Roy Wegerle

Early career

Born in Pretoria, Wegerle's soccer career began at the city's Waterkloof Primary School. Surrounded by teammates Clifford Rostowsky, Deon Stein and David Kroser, Wegerle's talents developed rapidly. He soon earned an invitation to join the local adult club Arcadia Shepherds, where his brothers had enjoyed long, successful careers.

Tampa Bay Rowdies

Following an unsuccessful trial with Manchester United in 1980, Wegerle chose to play college soccer in the United States. He spent two seasons with the University of South Florida's team, the South Florida Bulls, in 1982 and 1983 and holds the school's single season scoring record with 21 goals. The Tampa Bay Rowdies of the North American Soccer League drafted Wegerle in the first round of the 1984 NASL college draft. He would play 21 games and score 9 goals, adding 17 assists, during the last year of the NASL's existence in 1984, being named league's Rookie of the Year. More significantly, Rodney Marsh coached him at Tampa Bay. This association would be integral to Wegerle's future move to England. When the league folded, Wegerle moved indoors with the Tacoma Stars of the Major Indoor Soccer League for two seasons. At the University of South Florida, Wegerle came under the professional instruction of ex-Chelsea striker and European Cup Winners' Cup winner Derek Smethurst, who grounded him and got him ready for his professional career.

Chelsea

In 1986, Marsh, a former Queens Park Rangers…

Wegerle gained his U.S. citizenship in 1991, after being eligible through his American wife. He made his national team debut on May 30, 1992, against the Republic of Ireland, and went on to record 41 caps and score seven goals for his adopted country. On January 8, 1994, Wegerle injured his knee and underwent numerous arthroscopic surgeries, but recovered in time to become a key player for the U.S. in the 1994 FIFA World Cup. By 1998, his repeated injuries hobbled Wegerle. He enjoyed a brief resurgence leading up to the 1998 FIFA World Cup, but never became the key player he had been in 1994. According to former U.S. national team coach Steve Sampson, Wegerle came to him and assistant coach Clive Charles between the February 25, 1998, game at Belgium and the March 14, 1998, match against Paraguay in San Diego and said he had personal knowledge of an affair between U.S. team captain John Harkes and Amy Wynalda, the wife of U.S. striker Eric Wynalda. As a result, Harkes was dropped from the team. The U.S. went on to finish in last place at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

International goals

Since his retirement, Wegerle has been trying to make it as a professional golfer.

He is the younger brother of former NASL-ers Geoff Wegerle and Steve Wegerle. All three played for Tampa Bay at some point in their careers. His brother Steve's son Bryce was also a professional footballer.