Regi Blinker
Encyclopedia
Reginald "Regi" Waldi Blinker (born 4 June 1969 in Paramaribo
, Suriname
) is a former Dutch
footballer of Suriname
se extraction, who played as a left winger.
During his career, he was also known for his dread-locked
hairstyle, and played three years in Scotland
with Celtic
, after notably representing Feyenoord.
for 10 seasons, including one on loan at FC Den Bosch, and formed an efficient winger partnership with Gaston Taument
(from 1991–95, the pair combined for 61 Eredivisie
goals).
In January 1996, Blinker joined Sheffield Wednesday
, scoring a brace on his debut, a 3–2 defeat against Aston Villa
, instantly becoming a crowd favorite. At the peak of his Sheffield Wednesday career, Blinker was set to earn a sponsorship deal with a major sunglasses manufacturer. Much to the amusement of the British press the deal was scrapped when it was revealed Blinker had been mistaken for Edgar Davids
, a footballer renowned for his use of eyewear. He moved to Celtic F.C.
in part-exchange
for Paolo di Canio
during 1997, and was coached at the club by Feije legend Wim Jansen
.
Blinker played in Scotland
for three seasons, returning home in the summer of 2000 to sign for RBC Roosendaal. The next season, he signed for Sparta Rotterdam
, where he finished his professional career in 2003. He played for amateur team Deltasport Vlaardingen for a few more years before officially retiring in the summer of 2006.
He also won three caps for the Dutch national team
while at Feyenoord, making his debut in 1993, and his last appearance a year later.
Also renowned for his charitable work, he also ran in the Berlin Marathon, in aid of the Dominic Hague 'Wheelbarrows for Africa' campaign.
Paramaribo
Paramaribo is the capital and largest city of Suriname, located on banks of the Suriname River in the Paramaribo District. Paramaribo has a population of roughly 250,000 people, more than half of Suriname's population...
, Suriname
Suriname
Suriname , officially the Republic of Suriname , is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as...
) is a former Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
footballer of Suriname
Suriname
Suriname , officially the Republic of Suriname , is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as...
se extraction, who played as a left winger.
During his career, he was also known for his dread-locked
Dreadlocks
Dreadlocks, also called locks, a ras, dreads, "rasta" or Jata , are matted coils of hair. Dreadlocks are usually intentionally formed; because of the variety of different hair textures, various methods are used to encourage the formation of locks such as backcombing...
hairstyle, and played three years in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
with Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
, after notably representing Feyenoord.
Football career
Blinker began his career with Feyenoord Rotterdam in 1986. He stayed at de KuipFeijenoord Stadion
The Feijenoord Stadion, better known by its nickname De Kuip , is a stadium in Rotterdam, Netherlands that was completed in 1937. The name is derived from the area "Feijenoord" in Rotterdam, and from the club with the same name .Capacity at completion: 64,000. Maximum capacity: 69,000...
for 10 seasons, including one on loan at FC Den Bosch, and formed an efficient winger partnership with Gaston Taument
Gaston Taument
Gaston Taument is a former Dutch football right winger , who played the vast majority of his career for Feyenoord.-Football career:...
(from 1991–95, the pair combined for 61 Eredivisie
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
goals).
In January 1996, Blinker joined Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
, scoring a brace on his debut, a 3–2 defeat against Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, instantly becoming a crowd favorite. At the peak of his Sheffield Wednesday career, Blinker was set to earn a sponsorship deal with a major sunglasses manufacturer. Much to the amusement of the British press the deal was scrapped when it was revealed Blinker had been mistaken for Edgar Davids
Edgar Davids
Edgar Steven Davids is a retired Dutch footballer and current member of the supervisory board of Ajax. After beginning his career with the Amsterdam club, he subsequently played in Italy for Milan and Juventus before a loan spell with Barcelona. He went on to play for Internazionale and Tottenham...
, a footballer renowned for his use of eyewear. He moved to Celtic F.C.
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
in part-exchange
Part exchange
A part exchange or part exchange deal is a type of contract. In a part exchange, instead of one party to the contract paying money and the other party supplying goods/services, both parties supply goods/services, the first party supplying part money and part goods/services.Whether a part exchange...
for Paolo di Canio
Paolo Di Canio
Paolo Di Canio is a Italian former professional footballer and current manager of League Two side Swindon Town. Di Canio made over 500 league appearances and scored over 100 league goals as a player....
during 1997, and was coached at the club by Feije legend Wim Jansen
Wim Jansen
Wilhelmus Marinus Anthonius Jansen is a Dutch former association football player and manager.- Playing career :He spent most of his playing career with his hometown team, Feyenoord, between 1965 and 1980...
.
Blinker played in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
for three seasons, returning home in the summer of 2000 to sign for RBC Roosendaal. The next season, he signed for Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam is the oldest professional football team in the Netherlands, established on April 1, 1888. Sparta is one of three professional football clubs from Rotterdam, the others being Excelsior and Feyenoord , the latter playing in the Eredivisie.-History:Sparta was first founded in 1887....
, where he finished his professional career in 2003. He played for amateur team Deltasport Vlaardingen for a few more years before officially retiring in the summer of 2006.
He also won three caps for the Dutch national team
Netherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
while at Feyenoord, making his debut in 1993, and his last appearance a year later.
Post-retirement
Upon retiring, Blinker became a publisher of lifestyle magazines for the professional football world in Holland, the company being named Life After Football.Also renowned for his charitable work, he also ran in the Berlin Marathon, in aid of the Dominic Hague 'Wheelbarrows for Africa' campaign.