A compelling story of growth and opportunity is unfolding in Corfu, featuring a young professional taking his first steps in an international football environment. Tasos Vasilakis, a physiotherapist from Corfu, found himself involved in Ajax activities through the opportunity offered to him by Kerkyra United, opening a new chapter in his professional journey.
Through its partnerships and development initiatives for football on the island, Kerkyra United provided the young physiotherapist with the chance to connect with one of Europe’s most important football organizations—and arguably the leading one when it comes to developing talent. As a result, in the summer of 2025, he took part in the Ajax Camps Kerkyra, serving as a member of the camps’ support staff as a physiotherapist.
This experience proved to be a significant step forward for him, as it gave him the opportunity to work directly with Ajax personnel and gain first-hand insight into the philosophy, methodology, and overall operation of the world’s top player development system. His daily interaction with the technical staff and the young athletes at the camp provided him with valuable knowledge and experience, contributing substantially to his professional development.
The trust that was built through this collaboration did not stop there. This year, Tasos Vasilakis will participate as a physiotherapist at the Ajax Olympia Future Cup, one of the most important international academy tournaments organized by the Dutch club. His presence at a competition of this level is not only a major experience but also a strong recognition of his work and consistency.
For Kerkyra United, this journey stands as yet another example of how the right partnerships and the opportunities they create can help young individuals grow and gain experience at the highest level.
At the same time, the success of this collaboration highlights the importance of the Ajax Camps Kerkyra, which will return to the island in 2026, continuing to offer children, coaches, and football professionals the opportunity to experience the philosophy and coaching principles of Ajax up close.
Below is the interview of Tasos Vasilakis on the official website of Kerkyra United:
How did your collaboration with Kerkyra United come about and how did this opportunity bring you into contact with Ajax?
“The truth is that our first meeting was very interesting. Everything started at the beginning of the summer of 2025, when I was at Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands, specifically at the boarding gate before entering the plane. That’s when I noticed technical director Alex Kroes and top coach Bart Logchies, along with Ajax Coaching Academy manager Corne Groenendijk and coordinator Sara Bissumbhar. If you had asked me at the time whether I knew exactly who they were, I wouldn’t have been able to answer, but perhaps that was the reason I didn’t hesitate to approach them.
I knew from Giannis Vlachos that an academy would be created in Corfu that would collaborate directly with Ajax, but beyond that I had no idea. With that in mind, and driven by my passion for athletes and professional standards, my next move was to go and introduce myself. Right there, at the airport. And that’s exactly what I did, without hesitation. I went and sat near them. My first attempt was unsuccessful, as they told me they were not involved in football. But deep down, I knew these were not random people, even if they weren’t wearing Ajax gear.
On my second attempt, they realized that I knew who they were and that I hadn’t come just to say a simple “hello”. I was sure the flight would be delayed—as it usually is—and that’s exactly what happened, giving me 30 minutes for a discussion and introduction that led to my first contact with Ajax. We talked about sports, professional standards, Kerkyra United, and my career path.
I told them that I would be working as a physiotherapist at the camps they were organizing and that it was essential for me to be there, even though they hadn’t planned something like that. They didn’t believe I would actually do it, as they knew it was my vacation period or thought I was just saying it without meaning it. But deep inside, I had already made my decision, and I was very happy that there are people in Corfu, like Giorgos Kazianis, who are trying to bring such a high level to the island. I really wanted to meet him and share ideas and plans with him and his team.
My next step was to show up at the camp with my own physiotherapy equipment, aiming to ensure the safety of our kids. That’s how my journey with Kerkyra United and my collaboration with AFC Ajax began.”
What experiences did you gain from your participation in Ajax Camps Kerkyra 2025 and how important was this experience for your professional development?
“The most important thing from my time at Ajax Camps Kerkyra 2025 was the collaboration with the camp team. We live in a world where we often forget how powerful we can be when we support each other in our own ways. Rare values such as love, empathy, kindness, and mutual support are things I both received and gave through this team. Such an experience is invaluable, and I place human relationships above everything in both my personal and professional life.
The same applies in professional football: you can have the best players and coaches, but if there is no connection between them, things won’t work.
From a more practical perspective, my main experience from the camp was learning how such a team operates both on and off the pitch, as well as understanding how coaches think. For a team to function, communication is essential between coaches, physiotherapists, performance coaches, psychologists, etc. That’s why I believe it’s crucial to speak the same language and share the same philosophy, with each person contributing their own 20% that makes them unique.
By understanding how they think, I can communicate more effectively with them. Coaching is not my strongest point, but that’s not a problem. Translating training into physiotherapy and athlete performance is my field. Every moment with the coaches is a valuable lesson for me as a physiotherapist and performance coach. After all, this is the philosophy of Kerkyra United and Ajax: simulating match conditions in training.”
What are the main differences you noticed in Ajax’s way of working and methodology compared to what you had experienced before?
“What stands out to me is that such an organization will achieve what it aims for, even if there are many obstacles along the way. It’s Ajax—they will make it happen. That’s also how I am. I can’t live with the idea that I didn’t accomplish my plans and goals.
Moreover, the professionalism and the way Ajax teaches football are directly connected to science and my field as a physiotherapist and researcher.
A key difference is that Ajax doesn’t teach you simply how to train; it guides you to think for yourself about how to function effectively within a team as a player. It makes you think, design, ask questions, and act in a way that becomes automatic over time. This is fully supported by science and medical research and is exactly what I work on and specialize in within physiotherapy. “Victory comes first in the mind.” You have to believe it first.
Finally, the way they approach an athlete goes beyond just training. This model is known in health sciences as the “Biopsychosocial model”, emphasizing the interaction between physiological, psychological, and sociocultural factors. Many times when I watch Ajax, it feels like I’m looking at myself in the mirror at home. I recognize core characteristics and principles of mine in their philosophy.”
This year you will participate as a physiotherapist in Ajax’s Olympia Future Cup. What does this presence in such an important international tournament mean to you?
“This year, through Kerkyra United and my collaboration with AFC Ajax, I will participate as a physiotherapist and performance coach with Future United. It is a team created by Ajax itself, featuring selected talents from both within and outside the Netherlands. It is an honor for me to have been chosen for such an important and valuable role, aiming to ensure the safety of these talents.
We will take part in the Olympia Future Cup, a major international competition featuring teams such as Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Sporting Portugal, Bayern, and others. I will be there once again, giving 101%, as I always do.”
Ajax Camps return to Corfu in 2026. How important do you think it is for children on the island to have access to such experiences?
“I believe that Kerkyra United and Ajax are offering something to our island that has never existed before. I don’t want to undermine any local organization, but I want to highlight the difference and the new philosophy that will shape football in Corfu in the coming years.
The plan of Giorgos Kazianis and the team is to develop an ecosystem around sports and beyond. Educating both athletes and parents is crucial for us. We want to bring back to the island what should have always been there: a solid structure with professionals who provide what every young athlete needs.
I am proud to be part of this and I will be there every summer to support this plan, as well as through my presence in the Netherlands, specifically in Amsterdam, where I live.”
What prospects do you believe are opening up for you after this collaboration and what are your next goals in football?
“As anyone can imagine, the opportunities are countless. The question is which ones you can recognize and seize, and which ones truly suit you. I don’t like making big statements or getting ahead of myself, as life is full of surprises, so I try to stay grounded and humble.
That doesn’t mean I will stop or not pursue what I truly desire. In these environments, I don’t just want—I feel passion. That’s why I believe something valuable will come out of all this, because it truly comes from within me, and I have nothing to fear.
My next goals are to continue the scientific path I developed in the Netherlands, combined with what I studied in Greece at the Aristotle University, specifically in health sciences. Currently, I am training as a researcher specializing in “brain changes after injuries”. I aim to publish research papers with an outstanding team that is directly and indirectly connected with Ajax, the Netherlands national team, and the Olympic Games.
At the same time, I will continue to work closely with our athletes, to maintain a complete understanding both on and off the pitch. In the coming years, I plan to start my PhD focusing on professional football players and injuries. This is a journey that started nine years ago in Greece and will continue with the same passion and dedication.”
