| Roberto Ríos | |
| Fullname: | Roberto Ríos Patus |
| Birth Date: | 8 October 1971 |
| Birth Place: | Bilbao, Spain |
| Height: | 1.93 m |
| Position: | Centre-back |
| Youthyears1: | 1986–1990 |
| Youthclubs1: | Betis |
| Years1: | 1990–1992 |
| Caps1: | 24 |
| Goals1: | 3 |
| Years2: | 1992–1997 |
| Caps2: | 114 |
| Goals2: | 11 |
| Years3: | 1997–2002 |
| Caps3: | 78 |
| Goals3: | 4 |
| Totalcaps: | 216 |
| Totalgoals: | 18 |
| Nationalyears1: | 1991 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 2 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Nationalyears2: | 1993–1994 |
| Nationalcaps2: | 2 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 0 |
| Nationalyears3: | 1996–1998 |
| Nationalcaps3: | 11 |
| Nationalgoals3: | 0 |
| Nationalyears4: | 1996–1997 |
| Nationalcaps4: | 4 |
| Nationalgoals4: | 0 |
| Manageryears1: | 2010–2013 |
| Managerclubs1: | Betis (assistant) |
| Manageryears2: | 2014 |
| Managerclubs2: | West Bromwich Albion (assistant) |
| Manageryears3: | 2014–2016 |
| Managerclubs3: | Betis (assistant) |
| Manageryears4: | 2017 |
| Managerclubs4: | Deportivo La Coruña (assistant) |
| Manageryears5: | 2019–2020 |
| Managerclubs5: | Las Palmas (assistant) |
Roberto Ríos Patus (born 8 October 1971) is a Spanish retired professional footballer who played as a central defender.
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]
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]
Ríos' father, Eusebio, was also a footballer and a defender. He too played most of his career at Betis, and later managed the club.[11]
Spain U21