Tributes as football legend Regis dies aged 59
CYRILLE REGIS’S widow Julia has described her late husband as a “role model” and “a very precious treasure” after his death at the age of 59.
The death of the former West Brom and Coventry striker has sparked glowing tributes to a man who blazed a trail for black footballers in Britain.
His wife Julia said: “Cyrille and I were soulmates. He was the perfect man for me and we had a wonderful life together. He was a beautiful man and a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle.”
Regis’s death was announced by the Professional Footballers’ Association, which said: “A true gentleman and legend, he will be deeply missed. Our sympathies to his family and friends.”
Born in French Guiana, he moved to London with his family at the age of five and got his big break with West Bromwich Albion in May 1977.
Regis made a swift impact, scoring twice on his debut in a League Cup tie against Rotherham. Having been named the PFA’s Young Player of the Year for 1978, he became just the third black England international in 1982.
Regis, who became an MBE in 2008, had spells at Aston Villa, Wolves, Wycombe and Chester and later became an agent.
Broadcaster and West Brom fan Adrian Chiles said: “In later years I was privileged to get to know him as a friend and he just didn’t carry anger with him (about racism) from that time.”
Ian Wright, of a later generation of black players, said ‘we were like Malcolm X ... but Cyrille was like Martin Luther King’, Cyrille was always turning the other cheek.”