Roberto Ríos

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

For the Puerto Rican Olympic basketball player, see Roberto Ríos (basketball).
This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Ríos and the second or maternal family name is Patus.
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)
Playing 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

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References
  1. El Betis supo marcar las diferencias en Sestao (Betis knew how to make a difference in Sestao); ABC, 14 September 1992 (in Spanish)
  2. Ríos y el Athletic pasan a la historia (Ríos and Athletic make history); El Mundo, 20 July 1997 (in Spanish)
  3. Fin de año con goleada (Routing to end the year); El Mundo, 22 December 1997 (in Spanish)
  4. Rios snubs Baggies; BBC Sport, 21 January 2003
  5. Pepe Mel negocia con Chivas (Pepe Mel negotiates with Chivas); Diario AS, 27 September 2014 (in Spanish)
  6. Ríos: “No me veo como primer entrenador; mi intención es estar muchos años con Mel” (Ríos: “I do not see myself as head coach; I intend to spend many years with Mel”); ABC, 7 October 2015 (in Spanish)
  7. La nueva España aguó la fiesta checa (New Spain crashed Czech party); La Vanguardia, 10 October 1996 (in Spanish)
  8. Fallece a los 73 años Eusebio Ríos (Eusebio Ríos dies at the age of 73); Diario de Sevilla, 12 May 2008 (in Spanish)
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