Feeding the machine: Head Nutritionist dishes on the secret ingredient in Bayern Munich’s nutrition strategy

From incorporating data-driven tactics made possible by the advancing marriage between sport and technology, to the delicate art of juggling a squad full of superstar personalities, the complexities of football are endless. And if you were to ask Melf Carstensen, Bayern Munich’s Head of Nutrition, he’d tell you tactics and man management only scratch the surface.

The Northern Germany native ensures the Bayern squad fuels their bodies in order to perform at the top level and sustain the tremendous work-load required from an ever-growing football calendar—a feat Carstensen has learned to execute to perfection.

In an interview with 51 Magazine (as reported by Tz), Carstensen touched on how important nutrition is in executing what the coach wants to implement on the pitch.

“One thing is clear: the most important thing in football is what the coach does with the team,” declared Bayern’s Head of Nutrition. “Nutrition is a supportive little gear. Our task is to integrate scientific findings into everyday life. Not too big, but in such a way that they support the goal,” Carstensen said.

To make things even more complex, Carstensen revealed that diets are even tailored to player positions.

“The outside lanes have brutally running-intensive positions, so carbohydrate catering is particularly important. A goalkeeper also runs five, six kilometers, but the requirements are completely different. The individual load also plays a role: Does someone have 90 minutes in their legs or less? Is there an injury history? Spasms? Then you adjust accordingly. There is no patent prescription,” said Carstensen

The meal plan even changes on match days.

“We have a full catering. Usually at least two meals a day together. On a game day, there are twice as many meals. Above all, this means twice as many carbohydrates – that is, twice as much energy,” Carstensen remarked.

Now if you were curious about how Bayern’s Head of Nutrition times the squad’s meals and what a general meal looks like, he shared that too.

“When we travel, we eat in the hotel in the evening, with snacks with the physios, breakfast, lunch, pre-match meal and after the whistle again food. The matchday buffet with shake, pancakes, pasta station always and everywhere looks the same – whether at a home game, an away game or the Club World Cup in America. Because familiarity creates security,” said Carstensen.

It’s truly amazing to see how much detail goes into just a “supportive gear” of Bayern Munich’s success. Combine that with all the other cogs and gears that bring life to the machine and one can’t help but be impressed with just how complex operating one of Europe’s most successful football team’s of all time can be.