FUELLING FOR FOOTBALL
he relentless nature of modern football requires a high-level nutrition plan to match. A professional footballer typically runs 10km during a 90-minute match, covers 600m at maximum sprint speed, and sustains an exercise intensity of 85% of their maximum heart rate throughout the game. Such a uniquely intense physical strain results in a huge calorie burn of over 1,600 calories per match. It also has a knock-on effect on players’ body compositions – elite male players tend to have a trim body-fat percentage of 7-15% – and recovery:
