Cyrille Regis — English international footballer and pioneering striker

Career overview and playing profile

Regis combined physical strength with surprising speed for a centre-forward of his era. He was noted for his ability to hold up the ball, win headers and make decisive runs behind defences. At club level he enjoyed sustained success, contributing important goals and helping to raise the profile of the teams he served. He also won five caps for the England national team, representing his country at senior level.

Clubs and achievements

Although best remembered for his spells at West Bromwich Albion and Coventry City, Regis's overall record across the Football League demonstrates longevity and consistent output. Highlights of his career include a long run of first-team appearances, key league goals and recognition from peers and supporters. Further information about his England appearances is available via England records.

Legacy and significance

Regis was one of a small group of prominent Black British footballers in the late 1970s and 1980s who challenged stereotypes and helped make the professional game more inclusive. Alongside teammates and contemporaries he faced and resisted racist abuse from terraces, and his success offered a powerful example to younger players. His contribution to the sport extended beyond on-field achievements, inspiring subsequent generations.

Honours and later life

In recognition of his services to football and to the community, Regis was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2008 Birthday Honours; details of the honour are recorded in public sources such as official notices. After retiring from playing he remained involved in football through coaching, mentoring and community work, helping to develop young players and promote the sport at grassroots level.

Regis died suddenly of a cardiac arrest on 14 January 2018 at the age of 59. Tributes came from across the football world, reflecting on both his achievements on the pitch and his role as a pioneering figure off it; contemporary reports of his death are available via news reports.