Iciar Montes: Empathy and expertise set to guide British women to glory
• 3 minutes read
Iciar Montes has vowed to use her skills as an empath as well as a world-renowned coach when she makes her debut on the Great Britain bench at the upcoming 2026 FIP World Cup European qualifier in Madrid.
Montes was world No.1 for 12 years and won nine world titles, before leading Spain to five World Championship victories and three European crowns as women’s national head coach for five years.
Earlier this year she was appointed LTA Padel International Performance Coach, working alongside Libby Fletcher with the GB women’s team.
The FIP World Cup European qualifier, taking place from 22-26 September at Pádel G24, will be the first time Montes will work directly with the GB players in a major competition.
The Spaniard's expert guidance in the heat of competition will be invaluable for the GB women's squad as they seek to finish in the top two and secure qualification for November's FIP World Cup in Doha, Qatar.
Montes replaces the renowned Argentine Agustin Gomez Silingo - former coach of Juan Lebrón and Martín Di Nenno - who worked with the women's team at last year's FIP Euro Padel Cup. He has now transitioned to the GB men's team and will lead them alongside John Leach in Madrid.
"The difference we can make is that we've already lived it," Montes says of her and Silingo's addition to the GB coaching set-up.
"You're like an empath. You know how the players are feeling inside. You can judge and feel their emotions. Are they feeling comfortable and confident? Will they be receptive? That is important for the next information you give them.
"If a player is feeling nervous or scared, the first thing for me is to get her out of that emotion, either by making her activate physically, or to just focus on one thing I might tell her. You only get 90 seconds, so you have to prioritise what the most important thing is, right now.
"Eye contact is important. They have to know you're with them, whatever happens on court. When you're in the middle of a battle, it's not always the time to talk about technique or tactics. You might have to work on emotions first, otherwise she won't be able to listen to me or employ any tactical advice anyway."
Montes has spent the period since her appointment building trust with the GB players; following their progress closely in person, via live streaming of FIP Tour events and through regular phone calls and text conversations. "Only by getting to know them will I get the best out of them," she explains.
Although not directly involved, the 51-year-old was in Madrid in July last year to witness GB's women brilliantly beat Sweden to seal qualification for the FIP Euro Padel Cup Final 8, so she already has a bank of knowledge about the players' big-stage capabilities and potential.
"When I first arrived, I was expecting raw players, because they have less experience [than in Spain], but I was surprised in a very positive way," she says. "I think we have a good team and I am 100% sure we can qualify for the Worlds."
Great Britain are one of 26 women's teams seeking qualification for November's FIP World Cup via the upcoming European qualifier. Montes singles out Denmark as the women's team's strongest potential opponents. (Big guns Spain, Italy, Portugal, Netherlands, Sweden, France and Belgium won't be there, as they have already qualified via their performance at the last World Championships.)
Chloe de la Mare has received a debut international call-up for the event. "She will improve so fast because of the amount of hours she's putting in," Montes says of the 16-year-old Channel Islander.
I think we have a good team and I am 100% sure we can qualify for the Worlds.
The team will be spearheaded by British Nos.1 and 2, Aimee Gibson and Catherine Rose, who Montes has also been monitoring closely. "They have great hunger for results and are very ambitious," she states. "Although they are the leading players in the team, it's super important to focus on every player. They are all needed. Without everyone, we won't make it to the Worlds."
Montes has actually been working with the LTA since 2023 as Content Developer for Padel Coach Education alongside the LTA’s Coach and Official Education team. This includes working with LTA Head of Education & Qualification Pathways, Jo Ward, on developing and piloting the LTA Level 3 padel coaching course.
"Jo and I met when Spain played GB at the Seniors World Championships in Andalucia four years ago," recalls Montes. "Afterwards, she asked me for some lessons in Madrid and we talked about creating the same coaching levels for padel as exist in tennis.
"It has been amazing to help a very organised and smart country develop everything to do with padel. There is still plenty of work to do, but it's not going to take that long.
"You are a country with a very important history and passion for tennis which is going to help padel. The culture is already used to racket sports. I'm very confident that you're going to make it. You have qualities than not many other countries have.
"The coaches may need to improve their level of padel know-how, but their skills as coaches are much higher than in other countries, in my opinion. Those skills are going to work in padel too."
Padel's growth across Britain is explosive and Montes notes that many positive developments are happening from the grassroots upwards, but also from the top down.
"It's very important for a country to have its own heroes who people look up to," she states. "It's difficult to put a number on when GB players will compete (with the world's best), but I know that in five to 10 years things are going to be very different. You will probably have top 30 players in both male and female rankings."
Guided by Montes' wealth of elite-level know-how, Britain's players will be amply supported to build their role model status at the FIP World Cup European qualifier and beyond.
