La Laguna Hosts International Sports Forum Focusing on Elite Management and Psychology
The 1st International Sports Forum in La Laguna concluded with industry leaders, including Felipe Miñambres, Pepu Hernández, and Álex Corretja, discussing the critical roles of management, psychology, and emotional intelligence in elite athletics.
The second day of the 1st International Sports Forum (FID) in La Laguna confirmed the event’s role as a vital space for discussing management and psychology in elite sports. Held at the Teatro Leal, the forum featured insights from prominent figures like Felipe Miñambres, Pepu Hernández, and Álex Corretja, who explored everything from the challenges facing clubs like CD Tenerife to the lasting impact of Spain’s golden generation of basketball.
Felipe Miñambres, president of CD Tenerife, discussed the hurdles of football management under LaLiga’s strict economic controls. When asked about potentially signing Pedro Rodríguez, Miñambres explained that league regulations make it difficult for clubs with limited budgets to accommodate high salaries, as any significant pay increase is closely monitored. He also reflected on his own playing career, sharing a story about his national team debut—where he worried a cold medicine might trigger a false positive on a doping test—and credited Jorge Valdano as a key mentor in his strategic development.
Former national basketball coach Pepu Hernández spoke about the challenge of managing expectations after twenty years of consistent success. He emphasized that his coaching philosophy focused on fairness within the locker room. Reflecting on the 2006 World Cup, he explained how he kept the team motivated despite Pau Gasol’s absence, reinforcing his belief that the collective must always come before the individual.
The forum concluded with tennis star Álex Corretja, who offered an honest look at the psychological pressures of professional sports. He urged the next generation to accept that some variables in high-level competition are simply out of their control, rather than clinging to an idealized view of a career. The event ended on a lighthearted note, with Corretja fulfilling a friendly bet by trading shots with an attendee on the theater stage. Ultimately, the forum highlighted that clear communication and emotional intelligence are essential for the future of sports organizations.