David Regis
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David Regis | ||
Personal information | ||
---|---|---|
Full name | David Regis | |
Date of birth | December 2, 1968 (age 38) | |
Place of birth | La Trinité, Martinique | |
Position | Defender | |
Professional clubs* | ||
Years | Club | Apps (goals) |
1988-1993 1993-1996 1996-1997 1997-1998 1998-2002 2002-2005 2005 |
Valenciennes FC RC Strasbourg RC Lens Karlsruher SC FC Metz Troyes AC FC Bleid |
30 (5) |
National team** | ||
1998-1999 | USA | |
* Professional club appearances and goals |
David Regis (born December 2, 1968), is a former French-American soccer defender, who played for the United States at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, and was an unused substitute at the 2002 World Cup.
Regis began his pro career in 1988 with Valenciennes and played there until 1993. He then transferred to Strasbourg in 1993, Lens in 1996, and Karlsruhe in 1997. That last move was designed to get noticed by the French national team by playing in Germany's Bundesliga, a league considered superior to France's Ligue 1. But when interest was not shown by the French, Regis looked for other options to play internationally.
Since Regis' wife was an American citizen, an option to play for the United States appeared. Steve Sampson, the U.S. national coach, jumped at the chance of having an experienced left back on the World Cup squad,and Regis was naturalized on May 20, 1998 and received his first cap against Kuwait just three days later. Despite speaking very little English and playing with the team for the first time less than a month before the World Cup started, Regis received the starting spot from Sampson in front of long-time starter Jeff Agoos. To add insult to injury, Agoos had to room with Regis and teach him English in the process. According to a report by ESPN analyst Marceloa Balboa, Regis insisted on repeating to the team, in the locker room, the cafeteria, and on the pitch, that his name was pronounced, "Rey-She" not "Ray-G." Regis was highly unpopular in American soccer circles and had a forgettable international career.
Regis played all three matches in the World Cup, as the U.S. lost all three. He transferred to Metz after the tournament, spent four years there, and then spent a season at Troyes. Regis made the U.S. roster for the 2002 FIFA World Cup as well, but this time did not play a minute. He retired with 28 caps for his adopted country. Since the 04/05 season, Regis has spent his time playing in the lower levels of the Belgian leagues with FC Bleid.
United States squad - 1998 FIFA World Cup | ||
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1 Friedel | 2 Hejduk | 3 Pope | 4 Burns | 5 Dooley | 6 Regis | 7 Wegerle | 8 Stewart | 9 Moore | 10 Ramos | 11 Wynalda | 12 Agoos | 13 Jones | 14 Preki | 15 Deering | 16 Sommer | 17 Balboa | 18 Keller | 19 Maisonneuve | 20 McBride | 21 Reyna | 22 Lalas | Coach: Sampson |
United States squad - 2002 FIFA World Cup Quarter-finalists | ||
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1 Friedel | 2 Hejduk | 3 Berhalter | 4 Mastroeni | 5 O'Brien | 6 Regis | 7 Lewis | 8 Stewart | 9 Moore | 10 Reyna | 11 Mathis | 12 Agoos | 13 Jones | 14 Cherundolo | 15 Wolff | 16 Llamosa | 17 Beasley | 18 Keller | 19 Meola | 20 McBride | 21 Donovan | 22 Sanneh | 23 Pope | Coach: Arena |
Categories: 1968 births | Living people | American soccer players | United States men's international soccer players | French footballers | RC Strasbourg players | Valenciennes FC players | Naturalized citizens of the United States | FIFA World Cup 1998 players | FIFA World Cup 2002 players | French Americans | Natives of Martinique