Roberto Ríos

Roberto Ríos Patus (born 8 October 1971) is a Spanish retired professional footballer who played as a central defender.

Roberto Ríos
Ríos training with Betis in 2010
Personal information
Full name Roberto Ríos Patus
Date of birth (1971-10-08) 8 October 1971
Place of birth Bilbao, Spain
Height 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Youth career
Betis
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1990–1992 Betis B 24 (3)
1992–1997 Betis 114 (11)
1997–2002 Athletic Bilbao 78 (4)
Total 216 (18)
National team
1991 Spain U19 2 (0)
1993–1994 Spain U21 2 (0)
1996–1998 Spain 11 (0)
1996–1997 Basque Country 4 (0)
Teams managed
2010–2013 Betis (assistant)
2014 West Bromwich Albion (assistant)
2014–2016 Betis (assistant)
2017 Deportivo La Coruña (assistant)
2019–2020 Las Palmas (assistant)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Although Basque-born (in Bilbao), Ríos emerged through the youth system of Real Betis, making his professional debuts in the second division in the 1992–93 season.[1] He went on to contribute importantly in the Andalusians' promotion the following year – although appearing in only 19 matches he scored four times – and become a regular first-team member onwards.

In the 1997 summer, following rumours of a transfer to Manchester United earlier in February, Ríos was signed by Athletic Bilbao for 2 billion pesetas, a then-record for a national player.[2] In his first season, he netted twice in 32 contests (including once in a 5–1 home thrashing of CP Mérida, on 21 December 1997)[3] as the Basque side finished runners-up in La Liga.

After spending the first months of the 2002–03 campaign without a club and having played only played 27 games in his last three years at Athletic combined, Ríos trained with West Bromwich Albion. However, in January 2003 he rejected a contract offer from the Gary Megson-led team, stating "I don't want to fool anyone" about his chances of regaining full fitness.[4]

Ríos retired aged 30, due to persistent injury problems. He returned to Betis in 2010, as part of newly appointed manager Pepe Mel's coaching staff.[5][6]

International career

Ríos was capped 11 times by Spain, with his debut coming on 9 October 1996 in a 0–0 away draw to the Czech Republic for the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.[7] In spite of having appeared significantly during the campaign and coming from a solid club season with Athletic, he was overlooked for the final stages in France.

Personal life

Ríos' father, Eusebio, was also a footballer (and a defender). He too played most of his career at Betis, and later became a coach, also managing the team.[8]

Honours

Spain U21

References

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