What’s the Most Important Muscle for Football?

The most important muscle is the brain!

Vincente Del Bosque said “I didn’t really want to be the coach that wins, but the coach that educates”. 

Said from the perspective of the educator! Del Bosque is referring to tactical understanding.

As the Fall season rolls around, I am hearing players more constantly from players that are worried about fitness testing, the test themselves and ultimately failing them. I could not help but think that this is stressful for a young player! Especially those that are returning to in person academics this fall and all the natural stress that comes along with life!

We have always felt that the purpose of training is to improve the group by having football related activities that reflect the match environment, this eventually will promote positive match performance.

The perception is that fitness is the divisive piece of football matches is incorrect. When we think of great player (Maybe Cristiano Ronaldo the exception) we think of the skill and vision of the player first, rather than their physical attributes. When I think of footballers, I want to watch the likes of Leo Messi, Maradona, Grealish and Tobin Heath. Those players are exciting!

It is a national obsession for coaches to be physically prevalent, which is fine if the plans come from positive baselines and have individualized planning. The great players seem to arrive in the right space...at the right time! It may well be not how fast you run, but where and when you run. 

Great players check their exits (their shoulders) and know what is around them, their decision making and technical prowess is top notch. Great teams are renowned for style of play rather than physical presence!

I’m not suggesting that you do not have to be fit in order to play football, you absolutely do. But how we get there can be divined in the science, the football and fun!

The most important muscle is the brain!

Lee Cullip, Sporting Director