Most sports are quite unique and have their own specific culture. Football certainly has a unique culture. Many experts (coaches, physios, fitness instructors and support staff) working in the game have a strong background in football, having played to a high level. Thus, not only managers and coaches but also support staff generally have a long association and a love of the game, and most importantly, an understanding of the sport.
Performance coaches/sports psychologists working in football also benefit from a background in the game. Roberto played to a semi-pro level before beginning his coaching career in the mid-’80s at 25. He has coached and been involved at every level of the game, including non-league (Croydon, Chipstead and Dulwich Hamlet), Youth Academy (Crystal Palace and Charlton), Professional (Brentford, Brighton and Crystal Palace) and International (England Youth).
Roberto’s background is in football coaching. Having studied sport psychology to help improve the teams he was coaching, psychology was in so much demand that Roberto began focusing on this performance aspect.
At the elite level, it is the mental difference that makes a difference. In modern sports, most top teams and players now use some form of psychological support to help enhance performance and lead to more consistent performance.
25 years of helping Premier League teams and more
Whilst working in elite sports and business is part of Roberto’s daily routine, it is working in football, where he has the most extensive experience. Building effective teams are at the heart of any successful organisation or sporting success. Even individual sports require teamwork – take Roberto’s development of ‘Team Murray’ as a prime example.
As an ex-football player, coach and manager, Roberto understand the culture well. Over the past years, he has worked with several top managers, many of whom take him from club to club when they change. These include Steve Coppell (3 clubs), Alan Pardew (3 clubs), Chris Hughton (2 clubs), Alan Curbishley, Chris Powell, Alan Smith and Wally Downes. He also acted as an interpreter for both Arrigo Sacchi and Fabio Capello.
Whilst working in elite sport and business as part of Roberto’s daily routine, it is working in football where he has the most extensive experience. Roberto’s work in football began as a coach at Crystal Palace FC & Brighton & Hove Albion FC, where he formed a long-term relationship with managers Steve Coppell and Alan Smith. His consultancy also includes working with the Football Association, The League Managers Association, West Ham United, Southampton, Brighton & Hove Albion, Norwich City, Fulham FC and Charlton Athletic FC.. He was instrumental in an unprecedented and incredible end-of-season run when West Ham United had to win seven out of their last nine games after only having had five league wins all season. Alan Curbishley called upon Roberto (who had worked at the cub the previous season under Alan Pardew, reaching the FA Cup Final and a UEFA Cup place) to help during the last nine games – a seemingly impossible task that was extraordinary in the way Roberto changed the team mindset and their performances for an incredible run that no one had thought possible, winning seven out of the last nine games to secure an extraordinary Premier League survival. Over the years, he has collaborated with a number of high-class performers, including Argentinian superstar Carlos Tevez, Sweden’s Freddie Ljungberg and a host of England Internationals, as well as some of the biggest names in management, including Arrigo Sacchi, Fabio Capello, as well as Steve Coppell, Alan Curbishley, Alan Pardew and Chris Hughton, Alan Smith amongst others.