Jose Carlos: Strength Behind India’s Football Team
Jose Carlos and Indian Football
José Carlos Barroso Coll, Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Indian senior football team, has built his career around helping elite athletes perform at their best. His journey began in Benidorm, Spain, a small town with a strong football culture.
Inspired by football legends and his father’s sporting background, José started playing football at the age of seven. He later competed at youth level against teams such as Valencia, Villarreal and Levante, experiences that helped him understand the demands of elite football.
Jose Carlos and Sports Science
As he progressed in sport, José realised that reaching professional football required exceptional dedication. This led him towards strength and conditioning, sports science and performance training.
He completed a degree in sports science and physical education, followed by postgraduate studies in sports nutrition. Before joining Indian football, he worked in Kuwait and had coaching and fitness roles with clubs including Hyderabad FC, CF La Nucía, NorthEast United FC, Jamshedpur FC and FC Goa.
Jose Carlos and Football Fitness
José’s approach focuses on balancing training volume and intensity while giving recovery equal importance. This becomes particularly important during congested seasons and difficult weather conditions.
His recovery recommendations include getting around eight to nine hours of sleep, using cold therapy such as ice baths when appropriate, massage and myofascial release, and active recovery through activities such as light cycling, swimming or walking.
Jose Carlos and Strength Training
José recommends exercises that develop strength, power and acceleration. These include compound movements such as squats, deadlifts and cleans, along with plyometric exercises such as box jumps and single-leg hops.
Sled pushes and resisted sprints are also used to improve acceleration and explosive performance. His approach involves reducing training volume when necessary while maintaining the required intensity.
Jose Carlos and Sports Nutrition
Nutrition is another important part of José’s performance philosophy. He stresses the importance of hydration, particularly in hot and humid conditions, along with adequate protein and carbohydrates.
He recommends around 1.6 to 2.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight each day to support muscle repair. Carbohydrates help maintain performance, while supplements such as creatine, BCAAs and protein powders are treated as additional support rather than replacements for a balanced diet.
Jose Carlos and Recovery
José also challenges the idea that recovery depends only on massages or ice baths. According to his approach, consistent sleep, proper nutrition and well-planned recovery habits are fundamental to reducing fatigue and supporting long-term adaptation.
Jose Carlos and the Indian Team
As part of the Indian senior football setup, José works alongside the coaching and support staff to prepare players for the demands of international football. AIFF has also identified him as part of the senior team’s coaching staff working with players on the training ground and in the gym.
His work combines strength training, recovery, nutrition and performance monitoring to help players remain physically prepared throughout demanding periods.
Jose Carlos and Football Performance
From a football-loving child in Benidorm to working with India’s senior national team, José Carlos Barroso Coll’s journey reflects the growing role of sports science in modern football.
His work shows that performance is not built only during matches. Training, recovery, nutrition, sleep and preparation all contribute to helping footballers perform at their best.
