EM-Quali
“10 years too late” – Nati gets a nutritionist on the team
The Swiss national team is expanding its staff. In addition to two new athletic trainers, the association is also bringing two nutritionists into the team – with a little delay, as Nati director Pierluigi Tami admits.
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Eduardo Parra Garcia (right) is now in charge of the national team’s athletic exercises.
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New part of the national staff: a chef, two athletic trainers and two nutritionists.
SFV
After the training, fruit cups and shakes are available.
Lucas Werder
The two nutritionists Heliodoro Moya Amaya and Antonio Molina Lopez are with the national team for the first time.
Lucas Werder
Nati director Pierluigi Tami admits that they are lagging behind in these areas.
freshfocus
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The Swiss national team has increased its staff.
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In addition to a new athletic trainer and assistant, the team now also has two nutritionists and another cook.
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“We want to become more professional,” says Nati director Pierluigi Tami.
The Nati has increased. However, not with Murat Yakin’s players, but with the staff. According to Nati director Pierluigi Tami, a step that was urgently needed. At the World Cup in Qatar, Switzerland had the smallest staff of all 32 participants. In its analyzes the association was able to identify a lot of potential for improvement, especially in the areas of performance and nutrition. In addition to two athletic trainers, two nutritionists and an additional chef have joined the Swiss national team.
Nutritional science in the professional sports sector is by no means new. “Yes, we’re ten years too late,” admits the Ticino national team director. Tami, who has been the head of the national team since 2018, had already planned changes the year before last. “Due to the change of coach from Vladimir Petkovic to Murat Yakin, we initially had other priorities,” said the 61-year-old.
Athletic coach worked for Real Madrid
When it comes to increasing the staff, the association relies on a lot of Spanish know-how. The new athletic coach Eduardo Parra Garcia (43) has previously worked for clubs such as Real Madrid, West Ham United, Inter Milan, Liverpool and most recently Nice. The two nutritionists Antonio Molina Lopez and Heliodoro Moya Amaya also advise professional clubs such as Watford and Udinese with their company. They are supported by the Italian chef Francesco Baraldo Sano.
With Parra Garcia, the association has hired an athletics coach for the first time with a full-time workload. In the case of predecessor Oliver Riedwyl (47), who is leaving the national team following eight and a half years, this was not possible due to various other projects. Parra Garcia is assisted by Jose Luis Estevez Rodriguez.
Better cooperation with clubs
An important reason for the expansion: The association wants to massively improve the cooperation between the national team and the clubs. Athletics trainer Parra Garcia will now also take care of the fitness programs for the national team players between the international breaks in cooperation with the respective clubs.
The same applies to the area of nutrition. “We want to become more professional,” explains Pierluigi Tami. It is hoped that important data will be obtained through regular tests and controls. “This can be particularly useful when you’re together for a long time – like during a tournament,” says Tami.
At first glance, some innovations are already recognizable. After training, cups with fresh fruit and shakes are available for the players. “Things always change when new people come along and bring their own ideas and processes,” says goalie Yann Sommer.
