The evolution of Strength & Conditioning in professional Football with Aston Villa’s Javier Olmo

Javier Olmo, Aston Villa Strength & Conditioning Coach and UCAM alumnus, discusses the evolution of strength and conditioning in professional football, the use of data, injury prevention and the role of trust in athlete performance

In an interview with UCAM Spanish Sports University, Aston Villa Strength & Conditioning Coach and former student of the UCAM Master’s Degree in Strength & Conditioning and Sports Rehabilitation in Football, Javier Olmo, discussed the evolution of strength and conditioning in professional football, addressing key topics such as multidisciplinary work within clubs, the use of data in decision-making, injury management and the main challenges facing the field in the future.

During the conversation, Olmo explained how the role of the strength and conditioning coach has evolved within elite teams, where work is now carried out in close coordination with different departments.

“There is no longer an isolated approach to physical preparation, where the strength and conditioning coach simply decides what needs to be done. Instead, information is shared between the coaching staff, the medical department and all the different departments,”

Javier Olmo, Strength & Conditioning Coach, Aston Villa FC

Regarding the growing use of technology and data analysis in high-performance sport, the Aston Villa specialist emphasised that the key is not to accumulate as much information as possible, but rather to turn data into a useful tool for improving performance.

“The idea is not to have as much data as possible, but to have data that allows us to make the best decisions possible,” he stated.

The Aston Villa Strength & Conditioning Coach also believes that the future of the discipline lies in increasingly adapting training to the specific needs of each individual player.

“Strength and conditioning is going to evolve towards maximising the individualisation of the player,”

When it comes to athlete management, Olmo highlighted the importance of the human factor and trust as the foundation of the professional relationship with players.

“The most important skill is earning the player’s trust,” he explained.

According to Olmo, this relationship is essential not only for optimising performance but also for supporting players throughout the recovery process following an injury.

Finally, the UCAM alumnus shared a message for those aspiring to build a career in strength and conditioning, encouraging them to remain committed to their education and professional development.

“If you want to achieve a dream, you have to fight for it,” he said, highlighting continuous learning, experience and commitment as fundamental elements for achieving success in professional football.