Osian Roberts guided Como to Serie A promotion in 2023-24 and mentored stars like Thierry Henry and Mikel Arteta.
Influential Welsh coach Osian Roberts shaped Europe’s top coaching stars in 2026. Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Cesc Fàbregas and Mikel Arteta are not names from a pretend Arsenal lineup. They are former players who later became coaches, all shaped by a Welsh figure.
Osian Roberts served as the Football Association of Wales’ technical director when Henry, Vieira and Arteta attended Dragon Park in Newport to earn their coaching qualifications. After working alongside Vieira at Crystal Palace, Roberts was suggested by Henry to take over at Italian side Como as interim manager in December 2023.
Roberts steered Como to promotion in the 2023-24 season before handing the head coaching role to Fàbregas while remaining at the club as head of development.
Speaking to the BBC World Service’s Sportsworld programme, Roberts described his protégé as extraordinary. He’s an amazing man, a very intelligent young man. He’s made this step from a player to a coach in a relatively short period of time, in as natural a way as you can. We all know how much of a top player he was and he’s showing that he has the same mindset, intelligence, the drive and the hunger to succeed as the manager as well.
Fàbregas’ team currently occupies fifth place in Serie A, just two points away from a Champions League spot with five games remaining. They are also one match away from their first-ever Coppa Italia final, resuming a 0-0 aggregate tie against Inter Milan on Tuesday.
Roberts expressed the club’s immense pride in this achievement. It would mean everything to the club. The fans here haven’t had much to cheer about in recent times but now to be competing at the top level in Serie A, it’s a dream come true for everybody involved with Como 1907.
Roberts emphasized that Como’s success is built on more than just the first team. A lot of hard work, humility led by example by Cesc himself. There is no single correct way to play football, Roberts argued, and Como’s approach reflects their unique identity. For us we have our way which is specific to Como, which we are trying to build based on Cesc’s game idea and influence. I’d like to think that we’re a very exciting team to watch. We have to be because we’re in Como and we are, by definition, in a city that needs to entertain and attract the tourists into the stadium.
Roberts, who assisted Chris Coleman during Wales’ Euro 2016 semi-final run, compared Fàbregas and Arsenal’s Arteta. I would put Cesc and Mikel in the same category because both of them were making that transition from playing to coaching whilst they were still playing. It’s not always easy, because most of these former players had a long, successful 20-year career. So to continue with that fire in the belly and be able to go again in a different career where it takes even more out of you, it’s time consuming.
Roberts acknowledged that many elite players lack the energy to pursue coaching after retiring. I know many top, top players who just didn’t have the batteries left to go into a coaching career and that’s fine. He praised players who transition successfully, noting fans get to see a new side of them. It’s fantastic to have these type of profiles continue in the game because fans I’m sure love them as players and have another opportunity to see a different dimension and their idea of the game, based on these wonderful experiences that they had.
Arsenal once held a seemingly unbeatable lead in this season’s Premier League title race but now sit six points ahead of Manchester City, who have an extra game in hand before their meeting at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Roberts praised Arteta’s handling of the situation despite the pressure. I think he’s managing the situation in a very impressive way. Every manager has doubts. I’m sure when he’s alone he’s thinking about the worst case scenarios, it’s inevitable.
Roberts highlighted how Arteta’s confidence and demeanor inspire his players. But you know that he will be conveying only positive vibes on the pitch, off the pitch, how he conducts himself, his body language. Roberts also pointed to Arteta’s press conferences as a reflection of his strengths. He knows that the players will be listening to his messages and you can see that they’re strong. He’s talking about fire, not fear.
Roberts believes Arteta’s biggest challenge remains ahead, despite already winning the FA Cup. I think most players and coaches that I’ve spoken to over the decades would say that that first trophy is the hardest one to win. Of course, I know he’s won the FA Cup but now we’re talking about Champions League and Premier League. If they can just about get themselves over the line, I’m sure we’ll see them go from strength to strength over the next few years.