For more than 20 years, Roberto has been involved in coaching and performance consulting in professional sport. A recognised authority on the psychology of performance, group dynamics, football and tennis psychology, Roberto is a regular speaker on a variety of performance related topics around the world, and holds a lecturing position at Brunel University, consultancy with a Premiership football team and the Bromley Tennis Academy.
Roberto has a strong coaching background in football, having started coaching amateur teams in the mid 80s. He progressed to coaching in non-league football, with the likes of Croydon, Chipstead and a thoroughly enjoyable spell at Dulwich Hamlet FC. In the meantime, following an invitation by coach Nick Darvill, he had also started coaching youth Academy football at Charlton Athletic and then Crystal Palace FC, where, what was to be a significant and highly rewarding working relationship began with Steve Coppell.
During this time, after attending a Manager's & Coaches Course, where Steve McClaren spoke of the impact of ‘psychology' on the game, Roberto enrolled on a Psychology Diploma. He found the content so enjoyable he then commenced an MSc in Sport Sciences at Brunel University (which was to prove another longer term relationship with the University).
Roberto was then invited to work at Crystal Palace as a sport science coach by Steve Coppell and later by Alan Smith. When Steve moved to Brentford he invited Roberto to join as a first team coach and reserve team manager. A highly successful season followed, ending with a Play-Off Final at the Millenium Stadium. The Brentford side included many players who have had tremendous progress over the years, including Ivar Ingimarsson, Ibrahima Sonko, Steve Sidwell, Stephen Hunt (all at Reading FC) Paul Smith (Forest), and Jay Tabb (Coventry).
When Steve left Brentford and joined Bright and Hove Albion, he again invited Roberto to join him as first team coach. Again, a successful period saw Steve being offered the Reading managers role.
During this time, Roberto maintained his personal development attending FA Courses, including the Manager's and Coaches Courses at Mottram Hall. It was on one of these courses that he was asked to be co-presenter and interpreter for the Italian World Cup manager. Arrigo Sacchi (formerly of AC Milan), for a lecture and practical coaching session. He was later invited to repeat this role with Italian Seria A Champion's Roma manager, Fabio Capello (now England manager) on the FA Pro-Licence. Roberto completed the FA Diploma in Fitness and FA Diploma in Psychology, and was also invited to travel with the England U19 Team to Italy by the former Technical Director, Les Reed (now at Southampton FC). The team included Dean Ashton, Michael Chopra and Stuart Downing. Big influences on his coaching development were made by three superb coach educators Alex Welsh, Les Reed and Dick Bate.
After completing his MSc, where he gained a distinction, Roberto underwent his BASES (British Association of Sport and Exercise Scientists) Accreditation, under the guidance of his psychology mentor, Dr Costas Karageorghis of Brunel University. He is now studying for his Doctorate on the Applied Psychological Effects of Video in Sport.
Version:1.0StartHTML:0000000192EndHTML:0000064723StartFragment:0000028638EndFragment:0000064687SourceURL:file://localhost/Volumes/2010%20DONE/Personal/Curriculum%20Vitae%202010.docCAREERHISTORY: FOOTBALL COACHING & CONSULTANCY
| Southampton FC Performance Consultant Manager Alan Pardew | Strategy development for season: Invited at the start of Alan Pardew’s management appointment to help develop team season objectives and strategies, and to make a presentation of the same to first team squad | 2009-2010 |
| Charlton Athletic FC Performance Consultant Manager Alan Pardew | Invited to help Alan Pardew again to enhance the group psychology and dynamics during a difficult time at the club. | 2008-2009 |
| Fulham FC Performance Consultant | Invited to make presentations to the staff and players (1st team scouting department and Youth Team players) to help enhance awareness of psychology of perception, mental toughness and enhanced psychology on performance. | 2007-2009 |
| Crystal Palace FC Performance Consultant | Invited by Academy Director, David Moss, to present to the Youth Team players to help improve their psychology and mental toughness. | 2008-2009 |
| West Ham United FC Performance Consultant Managers Alan Curbishley & Alan Pardew | Season 2007/8: Contracted for the season on a three tiered consultancy role, working with the manager, first team players and staff. Responsible for identifying and implementing areas and strategies for performance improvement. Helped achieve 20% improvement in points (49 v 41) and six place improvement over previous season (10th v 15th). Season 2006/7: Brought in for the final 10 games of the season. Helped achieve 78% point return after 23% season average, winning 7 out of last 10 matches. Season 2005/6: First season back in Premier League. Helped achieve initial target of 40 points by January 2006, FA Cup Final and UEFA Cup qualification. | 2005-2008 |
| The Football Association Consultant and Staff Tutor | Sport Psychology / coach support for England (U19 level) v Italy, 2001. Assisting in development and delivery of Level 1, 2 & 3 psychology and Level 1 coaching courses., and development of NVQ psychology modules for MACE Scheme Co-author of The Official FA Guide to Psychology in Football book, 2004. Interpreter to Fabio Capello on F.A. Pro Licence, including lecture and pitch demonstration (2001). Interpreter to Italian World Cup manager, Arrigo Sacchi on F.A. Managers and Coaches course, including video lecture and pitch demonstration (2000). Published various articles on psychology in football in the FA coaches Journal, Insight | 2000-2007 |
| Brighton & Hove Albion FC First Team Coach Manager: Steve Coppell | Helped team achieve a fourfold points improvement from 13% average to 52% points total in last 16 games of the season 2002/3 Undertook pre-season training coaching for first team squad, and coached in season 2003/4 until Coppell left to go to Reading | 2002-2004 |
| Brentford FC First Team Coach / Reserve Team Manager Manager: Steve Coppell | Steve Coppell’s only staff appointment at Brentford, brought in as First team coach and Reserve team manager. A successful season that ended with a play off final at the Millenium Stadium | 1999-2001 |
| Crystal Palace FC First Team Coach Managers: Steve Coppell & Alan Smith | Progressing from Academy team manager to first team coach and sport scientist, under two mangers; a period that developed a long term relationship with both managers. | 1999-2001 |
| Charlton Athletic FC Academy Team Manager | Manager of U14’s taking them through to U15’s Team included Michael Turner (Sunderland) and Glen Morris (Orient) | 1997-1999 |
| Dulwich Hamlet FC Reserve Team Manager | Suburban League Premier A highly rewarding experience changing reserves to a U21 team. | 1997-1999 |
| Chipstead FC First Team Coach | Combined Counties League. With manager Dave Swindlehurst, coached the first team. | 1996–1997 |
| Croydon Athletic FC First Team Coach | Spartan League. Start of four year involvement with non-league football. | 1995–1996 |
CAREER HISTORY: PERFORMANCE CONSULTANCY & SPORTPSYCHOLOGY
| Private Practice Performance Consultant | General consultancy with a variety of clients from professional sport and business | 2000 to date |
| Various Universities University Lecturer & Speaker | Visiting psychology lecturer on post-graduate and under-graduate programmes at numerous Universities, including, UCL, Royal London Hospital, London Metropolitan and Greenwich Universities | 2003 to date |
| LTA High Performance Centre, Bromley Performance Consultant | Performance Psychology sessions with touring Academy players | 2009 |
| Lawn Tennis Association National Performance Psychology Manager | Responsible for psychological support to British elite tennis players, coaches and staff. Run the psychological support at National training camps. Support for senior players, including Andy Murray at US Open. | 2007-2009 |
| Brunel University Lecturer | Module leader on three psychology modules; two at MSc level, one at BSc level. Student dissertation supervisor. Specialising in positive psychology, confidence, motivation, group dynamics, individual differences and the use of motivational video in sport. | 2002-2008 |
| LTA High Performance Centre, Bromley Performance Consultant | Working closely with performance director, staff and coach support offering feedback on effective methods to enhance high performance learning. Overseeing performance psychology area of the centre, including at over-sea training camps. Helping elite tennis players become psychologically strong on court in high-pressure situations by using a highly interactive approach to mental skills development. | 2002-2008 |
| English Institute of Sport Sport Psychologist | Psychological support for World Class athletes and boxers, helping improve performance by improving mental toughness, character and attitude. Working closely with athletes, coaches and performance directors. Support for boxing squad for the Commonwealth games in Melbourne – achieving 8 medals (5 Gold, 1 Silver and 2 Bronze) | 2005-2007 |
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
- Association of Advancement of Applied Sport Psychology (AAASP)
- British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES).
ALLIED EXPERIENCE
- Sky Sports Reporter, 1995/7
- Spurs Video Reporter, 1996/7
- Capital Radio Sports Reporter / Commentator, 1992/
- Lecturer at South Bank Polytechnic (BSc level)
BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
Director of two sports business Forsport and Selsport
PRESENTATIONS & TV APPEARANCES
SKY SPORT TV - Various interviews on psychology in football, including “Pressure in Football” following Sol Campbell’s break from playing. February 2006