When hydration is more than just drinking water

A roundtable on hydration in football featuring Dr. Antonio Escribano and former goalkeeper Andrés Palop was held at the Valencian Football Federation headquarters.

The Valencian Football Federation (FFCV) hosted a roundtable discussion on hydration in football and futsal at the Ágora Vallejo in Valencia. The event brought together Dr. Antonio Escribano, a sports medicine specialist with 47 years of experience, nutritionist Manuel Arenas, and Andrés Palop, a former goalkeeper who played for Valencia, Villarreal, and Sevilla and now manages the Valencian regional selection.

Dr. Escribano discussed how attitudes toward hydration in football have evolved dramatically. He recalled that players were historically forbidden from drinking water, even during training, as coaches believed it would harm performance. At Sevilla, the club placed cold water bags in the corners of the pitch to allow players to drink. He emphasized that the introduction of the official hydration break has been transformative for the sport, allowing coaches to use the pause strategically without compromising its primary purpose of rehydration.

Palop shared his experience working with Dr. Escribano at Sevilla, crediting the doctor's approach to hydration and nutrition as instrumental in the club's success. He recalled with humor how Escribano would prepare special nutritional supplements before matches, at halftime, and after games—a practice Palop said he missed.