Régis Genaux

When Ron Atkinson was given big money to spend in the summer of 1996 he wasted £750,000 on Belgian international full-back “Reggie”. With 14 full caps to his name he was earmarked to replace the veteran Brian Borrows but after an impressive debut at West Ham he only started two more games before suffering a groin injury which sidelined him for three months. By the time he returned Atkinson was gone and Gordon Strachan did not fancy the stocky Belgian and he left for Italian club Udinese. City fortunately recouped their money but not before a few well chosen words of criticism of the club and Strachan by Genaux. He had started his professional career at Standard Liege, where he had been tipped for a golden future. At Udinese he played around 50 games in four seasons hampered by niggling injuries and regained his international place briefly, before a short return to Standard. He was last heard of coaching Belgian Division 2 side CS Vise.