Author: Innovation Center

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Sevilla FC launches its training experience for coaches as part of the “Academy Programs”.

Sevilla FC, through its Innovation Center, continues to establish itself as a key player in football education, both nationally and internationally.

Portuguese coach Lino Almeida shared his impressions and expressed his surprise at the opportunity to live various experiences alongside Sevilla FC and to have learned new methodologies used by the club.

“It has been a very enriching experience. What surprised me the most was the use of cameras to record all the training sessions—this helps players improve. I was also surprised by the presence of psychologists during training sessions; it gives kids and players someone to talk to and express themselves more freely,” said Lino Almeida.

He also emphasized the methodology used by Sevilla FC, a methodology that the Portuguese coach stated he plans to implement at his own club. Moreover, Lino Almeida mentioned that he is taking back not only new methods but also fresh ideas that he is eager to put into practice.

Finally, Lino shared that this is an experience he highly recommends. “It’s an experience I recommend to all coaches. I got to meet many other coaches, they shared the full methodology with me and helped me improve in areas where I needed it. This is valuable for any football coach.”

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José Andrés Nevado Villalba, awarded the Manuel Blasco Garzón Prize.

The Special Jury Prize of the 4th Edition of the Manuel Blasco Garzón Awards has been granted to José Andrés Nevado Villalba for his outstanding work titled “Are soccer clubs sensitive to financial scandals? Evidence from the Plusvalenza case.”

This study analyzes the impact of the Plusvalenza financial scandal, involving the football club Juventus of Turin. To conduct this case study, José Andrés Nevado applied a methodology based on financial event analysis. His research concludes that the financial market reacts more strongly to negative news than to favorable court rulings.

Moreover, this work raises important ethical questions: Is it profitable for football clubs to break the law if the market reacts negatively?

The study conducted by José Andrés Nevado Villalba not only offers key insights into the financial sphere of football but also contributes to applications in professional football regulation, club management, and investment decision-making.

The Manuel Blasco Garzón Prize continues its mission of recognizing young talent, supporting and encouraging students to pursue academic and scientific research.

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Javier Merino Pérez, awarded the Manuel Blasco Garzón Prize.

The student Javier Merino Pérez has been awarded the Blasco Garzón Prize, endowed with 800 euros, for his work in the field of sports and exercise science, titled “Comparison of two training protocols with different velocity loss in the set on performance in the bench press exercise.”

The study conducted by Javier Merino Pérez analyzes the impact of two training approaches based on controlling the average propulsive velocity and the percentage of velocity loss during the bench press exercise, with the goal of optimizing performance and minimizing fatigue.

For the study, Javier Merino compared two groups: one with a fixed protocol of a constant 25% velocity loss, and another with a wave-like progression where the percentage of loss varied from session to session. Both models showed significant improvements in physical performance, but the group with constant velocity loss achieved similar or superior gains in maximum strength and muscular endurance.

The study concludes that both methods are effective, but maintaining a constant velocity loss may be particularly useful during strength development phases, while varying the percentage could be beneficial at strategic points in training, such as at the end of a microcycle or in pre-competition preparation.

The Manuel Blasco Garzón Prize continues its mission of recognizing young talent, supporting and encouraging students to continue their work in academic and scientific research.

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Alejandra López Cabrera, awarded the Manuel Blasco Garzón Prize.

Alejandra López Cabrera has been awarded the Blasco Garzón Prize in the Business category (Master’s Thesis), endowed with 800 euros.

Her study, focused on nemaline myopathy, one of the most common forms of congenital myopathies, primarily caused by mutations in the ACTA1 and NEB genes. This condition, which affects muscle function, is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and abnormal intracellular iron accumulation, as observed in dermal fibroblasts from affected patients.

This work not only provides new insights into the cellular mechanisms of nemaline myopathy but also opens the door to the development of future therapies aimed at improving mitochondrial function in patients with this rare disease.

The Manuel Blasco Garzón Prize continues its mission of recognizing young talent, supporting and encouraging students to continue their work in the field of academic and scientific research.

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Ignacio Gómez Dolader, awarded the Manuel Blasco Garzón Prize.

The student Ignacio Gómez Dolader has been awarded the Blasco Garzón Prize, endowed with 450 euros, for his work in the field of sports and exercise science. His study, focused on how strength influences the balance of young acrobatic gymnasts, has been of great interest to the jury due to its relevance and scientific rigor.

The research analyzes how maximum isometric strength and jump power influence balance performance, particularly depending on the athlete’s biological development stage, especially in athletes near their peak height velocity (PHV).

Ignacio Gómez Dolader conducted a cross-sectional study with 34 female gymnasts, observing notable differences between athletes near PHV and post-PHV, with the latter showing better results in both strength and balance.

The results of Ignacio Gómez Dolader’s work provide scientific value of special interest, in addition to potential practical applications in training planning for acrobatic sports.

The Manuel Blasco Garzón Prize continues its mission of recognizing young talent, supporting and encouraging students to continue their work in the field of academic and scientific research.

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The Sevilla FC Chair, in collaboration with the Pablo de Olavide University, presents the Manuel Blasco Garzón Awards.

The Sevilla FC Chair: University, Business, and Sport at Pablo de Olavide University presented the Manuel Blasco Garzón Awards this morning

The students, winners of the 4th edition of the Manuel Blasco Garzón Awards at Pablo de Olavide University, had the opportunity to attend the awards ceremony organized by the Sevilla FC Chair in collaboration with the university.

The awards were divided into the following categories: Business (Master’s Thesis – TFM), Business (Bachelor’s Thesis – TFG), Sports (Master’s Thesis – TFM), and Sports (Bachelor’s Thesis – TFG). In addition to the academic recognition that comes with receiving this prestigious award, the winning students were granted a cash prize of €800 for Master’s theses and €450 for Bachelor’s theses.

  • In the Business category (TFM), the award was given to Alejandra López Cabrera for her work titled “Mitochondrial dysfunction in nemaline myopathy.”
  • In the Sports category (TFM), the prize went to Javier Merino Pérez for his thesis “Comparison of two training protocols with different velocity loss thresholds on bench press performance.”
  • In the Sports category (TFG). Ignacio Gómez Dolader received the award for his research “Influence of strength on static and proactive balance in young gymnasts.”
  • Additionally, the jury awarded a Special Prize to José Andrés Nevado Villalba for his thesis “Are soccer clubs sensitive to financial scandals? Evidence from the plusvalenza case.”

The 4th Edition of the Manuel Blasco Garzón Awards once again highlights the support and commitment of the Sevilla FC Chair, alongside Pablo de Olavide University, to fostering young talent in research and academic study within the fields of business and sport.

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The Master’s in Innovation and Digital Transformation concludes a March full of learning

The Master’s in Innovation and Digital Transformation in Sports Entities at the Sevilla FC Innovation Center, organized in partnership with Sport Data Campus, has concluded a March full of interesting presentations from various experts.

Javier Gil, Head of AI Implementation and Development at LaLiga, delivered the talk “An Honest Approach to Generative AI and the Future of Work.” Meanwhile, Juan Esteban Gómez Llamas, a member of the Sevilla FC Innovation Center, conducted a live class titled “Understanding Processes in a Sports Entity.”

On March 11, 12, and 13, students had the opportunity to attend 3 Master Classes presented by Carlos González Graña, founding partner and CEO of BHI Capital; once again, Juan Esteban Gómez Llamas; and Miguel Angel Loor, President of the Liga Pro in Ecuador. The first spoke about investment and entrepreneurship in the sports industry, the second about digital leadership and operational transformation in sports organizations, and the third presented the business model of the Ecuadorian Liga Pro.

Also featured were Conrado Sandoval, Director of Competition Development at La Liga MX, and Débora Saldanha, Head of Innovation at Club Atlético Mineiro in Brazil. The training sessions were completed with additional staff from Sevilla FC, such as the club’s General Director, José González-Dans, the Director of Human Resources, Raquel Frías, and the person responsible for Sustainability and the Sevilla FC Foundation, Santiago González. Additionally, Mamen Blanco, an executive specialist in talent development and AI, gave a presentation on this topic to the students.

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Data in Football: An Essential Tool for the Coaching Staff

The importance of data in football has been the central topic in various roundtable discussions. Sergio González, an expert in analysis, emphasized that data is here to stay and its integration into the coaching staff is essential. A good understanding between analysts and coaches allows for determining what information is necessary to improve performance. He also stressed the need for analysts to actively engage and filter relevant data to facilitate decision-making.

Daniel Del Valle, on the other hand, highlighted the importance of convincing the coach of the value of data. In his opinion, the proper use of information can make a key difference at critical moments of a match. He also reminded that artificial intelligence does not replace human work but serves as a supportive tool.

Jesús Galván, a representative from Sevilla, explained that the club’s players are familiar with data from the youth categories. They aim to understand their strengths and weaknesses, using information as a way to improve their performance. He also noted that data is a useful tool to motivate players and establish a dialogue with them, as long as it is interpreted properly.

From a different perspective, Miguel Do Carmo highlighted the challenge of training coaches in data usage. According to his experience, once coaches understand the available information, they can request specific data according to their needs. However, he warned about the importance of synthesizing the information and providing reliable data without imposing work methods.

Omar Bautista, for his part, emphasized that the data strategy is the foundation of the work at his club. The collection and analysis of information have become key pillars for decision-making and optimizing player performance.

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Video analysis has become an essential tool for football professionals.

Former footballer Carlos Marchena spoke about how video analysis can help convince players about performance improvement. “The image leaves no room for doubt,” he stated. “Sound is also very important—observing how much time you spend talking during training sessions,” Marchena continued, referring this time to the work of coaches.

Reflecting on his past, Marchena recalled that video analysis was not commonly used in his early days as a player. “Video was not worked on before; there was no trust in it. Full matches were played without analysis. But video is a tool that helps a lot, especially when you come to understand it with maturity,” he added. Now, in his academy, he actively uses video to record matches, later analyzing and observing the behavior of both coaches and players.

José María Cruz followed up by addressing the accessibility of video analysis tools. “I see the process as very accessible, especially for amateur teams. Self-financing tools and content creation allow for cost-effective, creative, and innovative storage solutions.” Beyond that, he highlighted the importance of providing meaningful feedback. “It’s not just about sending a document; an in-depth analysis must be conducted. Educating players on the correct use of the tool and creating content to enhance performance is crucial,” he added.

To conclude, Javier Pichel emphasized the evolution of processes and how video analysis has become a fundamental method for improving player performance. He encouraged all teams to take advantage of technological advancements to enhance their performance, regardless of the club’s size, as these technologies are increasingly accessible.

Video analysis is no longer a tool of the future; it has firmly established itself in the present, where technology provides added value to football, significantly enhancing the performance of both players and coaches.

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The Sport Data Forum 2025 Addresses the Evolution of Data-Driven Sporting Directorates

The development of young prospects is a fundamental aspect of any strategic plan within a sporting directorate. Romeo Jozak, technical director of Future Falcons, is well aware of this. Speaking at the Sport Data Forum 2025, he highlighted the significant investment that will be made in the coming years to foster the growth of young footballers in Saudi Arabia. He emphasized that the country has immense potential but that it is crucial to educate these players professionally in Europe.

Jozak also mentioned the challenges of managing information in such a vast country and how they are working on data organization to optimize player performance. In this regard, he stressed the great career opportunities for young Spanish analysts, who can contribute their expertise in data analysis and football development.

One of Future Falcons’ main objectives is to identify and distribute talent to elite leagues, with the goal of having 30 competitive players in the national team over the next 10 years.

The Balance Between Technology and Experience

Eduardo Covelo, former head of methodology at RC Celta de Vigo, took the stage to emphasize the importance of correctly interpreting data within the sporting context. He pointed out that data and technology should complement, rather than replace, experience and intuition. For Covelo, success lies in striking a balance between these two factors, avoiding an excessive dependence on analytics.

He also stressed that while technology has made talent identification faster and more efficient, the real challenge today is not only spotting talent but also developing it. He predicted that, over time, many intangible aspects of football would be measured with precision, creating new opportunities in sports management.

Another speaker, Luis Helguera (sporting director of UD Las Palmas), explained that the divide between data analysis and subjective interpretation of the game no longer exists. In his view, the real challenge is finding professionals who can handle data but also understand the game from within.

For this reason, he encouraged data specialists to expand their knowledge by taking coaching courses and learning traditional football methodologies. This, he said, would allow them to interpret analytical information more effectively. He also emphasized the difficulty of finding hybrid profiles, individuals who can combine technological expertise with a deep understanding of the game, a growing need in club sporting directorates.

The three experts agreed on several key points regarding the evolution of data-driven sporting directorates, particularly in their belief that data is essential, but without passion and context, it loses its true value.

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The Video Analysis Revolution in Football

In modern football, information means power, which translates into an advantage over others. In a sport where every detail matters, video analysis has become a fundamental tool for coaches. Roberto López states that “The language that the coach understands is video. That is why this tool is so important, as all data is linked to video.”

The customization of this tool for each club is key—it’s a competitive advantage. Sports analysis consultancies work directly with clubs to offer personalized dashboards tailored to each team’s specific needs. It is not just about transforming data into information but about providing real value to coaching staff.

Highly qualified professionals work alongside coaching teams, ensuring that the tools are fully functional and adapted to the coach’s needs. However, the use of artificial intelligence in data analysis requires caution. It is essential to apply sound judgment when evaluating AI-generated insights, as AI can also make mistakes. Therefore, it is crucial to have experts who can interpret the data correctly.

The football of the future will depend on how today’s tools are used. The key lies in combining human expertise with data analysis to optimize strategies and enhance team performance. Despite all technological advancements, football remains a sport of chaotic nature, where passion and uncertainty are an essential part of its magic.