Oporto Sports is delighted to announce that we will be representing former Cardiff City first-team manager, Omer Riza.
Omer first joined Cardiff in June 2024 as first-team coach under manager Erol Bulut, before being named as interim manager in September, and in December he was named first-team manager until the end of the 2024/25 EFL Championship season. More recently, Riza was assistant head coach at Serie B side, Cesena, working under Ashley Cole.
Riza’s professional coaching journey underlines his vast experience, beginning as assistant manager at Leyton Orient, before becoming manager for the 2016/17 season.
In August 2018, Omer joined Watford as an academy coach, and he was rewarded with a role at The FA as a coach for England U16s alongside his work at Vicarage Road. He was promoted to Watford U23s head coach and also worked with England U17s as an assistant, and in June 2023 he was named as first-team coach at Watford under Valérien Ismaël, before departing in March 2024 and joining Cardiff soon after.
Speaking about the announcement, Oporto director Dean Eldredge said: “Omer and I have known each other since his time with Watford, and I have followed his pathway since then with interest.
“Omer is a highly-talented coach, with an infectious personality and a genuine care for people, illustrated through his dedication to help players maximise their abilities.
“He has demonstrated his leadership qualities as a manager, working at EFL Championship level, as well as coaching England at youth level, and working with both Watford and Cesena in the second tier in England and Italy, respectively.
“I believe there is more to come from Omer. He is respected and admired in the game, whilst having a great personal drive and motivation to succeed, and we look forward to supporting him with his next steps as either a manager or assistant.”
For all enquiries for Omer Riza, please email dean@oportosports.com
