In today's digital ecosystem, the Spanish Creators National Team (SEC) has consolidated itself as much more than a football team. It is a community, a media phenomenon and, above all, a platform where the personal stories of our favourite influencers come to life. At the helm of this ship, not only in sporting management as General Director but also as the lead voice, is DoctorePollo.
Today we sit down with him to talk about one of the most intimate and successful projects of the organisation: "El Podcast de la Selección". A weekly space where the camera stops following the ball to focus on the person behind the creator.
DoctorePollo: From Castellón to the throne of football content
Behind the nick DoctorePollo is Iván Balaguer, a true pioneer in the world of digital content in Spain. Proud of his roots, Iván is a native of the Grao neighbourhood, in Castellón. From the orange-blossom coast, he started to build a career that would take him to be one of the most recognisable faces on YouTube Spain.
His journey as a content creator is long and intrinsically linked to football. For more than a decade, DoctorePollo has entertained millions of followers with FIFA gameplays, challenges on real pitches and current affairs analysis. It was this passion that brought him together with other creators from the Castellón area, such as his inseparable colleague Jordi Torrent (WuaJordi), José (The-Jap), Gerardo (GeraXtreme) or Javier (MrJavi), among others, to form the legendary "Crazy Crew". This group of friends not only dominated the football content scene for years and set up their own 7-a-side football team, but laid the foundations for the collaboration and entertainment we see today in projects like the SEC itself.
His seniority and deep knowledge of the medium were key so that, with the creation of the Spanish Creators National Team, Iván took a step beyond the screen. He stopped being just the youtuber to become the project's General Director. This position of responsibility involves managing logistics, coordinating the players (many of them lifelong friends and colleagues in the profession) and, of course, leading the communications strategy, where "El Podcast de la Selección" plays a fundamental role.
The genesis of a "helpful" project
When the SEC decided to launch an interview format, the choice of presenter was no coincidence. DoctorePollo, a veteran in content creation and a fundamental pillar of the national team's structure, was the natural candidate.
"They basically offered it to me because they were looking for someone to host these podcasts and, since I'm inside the organisation and everything, they offered it to me", he tells us with the naturalness that defines him. His answer was immediate: "I told them yes, sure. I'm helpful in that sense; when someone asks me for something and it's in my hands, go for it".
What for many could have been a logistical or communicative challenge, for him was an organic transition. With years of experience in front of the webcam and at huge events, the podcast format didn't intimidate him.
"I didn't see it as a challenge or as a big test. These years of creating content have given me the ability to, even if it's scripted, improvise and talk comfortably".
The engine of "El Podcast de la Selección"
The podcast has a professional but flexible structure, designed to fit into the tight schedules of the content creators. As the General Director explains, the machinery never stops:
"We usually record on Wednesdays or Thursdays and we usually post the following week, more or less. Honestly, I don't know how many episodes we have now... maybe eight, nine or so, because time flies and there are weeks, like this one, when we record two at a time".
This consistency has allowed weighty names from the Spanish scene to pass through the SEC microphones. From the beginnings with Sxgarra, the parade of talent has been non-stop: Temo, Jonata, Marc Chabe, Arnau Marín, Javi Bridge, Alex Pérez... the list keeps growing.
Fluidity as a hallmark
One of the biggest fears when starting an interview show is that the conversation will feel forced or that the host will stumble over the script. DoctorePollo admits he had his initial doubts, but reality exceeded his expectations.
"At first, I thought it might cost me a bit more. They put a kind of teleprompter to read a little, but really, it costs me zero. I made it natural from day one", he says proudly. The key to the success of "El Podcast de la Selección" lies precisely in that lack of artifice: "I thought retakes would be hard, but nothing. It all came out very fluid from day one".
Much more than an interview: A chat between friends
For DoctorePollo, the podcast isn't work, it's an extension of his social life inside the National Team. The main goal is to humanise the players and offer the audience a view they don't find on their usual channels.
"I enjoy it, I have fun. I think in the end it's keeping up a chat with friends and we're just there having a laugh"
But it's not all humour; the background is inspirational. In every episode, the guests share their beginnings, their life away from the networks and tips to motivate people to achieve similar goals.
Santy Elías: The most authentic episode
Although many profiles have passed through the podcast, there's one that left a special mark on the host. When asked about the most memorable moment, DoctorePollo doesn't hesitate to point to the visit of Santy Elías.
"Santy Elías's was the most authentic. Not because the others aren't, but because he put more feeling into it, he talked about more heartfelt things. I felt that he was better, that he conveyed in a special way".
This is the kind of content the SEC is looking for: moments of vulnerability and honesty that emotionally connect with the viewer.
Where to follow the National Team's trail
The Spanish Creators National Team doesn't only live in the podcast. Its digital ecosystem is vast and offers content for every taste, from match highlights to behind-the-scenes moments at training.
YouTube: On its official channel (@seleccioncreadores) is where the magic happens, hosting the full episodes of the podcast.
Official website: On secreadoresesp.com fans can find all the information on the squad and upcoming events.
Social media: Immediacy is on Instagram and TikTok, where viral clips from the podcast usually rack up thousands of plays.
The future of the SEC and its communication
Under the direction of DoctorePollo, the Spanish Creators National Team is moving towards total professionalisation of its own media. "El Podcast de la Selección" is just the tip of the iceberg of a strategy that aims to unite the king of sports with the most cutting-edge digital entertainment.
At the end of the day, the message that DoctorePollo and his team want to convey is clear: behind every follower, every goal and every video there is a story of effort that deserves to be told. And as long as there's a creator willing to open up, DoctorePollo will be there, microphone in hand, to guide the conversation with the naturalness of someone talking to a lifelong friend.