Sevilla FC strengthens its ties with sports research at the UPO’s 1st International Congress on Sports Performance

Sevilla FC continues to demonstrate its commitment to the development and dissemination of knowledge through its participation in the 1st International Congress on Physical Activity and Sports Performance (CIRFyD), held on 9 and 10 October at Pablo de Olavide University (UPO). The event brings together internationally renowned researchers, academics and professionals to share knowledge and scientific advances in strength training and sports performance optimisation.

Sevilla FC was represented at the event by José María Cruz, Head of Sports Innovation at Sevilla FC, who took part in the congress’s opening ceremony, and Carlos Otero Esquina, Coordinator of the Performance Optimisation Department at Sevilla FC’s Academy, who was among the experts contributing to the scientific programme.

The congress places particular emphasis on strength training and its relationship with movement velocity, a field of research that Pablo de Olavide University has been developing since 2007 and which has become a benchmark in sports science. Participants include highly respected researchers such as Juan José González Badillo, Juan Ribas Serna, Rafael Martín Acero, Esteban Gorostiaga and José Antonio López Calbet, among others. This distinguished group of experts also shares strong ties with Sevilla FC. Dr Ribas previously served as Head of Medical Services and Head of the club’s Football Science Department, a project in which González Badillo and Dr David Rodríguez Rosell, President of the inaugural edition of the congress, were also involved.

A strategic partnership between Sevilla FC and Pablo de Olavide University

Sevilla FC’s participation in this scientific forum forms part of a long-standing partnership between the two institutions, most notably through the Sevilla FC Chair in University, Business and Sport, established in 2020 to promote research, education, innovation, employability and knowledge transfer between academia and the sports industry.

Since its establishment, the Chair has developed a range of initiatives aimed at aligning academic activity with the real-world needs of the sports industry and professional football, promoting specialised education, the integration of university talent into the professional environment and the development of new opportunities for collaboration.

Its main initiatives include specialised training programmes, summer courses on sports management applied to football, scholarships for students and professionals, and activities promoting entrepreneurship and open innovation.

This partnership has also helped establish direct links between university education and Sevilla FC’s professional activities, facilitating talent recruitment and knowledge exchange between the two organisations.

Applied research in sports performance: a shared commitment

One of the clearest examples of this commitment to research is the Manuel Blasco Garzón Awards, organised by the Sevilla FC Chair to recognise excellence in undergraduate and master’s dissertations completed by UPO students.

Among the research projects recognised in previous editions are studies directly related to physical conditioning and sports performance, including a study on the effects of strength training in young footballers, awarded in 2024, and a comparative analysis of training protocols based on velocity loss during sets, recognised in 2025.

These research areas highlight the connection between university research and some of the major challenges facing modern physical conditioning, particularly in areas such as strength development, individualised training and performance enhancement.

In this context, Carlos Otero’s participation in CIRFyD provides a perspective closely linked to the day-to-day work carried out within Sevilla FC’s Academy, where performance optimisation is a fundamental part of player education and development.

Sevilla FC Innovation Center: connecting science and football

Sevilla FC’s participation in scientific events of this nature reflects the philosophy of the Sevilla FC Innovation Center, conceived as a platform to promote innovation, education and knowledge transfer within the football industry.

Within this ecosystem, collaboration with academic institutions such as Pablo de Olavide University plays a key role in connecting scientific research with the challenges faced by sports professionals, both in professional football and at academy level.

The shared history of collaboration through the Sevilla FC Chair, together with the presence of club professionals at international forums such as CIRFyD, reinforces a common vision: bringing science onto the pitch and turning knowledge into a tool for talent development and the continuous improvement of sports performance.

Through its participation in this congress, Sevilla FC continues to strengthen its commitment to an open innovation model closely connected to academia, in which research, education and the practical application of knowledge are fundamental pillars for the future of football.