Omer Riza: From Arsenal to Italy and Beyond

Omer Riza has seen it all in football—from his early days at Arsenal to managing Cardiff City and assisting Ashley Cole at Cesena in Italy. In an engaging conversation, he opens up about his journey and the lessons learned along the way. "It has just broadened my horizons again," Riza shares, speaking about his coaching stint in Italy. His time with Cesena allowed him to reconnect with Cole, a friendship that goes back to their childhood. But this isn’t just a story of nostalgia; it's about growth and ambition. Over a captivating evening, Riza touches on the rollercoaster of managing in the Championship and even reveals a time when he faced a global football ban. He quips about a recent broken ankle from a charity match: "Silly tackle!" Starting his playing career at Arsenal, Riza later moved on loan to Den Haag in the Netherlands, followed by a fulfilling five-year spell with Trabzonspor in Turkey, where he enjoyed European football. His coaching journey includes roles with England's youth teams and the challenging job at Cardiff City. "I had that hunger to get going again," he says, reflecting on his return to coaching at Cesena. The goal was clear: to shift the team's mentality and playing style. "Italy can be quite defensively minded," he explains. "We aimed to control the game and force the opposition into making mistakes." Under Riza's guidance, Cesena aimed to evolve from their traditional 5-3-2 setup to a more aggressive pressing style. The transformation wasn't just for the players; it was a wake-up call for the fans, too. However, Cole's departure from Cesena in the summer marked a turning point. "I genuinely believe we could have achieved great things if we’d been able to bring in our preferred players," Riza reflects. He remains optimistic about Cole's future. "He’s diligent and has his head screwed on. We’ve discussed the possibility of working together again, but my main goal is to lead as a head coach." Riza's first head coaching role at Leyton Orient in 2017 was anything but easy. "Five managerial changes that season, players weren’t getting paid, and the fans were furious. It was really tough, but I saw it through." At 46, he’s faced numerous challenges since those early days. After applying for countless jobs, he landed a part-time role at Watford, starting off at £20 an hour and working his way up to the first-team assistant. But the experience ended abruptly when he was let go, tied to the departure of the head coach he served under. In the autumn of 2024, he took over Cardiff City as caretaker after a dismal start to the season. His quick turnaround earned him the permanent position, including two nominations for manager of the month. "Taking over in that situation felt like starting from a deficit. We nearly pulled it off, but it was a tough battle." Despite a promising stint, a late-season slump saw him dismissed just before the finish line. "We drew too many games—15 in total. It was a struggle to play freely." Among his highlights was a memorable 5-0 victory over Plymouth, managed by Wayne Rooney, and two draws against Coventry, where he faced Frank Lampard, a former teammate. Yet, the derby win against Swansea is bittersweet, overshadowed by the loss of his father that week. "It was an emotional time. I was constantly traveling back and forth. But I love this game, and my father would have wanted me to keep going. Cardiff's 3-0 win over Swansea was special for the fans and for me, too." Riza takes pride in the players he developed during his tenure. "Yousef Salech is excelling now, and Will Alves and Sivert Mannsverk made a positive impact, too." But he acknowledges his mistakes, particularly in how he responded to fan criticism. "It’s more than just what happens on the pitch; it’s about representing the club. I’ve learned a lot from this experience. I’ve been through so much as both a player and a coach." Reflecting on his coaching philosophy, he credits the legendary Don Howe from his Arsenal days for shaping his understanding of the game. "He had a knack for identifying and nurturing your strengths as a player." As Riza looks ahead, he’s eager to embrace new challenges and continue his journey in football management.