| Osian Roberts | |
| Birth Date: | 18 August 1965[1] |
| Birth Place: | Anglesey, Wales |
| Currentclub: | Como (head of development) |
| Position: | Central midfielder |
| Collegeyears1: | 1985–1988 |
| College1: | Furman Paladins |
| Clubs1: | Bangor City |
| Years2: | 1984–1985 |
| Clubs2: | Bethesda Athletic |
| Clubs3: | Llangefni Town |
| Years4: | 1989–1990 |
| Clubs4: | New Mexico Chiles |
| Manageryears1: | 1990 |
| Managerclubs1: | New Mexico Chiles |
| Manageryears2: | 1996–1999 |
| Managerclubs2: | Wales U16 |
| Manageryears3: | 1996–1999 |
| Managerclubs3: | Wales U18 |
| Manageryears4: | 1999 |
| Managerclubs4: | Wales B |
| Manageryears5: | 1999–2007 |
| Managerclubs5: | Porthmadog |
| Manageryears6: | 2015–2019 |
| Managerclubs6: | Wales (assistant coach) |
| Manageryears8: | 2021–2023 |
| Managerclubs8: | Crystal Palace (assistant coach) |
| Manageryears9: | 2023–2024 |
| Managerclubs9: | Como (interim head coach) |
Osian Roberts (born 18 August 1965) is a Welsh football coach and former player who is the head of development of Italian Serie A club Como. In 2014, he was described in the media as "the most influential man in Welsh football".[2]
Roberts was born in Anglesey,[2] and was brought up in Bodffordd on the island.
Roberts was a central midfielder,[2] and captained the Welsh Schools side. He played in north Wales for Bangor City, Bethesda Athletic and Llangefni Town,[2] [3] before moving to the United States at the age of 19 after receiving a scholarship to attend Furman University.[2] At Furman, he was named Southern Conference player of the year in 1986 and 1988.[4] He later played in the American Professional Soccer League for the New Mexico Chiles, where he was player-manager.
After returning to Wales, he became Anglesey Football Development Officer in 1991.[2]
In June 2007, Roberts resigned as manager of Porthmadog to take up the position of Football Association of Wales technical director.[2] He has also coached the Wales under-16, Wales under-18 and Wales B teams, as well as helping coach the women's under-17 team.[2] In 2014, he was the subject of documentary series called Byd Pêl-droed Osian Roberts; it was shown on S4C.[5] [6]
On 21 July 2015, Roberts was promoted to assistant manager of the Wales national team under team manager Chris Coleman.[7] Coleman resigned the manager role in November 2017 and Roberts stated that he wished to become the new national team manager.[8] Roberts was retained as assistant manager following the appointment of Ryan Giggs as Wales manager.[9]
On 1 August 2019, it was announced that Roberts had become technical director of the Morocco national team.[10] [11] He resigned in July 2021.[12]
In August 2021, he became assistant manager to Patrick Vieira at Crystal Palace.[13] [14] Vieira was sacked by Crystal Palace in March 2023 with Roberts and other coaching staff also being released.[15]
In December 2023, Italian club Como announced the appointment of Roberts as their new caretaker coach until the end of the 2023–24 Serie B season, replacing Cesc Fàbregas, who had also been caretaker; Roberts also served as head of development for the club.[16] [17] [18] [19] He eventually guided the club to promotion to Serie A after 21 years by finishing in second place.[20] [21] [22] Fàbregas returned to the role in July 2024.[23]