Chris Waddle facts for kids
Waddle in 2012
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Christopher Roland Waddle | ||
| Date of birth | 14 December 1960 | ||
| Place of birth | Felling, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Winger, attacking midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1978–1980 | Tow Law Town | ||
| 1980–1985 | Newcastle United | 170 | (46) |
| 1985–1989 | Tottenham Hotspur | 138 | (33) |
| 1989–1992 | Marseille | 107 | (22) |
| 1992–1996 | Sheffield Wednesday | 109 | (10) |
| 1996 | Falkirk | 4 | (1) |
| 1996–1997 | Bradford City | 25 | (6) |
| 1997 | Sunderland | 7 | (1) |
| 1997–1999 | Burnley | 32 | (1) |
| 2000–2002 | Torquay United | 7 | (0) |
| 2002 | Worksop Town | 60 | (3) |
| 2002 | Glapwell | 2 | (0) |
| 2013 | Stocksbridge Park Steels | 1 | (0) |
| 2023 | Hallam | 1 | (0) |
| Total | 663 | (126) | |
| International career | |||
| 1984 | England U21 | 1 | (1) |
| 1985–1991 | England | 62 | (6) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1997–1998 | Burnley | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Chris Waddle (born December 14, 1960) is a famous English former football player. He also worked as a manager for a short time. After he stopped playing, he became a commentator for radio and TV. Many people called him "Magic Chris" because of his amazing skills.
Chris Waddle was known as one of the best attacking midfielders in Europe. He played for many big clubs from 1978 to 1998. Some of his most famous teams were Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Olympique de Marseille in France, and Sheffield Wednesday.
In 1989, Chris Waddle moved from Tottenham to Marseille for a lot of money. This made him one of the most expensive players in the world at that time. He helped Marseille win the French league three times in a row. He also played in the final of the 1991 European Cup Final. Later, while playing for Sheffield Wednesday, he was named the best player in England for the 1992-93 season.
Chris Waddle also played for the England team 62 times between 1985 and 1991. He was part of the England teams that reached the quarter-finals of the 1986 FIFA World Cup and the semi-finals of the 1990 FIFA World Cup. He also played for England in the UEFA Euro 1988 tournament.
Contents
Chris Waddle's Football Journey
Starting Out in Football
Chris Waddle began his football career playing for local youth teams. He played for several clubs like Pelaw Juniors and Tow Law Town before becoming a professional.
Playing for Newcastle United
Before joining a big club, Chris Waddle worked in a food factory. He tried out for Sunderland and Coventry City but wasn't successful. In July 1980, when he was 19, he joined Newcastle United for £1,000.
He quickly became a key attacking player for Newcastle. He played alongside famous players like Kevin Keegan and Peter Beardsley. Together, they helped Newcastle get promoted to the top division in 1984. In one exciting game, he scored three goals in the first half against Queen's Park Rangers. The game ended in a thrilling 5-5 draw.
Time at Tottenham Hotspur
After scoring 46 goals for Newcastle, Chris Waddle moved to Tottenham Hotspur in July 1985. He scored two goals in his very first game for Spurs.
In 1987, he helped Tottenham reach the FA Cup final, but they lost to Coventry. They also finished third in the league that year.
Success in France with Marseille
In July 1989, Chris Waddle made a big move to the French club Olympique de Marseille. The transfer fee was £4.5 million, which was a huge amount at the time.
During his time in France, Marseille won the French league title three times in a row (1990, 1991, and 1992). He also played in the 1991 European Cup Final, where Marseille lost in a penalty shootout. The fans in Marseille loved him and called him "Magic Chris." They even voted him the second-best Marseille player of the century in 1998.
Returning to England with Sheffield Wednesday
Chris Waddle came back to England in July 1992, joining Sheffield Wednesday for £1 million. The team had a great season in 1992-93. They reached both the FA Cup and League Cup finals, but lost both to Arsenal. Chris Waddle scored Wednesday's goal in the FA Cup final replay.
For his excellent performances that season, he was named the FWA Footballer of the Year. He continued to play for Wednesday until 1996, despite some injuries later on.
Later Career Clubs
After Sheffield Wednesday, Chris Waddle played for several other clubs. He joined Falkirk in Scotland in September 1996. Soon after, he moved to Bradford City. He was a fan favorite there and even scored a goal directly from a corner kick!
In March 1997, he joined Sunderland, the team he supported as a child. However, he couldn't prevent them from being relegated from the Premier League.
Player-Manager at Burnley
In May 1997, Chris Waddle became the player-manager for Burnley. This meant he was both playing and managing the team. Burnley had a tough season, but they managed to avoid relegation. He scored one goal during his time there.
Final Years in Football
After leaving Burnley, Chris Waddle played briefly for Torquay United. He then moved into non-League football, playing for clubs like Worksop Town and Glapwell. He even played for Stocksbridge Park Steels into his early forties.
In 2013, he came out of retirement to play for Hallam, a non-League team in Sheffield. He even rejoined them in 2023, showing his love for the game.
Playing for England
Chris Waddle first played for the England Under-21 team in 1985. Soon after, he made his debut for the senior England squad in March 1985. He quickly became a regular player for England. In October 1985, he scored his first goal for his country.
He played for England in the 1986 FIFA World Cup and the 1990 FIFA World Cup. England reached the quarter-finals in 1986 and the semi-finals in 1990. In the 1990 World Cup semi-final against West Germany, the game went to a penalty shootout. Chris Waddle unfortunately missed the decisive penalty, hitting the ball over the bar. He later said he took the penalty because another player, Paul Gascoigne, was too upset to take it.
Chris Waddle played his last game for England in October 1991. He earned 62 caps (appearances) for his country and scored six goals.
Life After Playing
Music and Media Career
In 1987, Chris Waddle recorded a song called "Diamond Lights" with his Tottenham and England teammate Glenn Hoddle. The song was a hit, reaching number 12 in the UK music charts. They even appeared on the TV show Top of the Pops.
After retiring from playing, Chris Waddle became a football pundit and commentator. He has worked for various sports channels and radio stations, including BBC Radio 5 Live. He also writes columns for newspapers. He is known for sharing his opinions on football, sometimes criticizing how English football is run.
In 2019, Chris Waddle appeared in a TV show called Harry's Heroes. This show featured former England players getting back into shape for a match against German legends.
Family Life
Chris Waddle has a daughter named Brooke and a son named Jack. His son, Jack, also became a professional footballer and played for Chesterfield. Chris Waddle's cousin, Alan Waddle, was also a professional footballer who played for clubs like Liverpool.
Honours and Achievements
Tottenham Hotspur
- FA Cup runner-up: 1986–87
Marseille
- French Division 1 Champion: 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92
- European Cup runner-up: 1990–91
Sheffield Wednesday
- FA Cup runner-up: 1992–93
- Football League Cup runner-up: 1992–93
Individual Awards
- PFA Team of the Year: 1984–85, 1988–89
- North-East FWA Player of the Year: 1985
- Tottenham Hotspur Player of the Year: 1988
- Onze Mondial: 1990, 1991
- FWA Footballer of the Year: 1992–93 (Sheffield Wednesday)
- Premier League Player of the Month: January 1995
See also
In Spanish: Chris Waddle para niños
