Cesc Fabregas tipped to emulate Mikel Arteta as his next coaching move emerges

Former Arsenal and Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas has all the credentials required to establish himself as a top manager like Mikel Arteta in the future.

That's according to Como boss Osian Roberts, who previously held the role of technical director with the Welsh Football Association and has mentored plenty of elite young coaches who are currently blazing a trail in the game.

Fabregas has moved into coaching since becoming a minority shareholder in the Serie B outfit alongside former team-mate Thierry Henry. The 36-year-old is currently Roberts' No.2 - and after working with the likes of Arteta, Henry and Patrick Vieira, Roberts has already seen enough to convince him that the Spaniard will go on to achieve big things in the dugout.

Speaking to The Sun, Roberts said: “I have worked with and mentored a few bright young coaches, Mikel, Patrick, ­Thierry, Pep Lijnders. But Cesc is certainly in the top category. He wants to be a head coach in the future.

“This is the perfect scenario for him as he only finished playing last summer but he gets the opportunity to coach and present as an assistant manager. He was a top quality player but he is also intelligent.

“He’s a very impressive young man, serious about his work and improving as much as he can. And he has been key for me. He played in the league last season so he knows all the teams, stadiums, opposition and knows our dressing room. He has been a big help.”

With aspirations of becoming a No.1 in his own right, the report goes on to outline that Fabregas is poised to start working on his UEFA Pro License this summer. Fabregas took the reins at Como on an interim basis after the club parted company with Moreno Longo before Roberts was appointed in December.

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Arteta has established himself as one of the Premier League's top managers at Arsenal
(Image: Gaspafotos/MB Media)

Roberts, whose previous roles include being Vieira's No.2 at Crystal Palace, is confident that his experience mentoring plenty of footballers turned coaches will stand Fabregas in good stead until he decides to branch out on his own.

He added: “I’ve quite often held roles where I have been a mentoring assistant and older than the head coach. It’s important to help Cesc to be the next coach. You do that by giving him space to develop.

“I always enjoyed it when managers delegate so it’s important I do likewise for my staff so they can make a significant contribution.”

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