For Argentine senator, see Roberto Ríos (Argentine politician). For the Puerto Rican Olympic basketball player, see Roberto Ríos (basketball). For the Cuban artist, see Roberto Álvarez-Ríos.
Roberto Ríos
FullnameRoberto Ríos Patus
Birth date8 October 1971 (age 55)
Birth placeBilbao, Spain
Height1.93 m
PositionCentre-back
Youthyears 11986–1990
Youthclubs 1Betis
Years 11990–1992
Clubs 1Betis B
Caps 124
Goals 13
Years 21992–1997
Clubs 2Betis
Caps 2114
Goals 211
Years 31997–2002
Clubs 3Athletic Bilbao
Caps 378
Goals 34
Totalcaps216
Totalgoals18
Nationalyears 11991
Nationalteam 1Spain U19
Nationalcaps 12
Nationalgoals 10
Nationalyears 21993–1994
Nationalteam 2Spain U21
Nationalcaps 22
Nationalgoals 20
Nationalyears 31996–1998
Nationalteam 3Spain
Nationalcaps 311
Nationalgoals 30
Nationalyears 41996–1997
Nationalteam 4Basque Country
Nationalcaps 44
Nationalgoals 40
Manageryears 12010–2013
Managerclubs 1Betis (assistant)
Manageryears 22014
Managerclubs 2West Bromwich Albion (assistant)
Manageryears 32014–2016
Managerclubs 3Betis (assistant)
Manageryears 42017
Managerclubs 4Deportivo La Coruña (assistant)
Manageryears 52019–2020
Managerclubs 5Las Palmas (assistant)

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

Club career

Although Basque-born (in Bilbao), Ríos emerged through the youth system of Real Betis, making his professional debut in the Segunda División 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 summer 1997, 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 games (including once in a 5–1 home win over 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 totalled only 27 appearances in his last three years at Athletic, 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.[5] He returned to Betis in 2010, as part of newly appointed manager Pepe Mel's coaching staff.[6][7]

International career

Ríos was capped 11 times by Spain,[8] with his debut coming on 9 October 1996 in a 0–0 away draw against the Czech Republic in the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.[9] 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.[10]

Personal life

Ríos' father, Eusebio, was also a footballer and a defender. He too played mostly for Betis, and later managed the club.[11]

Honours

Spain U21

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 (Rout to end the year); El Mundo, 22 December 1997 (in Spanish)
  4. ^ Rios snubs Baggies; BBC Sport, 21 January 2003
  5. ^ Bilbao Ríos 2000; El Desmarque, 29 October 2015 (in Spanish)
  6. ^ Pepe Mel negocia con Chivas (Pepe Mel negotiates with Chivas); Diario AS, 27 September 2014 (in Spanish)
  7. ^ 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)
  8. ^ Roberto Ríos, el hombre de los 2.000 millones (Roberto Ríos, the 2.000 million man); La Provincia, 6 March 2019 (in Spanish)
  9. ^ La nueva España aguó la fiesta checa (New Spain crashed Czech party); La Vanguardia, 10 October 1996 (in Spanish)
  10. ^ Alfonso: «Me extraña lo de Ríos» (Alfonso: "I find that Ríos stuff strange"); El País, 8 May 1998 (in Spanish)
  11. ^ Fallece a los 73 años Eusebio Ríos (Eusebio Ríos dies at the age of 73); Diario de Sevilla, 12 May 2008 (in Spanish)
  12. ^ Spain v France facts; UEFA, 25 June 2019