Who is Roberto Olabe? Aston Villa’s New Sporting Director with La Liga and Global Experience

Roberto Olabe, born in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain, in 1967, is a Spanish football executive, coach, and former goalkeeper. In 2025, he is set to take on a new challenge as Aston Villa’s sporting director, following his highly respected tenure at Real Sociedad.

With more than 20 years of experience across Spanish football and international projects, Olabe is widely regarded as a strategic thinker, a developer of talent, and an architect of successful football structures.

Who is Roberto Olabe? Playing Career

• Began professional football with Mirandés in Spain’s third tier.

• Later played for Deportivo Alavés (his hometown club), Salamanca, and finally Real Sociedad in 1995.

• At Sociedad, he was mostly a back-up goalkeeper but shared a dressing room with future managers like Unai Emery, Javi Gracia, and Jagoba Arrasate.

• Retired from playing in 1999.

Early Coaching and Management Career

• 1999–2001: Coached Real Sociedad U-18s, winning a national title.

• 2001–02: Promoted mid-season to head coach of Real Sociedad’s senior team, saving them from relegation.

• 2002–05: Transitioned to sporting director, assembling a squad that nearly won La Liga in 2002–03, with stars like Xabi Alonso and Mikel Arteta emerging.

Career Across Clubs and Roles

• 2006–07 (Almería): As sporting director, he hired Unai Emery as manager, signed 17 players, and achieved promotion to La Liga.

• La Liga Executive: Worked on projects for player development and coach education in Central America.

• 2011–12 (Real Unión): Coached the third-tier Basque side, now part-owned by Aston Villa.

• 2012–2016 (Aspire Academy, Qatar): Director of Football, tasked with preparing Qatar’s system for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He developed youth structures, training methodologies, and a winning mentality.

• 2016 (Independiente del Valle, Ecuador): Helped design the club’s youth development model. His work laid the foundations for producing stars like Moisés Caicedo (Chelsea) and Piero Hincapié (Bayer Leverkusen/Arsenal).

Return to Real Sociedad (2018–2024)

• In 2018, Olabe returned as sporting director, with broad powers over transfers, youth development, and strategy.

• Oversaw the most successful period since the 1980s:

  • Copa del Rey 2020 (played in April 2021, behind closed doors due to COVID-19).

  • Consistent top-six La Liga finishes.

  • Return to the UEFA Champions League in 2023–24.

• Key decisions included:

  • Promoting Imanol Alguacil as head coach.

  • Signing Alexander Isak, Martin Ødegaard, Mikel Merino, and David Silva.

  • Developing youth stars like Mikel Oyarzabal and Martin Zubimendi.

• Known as a tough negotiator:

  • Sold Isak to Newcastle for €70m.

  • Sold Merino to Arsenal for €32m.

  • Sold Le Normand to Atlético Madrid for €34.5m.

Despite these successes, by 2024 the club faced an “end-of-cycle” feeling, with strained relations and mixed transfer results leading to his departure.

Style and Philosophy

• Strategic Visionary: Builds long-term structures rather than short-term fixes.

• Youth Development Advocate: Believes in strong academies producing technically skilled players.

• Collaborative but Independent: Prefers working with autonomy but aligns with club-wide philosophy.

• Analytical and Reflective: Known for deep market knowledge and methodical decision-making.

Challenges at Aston Villa

• The Premier League presents a different environment: fast-paced, high-pressure, with rich owners demanding immediate results.

• Some insiders question if Olabe, who thrives on long-term projects, will adapt smoothly.

• His connection with Unai Emery, whom he first appointed nearly two decades ago, may prove vital in building alignment at Villa.

Roberto Olabe is not just a sporting director; he is a football architect. From shaping youth academies in Ecuador to guiding Real Sociedad into Europe’s elite competitions, his track record shows a leader capable of transforming clubs.

As Aston Villa search for stability and success, Olabe’s appointment signals a commitment to long-term vision, youth development, and smart recruitment. His challenge will be translating his La Liga and global expertise into the relentless world of the Premier League.