Chris Whyte
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Christopher Anderson Whyte (born September 2, 1961 in Islington, London) is an English former footballer.
Whyte started his career as a youth player at Arsenal, turning professional in September 1978. A defender who played at centre half (but also less often at full back), he made his Arsenal first-team debut against Manchester City on October 17, 1981. He went on to start all but one of Arsenal's league matches that season, forming a strong central defensive partnership with David O'Leary. Whyte stood out with his coolness and confidence, as well as his timing and good judgement of the game. Whyte continued to play the following season, and won four caps for the England under-21 side.
However, after Arsenal's shock League Cup lost to Walsall in November 1983 (and the subsequent dismissal of Terry Neill), Whyte was dropped from the side in favour of new signing Tommy Caton; the emergence of Tony Adams forced Whyte further down the pecking order at Highbury. He didn't play a single game during 1984-85 (instead being loaned out to Crystal Palace) and although he had a brief run as an emergency striker in 1985-86, he was given a free transfer at the end of that season. In all he played 113 matches for Arsenal, scoring eight goals.
No domestic club offered Whyte a contract, and disenchanted, he left for the United States and played for two years in the Major Soccer League for New York Express and Los Angeles Lazers. In the summer of 1988, Whyte was offered a return to England by Second Division West Bromwich Albion, and played there for two years.
Whyte returned to the top flight in 1990, when he was signed for £400,000 by Howard Wilkinson's Leeds United. He was a near-ever present for the next three seasons, putting in 146 appearances as Leeds won the 1991-92 First Division title. In 1993 he moved to Birmingham City, winning the 1994-95 Second Division title with the Blues. After a brief spell at Coventry City (on loan), Whyte left Birmingham in 1996, and subsequently played for Charlton Athletic, Leyton Orient, Oxford United and finally Rushden & Diamonds, before retiring from the game in 1999.
Categories: 1961 births | Living people | English footballers | Football (soccer) central defenders | Arsenal F.C. players | Crystal Palace F.C. players | West Bromwich Albion F.C. players | Leeds United AFC players | Birmingham City F.C. players | Coventry City F.C. players | Charlton Athletic F.C. players | Leyton Orient F.C. players | Oxford United F.C. players | Rushden & Diamonds F.C. players
