Where Are They Now?                                   Profiles of ex-Luton players

Roy Wegerle

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Height: 5 ft 11". Weight: 11 st. Born: Pretoria (South Africa), 19.03.1964. Nationality: United States of America. International Honours: United States of America: 41 Full Caps, 7 Goals.

Born in South Africa, Roy moved to The United States at an early age and started his footballing career playing college soccer for the University of South Florida and with local side Tacoma Stars. Impressive displays then saw him move to a larger club in the States, with the full time and successful side Tampa Bay Rowdies, where he was named Rookie of the Year.

His skills and finishing abilities whilst in America hadn't gone unnoticed and soon enough Wegerle found himself in England playing professional football for the then Second Division Chelsea. Finding it difficult to adjust to the English game, Roy was used sparingly and was loaned out to Swindon Town, and in a brief spell scored one goal in seven league games. Roy's successful loan spell could have seen him move to the County Ground permanently, but he went back to Stamford Bridge and netted twice in twenty-three league games, gradually becoming accustomed to the English game.

This form alerted the attention of several leading clubs in the First Division, and one of them, Luton, stepped in and signed the striker in the summer of 1988.

Wegerle in action for Luton v Liverpool.

Roy made his Hatters debut in a 1-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday and he continued up front for a further 29 times during the 1988-1989 season. Wegerle's first goal for the club came in a 4-1 victory over West Ham at Kenilworth Road. Seven days later, Wegerle netted twice in a 2-2 draw at Norwich as he started to win over the fans who had first raised questions about his game. He found the net a further five times during the season in the League - scoring twice in a 6-1 thumping of Southampton at Kenilworth Road and scoring once in games against Aston Villa, Everton and Charlton. Incidentally, the Hatters failed to lose on any occasion when Wegerle was on the score sheet. Roy made a further eight appearances in the cup, including an appearance at Wembley in the League Cup final, scoring four times en-route to the final, twice against Man City in Round 4 and one in each of the semi-finals against West Ham.

Roy playing for the Hatters once more.

Eye-catching performances made Roy the envy of most managers and it was financial difficulties which led to his unfortunate and premature departure in December of 1989. Roy made twenty appearances and netted 6 goals during the 1989-90 season - two of those coming in the League. Roy notched four goals in five League Cup games, scoring twice in both legs in the victories over Mansfield. However manager Ray Harford was pressured into selling his dynamic striker to Queens Park Rangers for a then record £1 million, a record for both clubs. Soon after Wegerle left, Ray Harford followed, leaving Kenilworth Road by mutual consent.

Roy's spell at Queens Park Rangers earned rave reviews. He managed to score 27 times in 75 league appearances and with his young age and his quick and direct style of play, Roy found himself on the move again, after having a year and a half at Loftus Road. During his time with QPR, he scored The Goal of the Season at Leeds, beating man after man before slotting the ball home - a quite unbelievable goal.  It was ambitious Blackburn Rovers that took Wegerle from his impressive tenure in London.

However, life at Ewood Park was not as happy as expected with Roy failing to impress, scoring only six times in 34 league appearances for Rovers, and a season and a half later, he left for pastures new.

This time it was to the Midlands, where Coventry City were playing in the newly formed Premier League. Roy's time at Highfield Road lasted nearly three years, but during this time the star had only made 53 league appearances, scoring nine times.

Therefore, to try and resurrect his career, Roy moved back to The States in 1995 and joined Major League Soccer side Colorado Rapids. This moved worked wonders for the ex-Hatter who, on his arrival back in The States, found first-team football back 'home'.

Wegerle's impressive displays earned him a call up to the United States national team and he found himself in the final 22 for the States' squad in the 1994 World Cup Finals held in the States. He had gained citizenship in 1991, becoming eligible through his American wife.  Wegerle was joined in the squad by former Hatters keeper Juergen Sommer. Roy was lucky enough to get a place in the starting eleven for most of the games, although the hosts crashed out in the second phase, losing to the eventual Champions Brazil.

Wegerle at DC United.

Four years later, Wegerle was fortunate enough to get the call again for the United States as they qualified for the World Cup, held in France. Impressive performances in the MSL were the main reason for his place in the squad.

Roy moved to MSL side DC United at the age of 35 and the Tampa Bay Mutiny, when he was part of what is considered the most lop-sided trade in league history, when DC sent him to Tampa for Roy Lassiter. Lassiter was MLS's all-time leading goal scorer; Wegerle played half a season for the Mutiny before retiring.

His international record was 41 caps, scoring 7 goals.  He also does media work in The United States, presenting some 'soccer' programmes, and this is the path that Roy's career seems to be heading in at the current time, as well as attempting to make it as a professional golfer.

Roy will always be remembered for his flashes of brilliance, pace and excellent finishing. Although his career in England was dogged by injury or lack of first-team action, everyone will tell you how good he actually was. Maybe if he'd stayed with Luton or any of the other sides in England, given the chance, he could have been even more successful. 

Profile By:  Andrew Barringer