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 | ||
| Playing position | 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) |
| 1997–1998 | Burnley | 32 | (1) |
| 1998 | Torquay United | 7 | (0) |
| 2000–2002 | Worksop Town | 60 | (3) |
| 2002 | Glapwell | 2 | (0) |
| 2002 | Stocksbridge Park Steels | 1 | (0) |
| 2013 | Hallam | 1 | (0) |
| 2023 | Hallam | 0 | (0) |
| Total | 663 | (126) | |
| National team | |||
| 1984 | England U21 | 1 | (1) |
| 1985–1991 | England | 62 | (6) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1997–1998 | Burnley | ||
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Chris Waddle (born 14 December 1960) is a famous English former football player and manager. He was known for his amazing skills as a winger and attacking midfielder. Many people called him "Magic Chris" because of his exciting style of play.
Chris Waddle played for several big clubs during his career. These included Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Olympique de Marseille in France, and Sheffield Wednesday. In 1989, he became one of the most expensive players in the world when he moved to Marseille.
He won three French league titles with Marseille. Later, while playing for Sheffield Wednesday, he was named the best player in England by football writers in 1993. Chris also played for the England national team 62 times. He helped England reach the quarter-finals of the 1986 FIFA World Cup and the semi-finals of the 1990 FIFA World Cup. After retiring from playing, he started working as a football commentator and pundit for the media.
Contents
Chris Waddle's Football Journey
Starting Out in Football
Chris Waddle began his football journey playing for local youth teams. He played for clubs like Pelaw Juniors and Tow Law Town before becoming a professional.
Playing for Newcastle United
In July 1980, Chris joined Newcastle United when he was 19. He quickly became an important player for the team. He played alongside famous players like Kevin Keegan and Peter Beardsley.
In the 1983–84 season, Chris helped Newcastle win promotion to the top division of English football. One memorable game was a 5–5 draw against Queen's Park Rangers. Chris scored three goals in that exciting match! He played 170 league games for Newcastle, scoring 46 goals.
Moving to Tottenham Hotspur
In 1985, Chris Waddle joined Tottenham Hotspur. He scored two goals in his very first game for the club. In 1987, he helped Spurs reach the FA Cup final, but they lost to Coventry City. He played 138 league games for Tottenham, scoring 33 goals.
Becoming a Star at Marseille
In 1989, Chris made a big move to the French club Olympique de Marseille. This transfer cost £4.5 million, which was a huge amount at the time. It made him one of the most valuable players in the world.
During his time in France, Marseille became French champions three times in a row (1990, 1991, and 1992). Chris also played in the 1991 European Cup Final with Marseille. The fans in Marseille loved him and gave him the nickname "Magic Chris." They even voted him the second-best player in the club's history!
Returning to England with Sheffield Wednesday
Chris came back to England in 1992 to play for Sheffield Wednesday. He helped the team reach both the FA Cup and League Cup finals in the 1992–93 season. Even though they lost both finals to Arsenal, Chris had an amazing season.
His great performances led to him being voted the FWA Footballer of the Year in 1993. This award recognized him as the best player in English football that season. He played 109 games for Sheffield Wednesday, scoring 10 goals.
Later Career Clubs
After Sheffield Wednesday, Chris played for several other clubs. He had a short spell in Scotland with Falkirk. Then he returned to England to play for Bradford City and Sunderland, the team he supported as a boy.
In 1997, he became the player-manager for Burnley. This meant he was both playing for the team and managing them. He later played for Torquay United.
Playing in Non-League Football
Chris continued to play football at a lower level, known as non-League football. He played for clubs like Worksop Town, Glapwell, and Stocksbridge Park Steels. Even in his fifties, he still enjoyed playing for teams like Hallam.
Chris Waddle for England
Chris Waddle played for the England national team 62 times between 1985 and 1991. He scored 6 goals for his country.
He was part of the England squads for major tournaments:
- The 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, where England reached the quarter-finals.
- UEFA Euro 1988 in West Germany.
- The 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy, where England made it to the semi-finals.
In the 1990 World Cup semi-final against West Germany, the game went to a penalty shootout. Chris Waddle took a penalty, but England lost the match. Despite this, his performances throughout the tournament were described as "superb."
Life After Playing: Media Career
After he stopped playing professional football, Chris Waddle didn't leave the game entirely. He became a well-known football pundit and commentator. He shares his opinions and analysis on matches for radio and TV.
He has worked for BBC Radio 5 Live and written columns for newspapers. He also appeared on a TV show called Harry's Heroes, where former England players got back into shape for a game against German legends.
In 1987, Chris even recorded a song called "Diamond Lights" with his Tottenham teammate Glenn Hoddle. The song was a hit and reached number 12 in the UK music charts!
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's cousin, Alan Waddle, was also a professional footballer who played for several clubs, including Liverpool.
Honours and Awards
Chris Waddle won many awards and honours during his football career:
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 (recognized as one of the best players in the league)
- North-East FWA Player of the Year: 1985
- Tottenham Hotspur Player of the Year: 1988
- Onze Mondial: 1990, 1991 (French football awards)
- FWA Footballer of the Year: 1992–93 (best player in England)
- Premier League Player of the Month: January 1995
See also
In Spanish: Chris Waddle para niños
