David Regis

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David Regis bigraphy, stories - Footballer

David Regis : biography

December 2, 1968 –

David Regis ( born December 2, 1968) is a retired French-American soccer defender who played for the United States at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups.

Coaching career

After his retirement from playing, he worked as head coach in Djibouti with Rac Athlétic Florenvillois and Rossignol.

Career

Regis was born in La Trinité, Martinique, and began his pro career in 1988 with Valenciennes and played there until 1993. He was transferred to Strasbourg in 1993, Lens in 1996, and Karlsruhe in 1997. He transferred to Metz, after the 2002 FIFA World Cup, spent four years there, and spent a season at Troyes. Since the 2004–05 season, Regis played at the lower levels of the Belgian Leagues with FC Bleid respectively and retired in the summer of 2008.

International

Since Regis’s 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 (though Regis’s preferred position was always center back – where he was most successful in his club career), and promised Regis a starting position on the team if he became a U.S. citizen. Regis was naturalized on May 20, 1998 and received his first cap against Kuwait just three days later. Regis received the starting spot from Sampson, in front of long-time starter Jeff Agoos. Regis played all three matches in the World Cup, and despite being one of the more effective players for the US, the Americans lost all three of their group matches.

Regis made the U.S. roster for the 2002 FIFA World Cup as well, but this time did not play. He retired with 27 caps.