Fansided

The 16 best soccer haircuts of all time

By Andrew Beasley

30 Jun 2002: Ronaldo of Brazil looks on during the Germany v Brazil, World Cup Final match played at the International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan.
30 Jun 2002: Ronaldo of Brazil looks on during the Germany v Brazil, World Cup Final match played at the International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan. /
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Chris Waddle in action for England (Photo by Peter Robinson – EMPICS/PA Images via Getty Images)
Chris Waddle in action for England (Photo by Peter Robinson – EMPICS/PA Images via Getty Images) /

9. Chris Waddle

Having gazed into the majestic mullet of Rudi Voller, it’s only fair that we horrify ourselves with one from the opposite side of that titanic World Cup semifinal at Italia ’90.

Except that Chris Waddle had shaved his off between the quarterfinal victory over Cameroon and the next match. Is that why he missed the decisive penalty which meant that England went out? Correlation not causation, kids. But yeah, probably. It’s as good an explanation as the one Waddle himself offers up; a chance meeting with Uri Geller and Michael Jackson was apparently to blame for the miss.

As bad as his hair undoubtedly was, Waddle’s flowing mullet was truly a sight to behold in the ’80s. A tricky winger, he would beat the man and take him on with frequent success for his local side Newcastle, and then Spurs. He later moved to Marseille, winning three league titles in a row, and there’s not many English players who’ve moved abroad and had that level of success.

Much like Alexi Lalas, Waddle also dabbled in pop music. “Diamond Lights,” his duet with team mate Glenn Hoddle (no, really) reached number 12 in the UK charts in 1987. Listen if you dare.

After his infamous penalty miss, Waddle became something of a cult hero in England. His name was used as part of a running joke on comedy sketch program The Fast Show, and he also starred in a dreadful pizza advert with fellow penalty dunces Stuart Pearce and Gareth Southgate. Despite a successful media career in the years since, he will always be remembered for his ghastly locks in the ’80s. There’s no justice, is there Chris?

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