barin Sports
Vasil Tsvetkov is a Sports Scientist at Barin Sports with extensive experience in strength and conditioning coaching. Holding Master's and Ph.D. degrees in Sports Studies from the National Sports Academy "Vassil Levski" in Sofia, Bulgaria, he has worked with top Bulgarian football clubs such as CSKA 1948 and PFC Levski Sofia, as well as the Bulgarian Football Union's Youth National Teams. Specializing in data analysis and athlete development, Vasil integrates advanced technologies like GPS systems and training load trackers to enhance athletic performance. At the Barin Sport Science Conference, he will share insights on how data-driven approaches can optimize training and help athletes reach their peak potential.
Topic
Real-time decision-making using Barin Sports PRO 3

Alex Mihalev
Sports Scientist, Barin Sports
Alex Mihalev is a Sports Scientist at Barin Sports with over 10 years of expertise in the Strength & Conditioning field. His experience spans both the private sector and professional organizations, working with athletes from amateur to World Class and Olympic levels. Alex has contributed to numerous medals, championships, and trophies across more than 10 different sports. Currently serving as the Performance Analyst for the Bulgarian National Team, he has honed his expertise through roles with different professional football clubs and the Bulgarian National Judo Team. Alex holds a number of international certifications dedicated to elite sports, ensuring he remains at the cutting edge of sports science. Committed to staying at the forefront of sports science, Alex continuously updates his knowledge and applies the latest methodologies in his work. At the Barin Sport Science Conference, Alex will share his insights on optimizing athletic performance through advanced strength and conditioning methodologies.