Bobby Rhine (April 18, 1976 – September 5, 2011) was an American soccer player who last played for

FC Dallas FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The club competes as a member of the Western Conference in Major League Soccer (MLS). The franchise began play in 1996 as a charter club of the le ...

of Major League Soccer. Rhine played

college soccer College soccer is played by teams composed of soccer players who are enrolled in colleges and universities. It is very prominent in United States, Japan, South Korea, Canada, and as well as in South Africa and the Philippines. The United K ...

at the

University of Connecticut The University of Connecticut (UConn) is a public land-grant research university in Storrs, Connecticut, a village in the town of Mansfield. The primary 4,400-acre (17.8 km2) campus is in Storrs, approximately a half hour's drive from H ...

from 1994 to 1998. In 1997, he redshirted his senior season in order to complete his master's degree requirements. In 1998, he returned for his last season, earning second-team All-American recognition. In February 1999, the Dallas Burn selected Rhine in the first round (sixth overall) in the 1999 MLS College Draft. During his Dallas career, Rhine filled a variety of positions as an on-and-off starter, usually playing up front or in the

midfield Midfield is the part of a sports field that lies approximately in the center. In American football, association football (soccer) and field hockey, it is the area in and around the center circle, as well as the players who occupy that region. In ...

. His versatility even led to a switch to defense for the 2005 season. His best season came in 2002, when he scored seven goals and six assists and added another goal in the playoffs. In eight MLS seasons, Rhine's regular-season totals stand at 23 goals and 33 assists. In 1999, he went on loan to the

Milwaukee Rampage The Milwaukee Rampage are a former defunct professional American soccer team, that was located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which played in the A-League. History Founded in 1993 by Milwaukee area businessmen Dan Doucette and Jim Hock, the Rampage p ...

of the

USL A-League The USL Championship (USLC) is a professional men's soccer league in the United States that began its inaugural season in 2011. The USL is sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation (U.S. Soccer) as a Division II league since 2017, pl ...

. In 2000, he played one game on loan with the Tennessee Rhythm. Rhine played his final career game against

Los Angeles Galaxy LA Galaxy, also known as the Los Angeles Galaxy, are an American professional soccer club based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Galaxy competes in Major League Soccer (MLS), as a member of the Western Conference. The club began pla ...

on October 26, 2008, a game in which normal team captain

Duilio Davino Duilio César Jean Pierre Davino Rodríguez (born 21 March 1976) is a Mexican former professional footballer and executive who last served as Sporting Chairman of Liga MX club Monterrey. Playing career Davino was called up to play in the 1995 ...

insisted Rhine take the captain's armband. Rhine retired at the end of the 2008 season. Upon retiring, he accepted the position of Manager of Community Development with the

front office. In addition, Rhine also worked as the color commentator for the team's television broadcasts. On September 5, 2011, while vacationing with his family in Florida, Rhine died from a sudden heart attack at the age of 35.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rhine, Bobby 1976 births 2011 deaths American soccer players UConn Huskies men's soccer players FC Dallas players Milwaukee Rampage players New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers players Tennessee Rhythm players Major League Soccer players A-League (1995–2004) players Soccer players from Missouri FC Dallas draft picks Men's association football midfielders