Prof John Brewer, the Football Association's first head of human performance, got England to train in the hottest part of the day in Italy to show they were adapting to the conditions. His work at Italia 90 set the bar for England and sports science.
Bleep Tests, Alcohol Bans and Gazza
Bobby Robson employed a head of human performance for the World Cup, and despite initial wariness from players, they eventually got on board. The eve of Italia 90 saw Gazza's tears, England's heartache, and a World Cup that sang and stung. Brewer used cutting-edge technology for the time: a BBC microcomputer, a dot-matrix printer, and clunky Polar heart-rate monitors to assess fitness.
Some in the England setup viewed Brewer with suspicion, but after monitoring the squad with bleep tests at Lilleshall, upon arrival in Italy, and after training in the hottest part of the day, he proved the players had adapted to the heat and could play their high-tempo game.
Pioneering Changes
What Brewer pioneered 36 years ago now seems primitive. In 2026, England's players use super-light wearables to track blood oxygen, skin temperature, and sleep, and hyperbaric chambers for recovery. But Brewer's work marked the moment English football began to move toward the light.
Not everything went smoothly. Before Italia 90, Brewer persuaded Robson that players needed more carbohydrates, but was shocked when the chef served swordfish steaks hours before the opener against Ireland. The England doctor, John Crane, supported the players' wishes, but Brewer and Robson disagreed. The medical team ignored evolving sports science, which had been accepted in other sports but not football.
Alcohol was also an issue. Robson banned booze two weeks before the tournament but allowed occasional drinks. However, a couple of stars broke curfew and drank excessively.
Player Responses
Most England players who had played abroad, like Chris Waddle and Trevor Steven, were receptive to nutritional advice. Paul Gascoigne, who got down to around 10% body fat for Italia 90, was a temporary convert. Brewer recalls Gascoigne was probably the fittest he had ever been, despite criticism about his weight. Gascoigne had one-to-one conversations with Brewer about his diet and was fully professional.
Brewer's background with high-level athletes at Loughborough, including Seb Coe, meant Robson and his coaches bought into his training suggestions. These included warming up without the ball to raise body temperature and muscle flexibility, rather than just knocking the ball about. He also suggested substitutes stretch and warm up regularly, and squad players train harder between matches, benefiting David Platt when he replaced the injured Bryan Robson. Basic suggestions included giving players electrolyte drinks on the bus back from training.
Bobby Robson's Legacy
Brewer's fondest memories are of Bobby Robson, whom he admired as a person and manager. Robson brought Brewer into the setup despite FA director of coaching Charles Hughes pushing for a direct style based on statistical analysis. Robson listened to preparation advice but did his own thing on football tactics. Hughes left the FA frustrated, believing his ideas could have won a World Cup.
Now retired, Brewer follows football and sports science closely. Players are fitter today, with more attention to training and diet due to high-intensity games. But they also have more help: clubs now have their own sports science teams, unlike when Brewer set up the FA human performance centre. Back then, he used a BBC microcomputer and dot-matrix printer, which seemed cutting edge but were basic compared to today.
