Transfer of power at the summit of Spanish padel
Spain doesn’t just have a new coach. With Carolina Navarro now in charge of Spain’s women’s team, they have entrusted one of the players who has shaped the modern history of padel with the reins. La Malagueña takes over from Icíar Montes, who left the post after a highly effective cycle, marked by four world titles, four European titles and solid management of generational renewal.
Carolina Navarro is first and foremost a former world No.1, a champion with Spain, a pioneer of women’s padel and a competitor who has lived through every era of the sport. Her appointment by the Spanish Padel Federation therefore follows a simple logic: keep the Spanish DNA, but adapt it to an accelerating international scene.
Navarro arrives with immediate sporting weight. She’s never experienced the locker room, the pressure of the jersey, or the matches where a selection is won on three details: a glass defense, a bandeja held under tension or a volley played with composure. His career path, which can be consulted on his official FIP profile, is also a reminder of the breadth of a career that goes far beyond simple achievements.
Defending the Montes legacy, launching a new generation
Icíar Montes sets the bar very high. Since 2018, Spain has consolidated its status as the world’s benchmark women’s team, while preparing for the aftermath of the historic greats. Navarro’s challenge will therefore not be to break everything, but to maintain a team capable of dominance without becoming predictable.
The Spanish national team still boasts an impressive pool of talent. Gemma Triay, Paula Josemaría, Ari Sánchez, Bea González and Claudia Fernández embody today’s top level, while Andrea Ustero, Alejandra Alonso and Martina Calvo are pushing hard. The FIP Spain padel ranking illustrates this density: few countries can boast so many profiles capable of performing at a major tournament.
But the task will be a subtle one. A selection cannot be built simply by adding up rankings. It will be necessary to manage pairs’ automatisms, styles, roles and hot moments. Navarro knows all this inside out. She knows what it means to enter the court with a flag on her shirt, to defend a high lob under pressure, or to choose between acceleration in vibora and delivering one more ball to wear down the opponent.
A timely appointment
The announcement comes at a time when Spanish padel is taking shape at all levels. Barcelona is hosting the Padel World Summit 2026, the international circuit continues to grow in density and competition is increasing, particularly in Argentina, Italy, Portugal and Sweden. Spain remains the favourite, but no longer has the luxury of operating on automatic pilot.
Navarro’s first big test should come very soon: keeping Spain at the top in major international competitions. According to the Spanish press, the women’s national team continues to enjoy an impressive dominance at World Championships, with an unbeaten run that stretches back to 2008, with the exception of an absence in 2012. In other words, the new coach is not arriving to rebuild, but to defend a winning machine.
With Carolina Navarro, Spain has chosen a strong, identifiable and respected voice. Her stint with the Swedish national team, linked to her dual nationality, also gives her a broader view of European padel. For a nation that wants to stay ahead, this vision can count as much as a track record.
To remember:
- Carolina Navarro succeeds Icíar Montes at the helm of Spain’s women’s team.
- The new coach inherits a group that is champions, but in full transition.
- His first major challenge will be to transform his legendary aura into bench strength.
