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Do you know the way? U.S. national team defender Regis eyes MLS
Posted: Monday March 13, 2000 04:26 PM
By Jeff Green, CNNSI.com ATLANTA -- Defender David Regis played 90 minutes for the U.S. national team on Sunday and then said after the game that he expected to soon do something he's never done before -- live and work in the United States. Regis, who plays with FC Metz in the French first division, indicated after the 1-1 draw between the U.S. and Tunisia that he expected to be playing in Major League Soccer in the upcoming season. He said, however, that he had not yet signed a contract and that he did not expect to be playing by next weekend, when the 2000 MLS campaign opens. MLS officials declined to comment on Monday. Regis said he did not know yet where he would play, but he mentioned three teams -- and the San Jose Earthquakes came up more often than the other two, the New York/New Jersey MetroStars and the Miami Fusion. He smiled and said, in halting English, "I like sunshine." In San Jose, Regis (pronounced ray-ZHEE) would join another talented and left-sided U.S. national team player, Eddie Lewis. However, Lewis has stated that he wishes to move to Europe after playing out the option year of his MLS contract in 2000. If Lewis leaves, Regis does possess the skill to go forward and play Lewis' left-wing position. A native on Martinique, Regis moved to Valenciennes, France, when he was 10 years old to concentrate on soccer. He joined the U.S. national team as a naturalized citizen by virtue of his marriage to Nikki, a native of Savannah, Ga. He was discovered by Steve Sampson, then the U.S. coach, and joined the team for two matches prior to World Cup France '98. Regis was one of three players (with Claudio Reyna and Cobi Jones) to play all 270 minutes for the U.S. in its three losses at France '98, while regular left back Jeff Agoos, a starter in the buildup to the cup and since, was relegated to the bench. He played for Arena twice in '99, and made his first 2000 appearance Sunday. "I though Regis and Fraser and Llamosa were very good defensively -- Regis in particular I thought was very good today," he said. Regis indicated that he had spoken with Bruce Arena and had been encouraged to join MLS. He has seen very little playing time with Metz this season, but according to Arena still had a high fitness level. Asked by a reporter Sunday if he considered Regis a part of the U.S. team, Arena responded, "Why wouldn't he be? He's a very good player." "The reason he's not playing [for Metz] is because he's transfer listed. With the Bosman ruling now, if you don't get any coin for the player, they could care less," Arena said, referring to the European ruling that essentially makes players free agents when their contracts expire, at which point their clubs are no longer compensated when they transfer to another team. "Metz is pretty well aware of the fact that he won't be returning," the U.S. coach said, "so they're not going to play him or do him any favors." The French season ends in May.
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