Hats off to Dion Dublin.
Dublin has paid a simply stunning tribute to Cyrille Regis, the former West Brom and England striker who tragically passed away on Sunday after suffering a cardiac arrest.
Regis, who would have turned 60 next month, leaves behind a lasting legacy.
Regis famously won the FA Cup with Coventry in 1987 but he was more than just a football player.
He not only paved the way for black footballers to play at the highest level but he inspired so many to believe that it was possible to make it in a period in which racism and bigotry were much more prevalent.
Regis was Dion Dublin’s favourite player and he based his game on the French Guiana-born forward who was blessed with incredible pace, strength and ability to hit a ball cleanly.
Tributes have been paid to Regis up and down the country in the days since his untimely passing but the most moving came on Wednesday night, when tears filled Dublin’s eyes as he spoke about how much Regis meant to him.
"Cyrille Regis was my hero"
Pure emotion from Dion Dublin 🙏 pic.twitter.com/D1aYorEydm
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) January 17, 2018
He said: “There was something about Cyrille and Deano mentioned it there. Myself, Wrighty, Les Ferdinand, Brighty…
“We were the players that looked at those kinds of players and said ‘We want to be like you.’
“Me, particularly, as a centre-forward, Cyrille Regis was my hero.
“All I wanted to do was play like him. I wanted to back in and hold it up and score goals.
“I used to watch him all the time and, if it wasn’t for him, I would never have been a professional footballer.
“He’s going to be missed.”
Dublin wasn’t the only one with tears in his eyes.
Beautiful moment of Dion Dublin paying tribute to Cyrille Regis. I’m crying.
— Pete Noble (@petenoble1973) January 17, 2018
https://twitter.com/AntMack76/status/953717270160789505
You don’t often see real emotion in a tv studio. Watching Dion Dublin has me in tears. #motd
— Kev O Sullivan ⚽️📻💬 (@kevosullivan07) January 17, 2018
Match of the Day doesn’t usually reduce me to tears, but Dion Dublin welling up over the death of Cyril Regis got to me. His legacy and legend status will live on. @cyrilleregis RIP big man. 💔
— Jenny Corkett (@JennyCorkett) January 17, 2018
Dion Dublin has got me in tears. It’s not weakness to show your emotions. The passing of someone whose has helped and supported you in your career is immense. #BBCFootball #FACup
— Ali Ceessay © (@sir_cas) January 17, 2018
Dion Dublin just brought tears to my eyes.
— Paul Lucas (@pal_1183) January 17, 2018
Dion Dublin reducing me to tears man fucking hell 😢
— Ad (@BigManHughes) January 17, 2018
