The Welshman who influenced Europe's coaching elite
Osian Roberts was the Football Association of Wales' (FAW) technical director when Henry, Vieira and Arteta stepped through the gates of Dragon Park in Newport to earn their coaching badges. After a stint as assistant to Vieira at Crystal Palace, Roberts was recommended by Henry to join Italian club Como as interim manager in December 2023. He led the side in promotion to Serie A that season, before handing the reins to his assistant Fabregas while staying on as head of development at the club.
"He's an amazing man, a very intelligent young man," Roberts said of Fabregas, speaking to the BBC World Service's Sportsworld programme. "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.
" Cesc Fabregas was assistant to Osian Roberts before he was appointed head coach in July 2024 Fabregas' side currently sit fifth in Serie A, two points away from a Champions League spot with five games left of the season. They are also 90 minutes away from a first ever Coppa Italia final, as they resume 0-0 on aggregate against Inter Milan on Tuesday. "It would mean everything to the club," said Roberts.
"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 is keen to stress Como have "a very strong team behind the team". "A lot of hard work, humility led by example by Cesc himself," he adds.
"There is no right way to play football and 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.