Who is David Panka?
From professional football
to personal
coaching.
Thirteen years in football took me through different clubs, countries, injuries, comebacks and introduced me to remarkable people. I now use everything I learned along the way to help others become stronger, fitter and more confident in the way they move.
Read my storyMy story
A journey that was never
straightforward.
My career was about more than transfers and matches. The setbacks, recoveries and fresh starts shaped the way I approach training and personal coaching today.
The first step
Vitesse Arnhem
I joined Vitesse Arnhem at the age of eleven. I spent two seasons in the youth academy and experienced an environment where every training session focused on development and performance.
An unexpected setback
A year on the sidelines
Glandular fever, appendicitis and several medical procedures kept me out of football for approximately one year. I eventually decided to stop playing completely. For a year and a half, it seemed as though this chapter had permanently come to an end.
The return
SC Cambuur
Eventually, the desire to play returned. I started playing football again at amateur level and signed my first contract with SC Cambuur at the age of seventeen. I spent one year there and proved to myself that a fresh start was possible.
The next step
RKC Waalwijk
At the age of nineteen, I joined RKC Waalwijk. I spent several months there and took another step forward in professional football. That period prepared me for my first experience abroad.
My first experience abroad
Miedź Legnica
I then moved to Miedź Legnica in Poland. I spent six months there and experienced a new football culture. My time in Poland eventually led to an opportunity that took my career in a completely different direction.
The move to America
Sporting Kansas City
From Poland, I earned an incredible transfer to Sporting Kansas City in the United States. It was a special chapter that introduced me to another football culture and a completely different way of life on the other side of the world.
Returning to Europe
Panathinaikos FC
Not long afterwards, I completed another transfer to Panathinaikos FC. While I was there, I broke my leg and needed surgery on both knees. What should have been a sporting highlight turned into a two year rehabilitation journey.
Another comeback
Hertha BSC
After two years of rehabilitation, I returned and earned a professional contract with Hertha BSC. Even after that, further operations and recovery continued to play a major role. Every comeback required patience, discipline and a new way of listening to my body.
The final comeback
Werder Bremen
At the end of 2025, I joined Werder Bremen. I scored six goals and provided one assist in eight matches. It became one final reminder that returning from setbacks is possible, even when the journey back is long and uncertain.
A conscious decision
Summer 2026: a new chapter
In the summer of 2026, I decided to end my career based on my Christian faith. After thirteen years, more than twenty countries visited and countless experiences, it felt like the right moment to give my knowledge a new purpose.
From experience to coaching
Knowledge from elite sport.
Applied to your life.
During my career, I worked with approximately one hundred specialists: football coaches, strength coaches, physiotherapists, head coaches and other professionals from different countries and training cultures. This did not teach me one fixed method. Instead, it taught me how different every person can be.
During the final years of my career, I started training people myself. I began by providing football training on the field. I later expanded this into strength training and personal coaching for people of different ages, experience levels and backgrounds. From someone who wants to feel fitter after a long working day to an athlete focused on improving performance.
My approach
Not the best on paper.
The best for you.
I do not believe everyone needs the same programme. Your plan should suit your goal, experience, age, physical capacity and lifestyle.
Structure when you need it
Some people perform best with clear training times, fixed goals and plenty of structure. When that is what you need, we deliberately build that support into your plan.
Freedom when it works better
Other people perform better with a more flexible approach. You can achieve results that way too, as long as the plan remains realistic and personal.
Combine enjoyment with performance.
My job is not to force you into a standard method. My job is to find an approach with you that you can maintain and that helps you achieve your goal.
Ready to connect?
Ready for your
next step?
Feel free to send me a message first. You will normally receive a personal response within 24 hours.