Régis Genaux
Encyclopedia
Régis Hervé Genaux was a Belgian
footballer who played as a right defender
, and later a coach.
During his career, he represented three teams in three countries, namely Standard Liège
and Udinese Calcio
; he died at only 35 in November 2008.
, Genaux began his professional career aged 17 at Standard de Liège
, where he helped to win one Belgian Cup
and two league runner-up places.
In 1996, Genaux moved to England
, joining Coventry City
. However, his spell at the club lasted just half a season, with only four Premier League appearances before he moved, in January 1997, to Italy
's Udinese Calcio
.
Due to persisting injuries during the most part of his career, Genaux retired at just 29, after having returned to Standard for a final season. Afterwards, he moved into coaching, starting with the youths at R.A.A. Louviéroise
and R.C.S. Verviétois
. For a few months in 2006, he took the reins of third level
side RFC Sérésien
(formerly Seraing).
, whilst in his home; he was aged 35.
, aged not yet 19. He seemed poised to be the successor of Eric Gerets in the Diables Rouges, although he was not picked up for the 1994 World Cup.
Genaux became a regular fixture in the following years, but Belgium failed to qualify for UEFA Euro 96. With the arrival of Georges Leekens, he lost his place in the national team, and was also not selected for the World Cup in France
at the expense of Eric Deflandre
and Bertrand Crasson
. Regarded as one of the best right-backs in Belgium in the nineties, Genaux would not attend any major international tournaments, also missing Euro 2000 due to injury.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
footballer who played as a right defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
, and later a coach.
During his career, he represented three teams in three countries, namely Standard Liège
Standard Liège
Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège (Dutch: Standard Luik [], German: Standard Lüttich , is a Belgian football club from the city of Liège....
and Udinese Calcio
Udinese Calcio
Udinese Calcio is an Italian football club based in Udine, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and currently plays in the Serie A. Founded in 1896, Udinese is the second oldest club in the Serie A, after Genoa....
; he died at only 35 in November 2008.
Club career
After having started playing football with R. Charleroi SCR. Charleroi S.C.
Sporting du Pays de Charleroi is a Belgian football club based in the city of Charleroi, in the province of Hainaut. Charleroi plays in the Belgian Pro League and their current spell at the highest level in Belgian football has started in the 1985–86 season...
, Genaux began his professional career aged 17 at Standard de Liège
Standard Liège
Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège (Dutch: Standard Luik [], German: Standard Lüttich , is a Belgian football club from the city of Liège....
, where he helped to win one Belgian Cup
Belgian Cup
The Belgian Cup is the main knockout football competition in Belgium, run by the Belgian Football Association. The first cup was held in 1911-12. The most successful cup club is Club Brugge KV with 10 titles followed by RSC Anderlecht and R Standard de Liège...
and two league runner-up places.
In 1996, Genaux moved to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, joining Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
. However, his spell at the club lasted just half a season, with only four Premier League appearances before he moved, in January 1997, to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
's Udinese Calcio
Udinese Calcio
Udinese Calcio is an Italian football club based in Udine, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and currently plays in the Serie A. Founded in 1896, Udinese is the second oldest club in the Serie A, after Genoa....
.
Due to persisting injuries during the most part of his career, Genaux retired at just 29, after having returned to Standard for a final season. Afterwards, he moved into coaching, starting with the youths at R.A.A. Louviéroise
R.A.A. Louviéroise
R.A.A. Louviéroise, sometimes referred to as La Louvière or RAAL, was a Belgian football club located in the city of La Louvière, in the province of Hainaut. It had been playing its latest run in the Belgian First Division from 2000-01 to 2005-06 included...
and R.C.S. Verviétois
R.C.S. Verviétois
Royal Cercle Sportif Verviétois – Football Club Sérésien is a Belgian association football club from the municipality of Verviers, Liège. It is currently playing in the third division B...
. For a few months in 2006, he took the reins of third level
Belgian Third Division
The Belgian Third Division is the third highest level in Belgian football. It has two leagues of 18 teams each at the same level. This competition, known as the Belgian Promotion was first played in the 1926-27 season with three leagues, then with four leagues between 1931 and 1952. From 1952...
side RFC Sérésien
R.F.C. Seraing
R.F.C. Seraing is a Belgian football club from the municipality of Seraing, province of Liège.-History:It was created in 1900 as F.C. Sérésien and it registered to the FA the same year as the matricule n°17. The prefix Royal was added in 1928. The named changed in 1994 to R.F.C...
(formerly Seraing).
Death
On November 8, 2008, Genaux died from heart failure, due to a pulmonary embolismPulmonary embolism
Pulmonary embolism is a blockage of the main artery of the lung or one of its branches by a substance that has travelled from elsewhere in the body through the bloodstream . Usually this is due to embolism of a thrombus from the deep veins in the legs, a process termed venous thromboembolism...
, whilst in his home; he was aged 35.
International career
Genaux played 22 times (being selected 27) with Belgium, the first being on 16 February 1992, in a friendly match against TunisiaTunisia national football team
The Tunisia national football team , nicknamed Les Aigles de Carthage , is the national team of Tunisia and is controlled by the Fédération Tunisienne de Football. They have qualified for four FIFA World Cups, the first one in 1978, but have yet to make it out of the first round...
, aged not yet 19. He seemed poised to be the successor of Eric Gerets in the Diables Rouges, although he was not picked up for the 1994 World Cup.
Genaux became a regular fixture in the following years, but Belgium failed to qualify for UEFA Euro 96. With the arrival of Georges Leekens, he lost his place in the national team, and was also not selected for the World Cup in France
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
at the expense of Eric Deflandre
Eric Deflandre
Eric Deflandre is a former Belgian football right fullback.-Club career:Deflandre first signed to Wandre Union but after one year he joined Liège side R.F.C. de Liège. He then left for Germinal Ekeren in 1995. In 1996, he signed for Club Brugge.In 2000, Deflandre moved to Olympique Lyonnais in...
and Bertrand Crasson
Bertrand Crasson
Bertrand Crasson is a former Belgian footballer, in the position of right/center back.He started his career at Anderlecht , moving abroad to Serie A's Napoli in 1996-98, before rejoining his previous side for five more seasons...
. Regarded as one of the best right-backs in Belgium in the nineties, Genaux would not attend any major international tournaments, also missing Euro 2000 due to injury.
Personal
- Genaux's brother, Terrence, was also a footballer, with the pair being distantly related to Vivica GenauxVivica GenauxVivica Genaux is an American coloratura mezzo-soprano. Her father, an American of Belgian-Welsh descent, was a biochemistry professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and her mother, Mexican-born of Swiss-German extraction, was a language teacher...
, an AmericanUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
mezzo-sopranoMezzo-sopranoA mezzo-soprano is a type of classical female singing voice whose range lies between the soprano and the contralto singing voices, usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above...
. - At Standard, alongside fellow internationals Philippe LéonardPhilippe LéonardPhilippe Léonard is a retired Belgian footballer, who played as a left defender.After playing most notably for Standard Liège and AS Monaco, he rarely appeared for his following four teams , in a 16-year professional career...
and Michaël GoossensMichaël GoossensMichaël Goossens is a retired Belgian footballer who played as a striker.-Club career:Goossens started playing professionally with R.F.C. Seraing at the age of 16, then moved to Standard Liège...
, he was part of The Three MusketeersThe Three Musketeers (disambiguation)The Three Musketeers is a 19th century novel by Alexandre Dumas, père.The Three Musketeers may also refer to:-Film, stage, and television:* The Three Musketeers in film, the many film adaptations of the novel...
generation, hailed for their sporting talent but with a troublesome character (with Roberto BiscontiRoberto BiscontiRoberto Bisconti is a Belgian footballer currently playing for R.F.C. Seraing, as a midfielder.-Club career:...
playing a smaller role).