Roberto Ríos
 Ríos in training with Betis | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Roberto Ríos Patus | ||
| Date of birth | 8 October 1971 | ||
| Place of birth | Bilbao, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.92 m (6 ft 3 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Centre back | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Betis (assistant) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Betis | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1990–1992 | Betis B | ||
| 1992–1997 | Betis | 114 | (11) |
| 1997–2002 | Athletic Bilbao | 78 | (4) |
| Total | 192 | (15) | |
| 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– | Betis (assistant) | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
Roberto Ríos Patus (born 8 October 1971 in Bilbao, Biscay) is a Spanish retired professional footballer who played as a central defender.
Club career
Although Basque-born, Ríos emerged through the youth system of Real Betis, making his professional debuts in the second division in the 1992–93 season. 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.[1] 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) as the Basque side finished runner-up in La Liga.
In January 2003, after spending the first months of the season without a club – he only played 27 games in his last three years at Athletic combined – Ríos rejected an offer from West Bromwich Albion after previously training with the Gary Megson-led club, stating "I don't want to fool anyone" about his chances of regaining full fitness.[2] He retired aged 30 due to persistent injury problems.
Ríos returned to Betis in 2010, as part of newly appointed manager Pepe Mel's coaching staff.
International career
Ríos was capped 11 times by Spain, with his debut coming on 9 October 1996 (Czech Republic 0–0 Spain), in a 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier. 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.
Honours
- Spain U21
- UEFA European Championship: Third-place 1994
Personal
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.
References
- ↑ Ríos y el Athletic pasan a la historia (Ríos and Athletic make history); El Mundo, 20 July 1997 (Spanish)
- ↑ Rios snubs Baggies; BBC Sport, 21 January 2003
External links
- BDFutbol profile
- National team data
- Athletic Bilbao profile
- Betisweb stats and bio (Spanish)
- Roberto Ríos at National-Football-Teams.com
- Roberto Ríos – FIFA competition record