The Big Interview: Rhiannon Roberts
Born in the north west, the Welsh international has left life in England behind for a new challenge in Spain with Real Betis...
“It’s really hot today,” laughs Rhiannon Roberts, almost in wonderment, as she walks the streets of Seville.
The Wales international and long-term Barclays Women’s Super League stalwart swapped Liverpool for southern Spain in the summer, following in the footsteps of former Reds teammate Rinsola Babajide to sign for Real Betis in Liga F.
It’s a big shift for someone who has spent her career in the north of England, coming through the ranks at Blackburn Rovers, before two separate five-year associations with Doncaster Rovers Belles and then Liverpool.
But the 33-year-old, who surpassed 50 caps for Wales earlier this year, is throwing herself into her new lifestyle full-fronted and is currently on a 40-day Duolingo streak as we speak, but admits her teammates are also picking up bits of English off her too.
“I’ve picked up little bits. You’ve got to be brave with it, so every time I go out I try and speak to people in Spanish.
“I feel like I’ve been here ages, you know. The first couple of weeks took a big adjustment. The teething issues you get moving abroad, opening a bank account, those little things. Once I’d sorted my apartment I’ve settled in really quickly. I’ve settled into the Spanish lifestyle. The girls are great, the environment the new manager has created has been really good and yeah, I’ve settled really quickly on and off the pitch to be honest.”
The new manager Roberts refers to is well-respected Spanish coach Maria Pry, formerly of regular top six challenging sides Levante and Madrid CFF.
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Real Betis finished 12th out of 16 teams last season, just four points above the relegation zone, and while they have won just one of their opening four games this season, Roberts believes there’s a lot going on behind the scenes to make the Seville-based side a genuine contender in Liga F.
“In the background, there’s been a lot of work done,” she admits. “Especially by Maria. She’s a really good manager, a really good coach and she’s got good values and has high expectations of her players.
“Her sessions have been really good. High intensity, very competitive, everything you’d expect from a big club. They’re pushing things off the field, we have new facilities we’re moving into, it’s a brand-new facility just for us and the academies.
“That’s just been built over the past year or so, all natural grass pitches so it’s a real investment from the club. We’re making strides in the right direction and everything’s really positive at the minute. We’ve signed great players in the summer and everyone seems to be gelling really well, so I’ve got high expectations.”
“Once Betis showed they were really interested it became a perfect fit…”
There is though genuine method to Roberts’ madness in upping sticks and leaving behind everything she’d ever known in the north west for life on the continent.
Husband Nathan Rooney took a coaching job in Gibraltar in 2021 with FC Bruno Magpies and has been in the south of Spain ever since, so Roberts was assessing options to join him there as her contract came to an end, especially when the pair tied the knot this summer.
“We were already looking at it [moving abroad]. He told me to spread my wings and be a butterfly, his words not mine! So I looked around the southern side of Spain and obviously once Betis showed they were really interested it became a perfect fit – then my husband left his job!”
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