Whiteside broke Pele’s record as the youngest player to appear in the World Cup, when debuting for Northern Ireland against Yugoslavia in the 1982 tournament. Aged 17 years and 41 days, he’d played just two games for Manchester United.
In the 1982/83 season the Irishman made 57 appearances, scoring in the 1983 League Cup Final defeat to Liverpool, and in the victorious FA Cup Final replay success against Brighton.
On March 9, 1985, Whiteside scored his only ever professional hat-trick, bagging a left foot, right foot and headed goal against West Ham.
The midfield talent scored the winning goal in the 1985 FA Cup Final, curling in an unforgettable 110th minute strike against Everton. It was his second cup winner’s medal.
Whiteside left Manchester United for Everton in the summer of 1989. Although he was only 24, he’d scored 67 goals in 274 games for the Red Devils.
After suffering persistent problems with his right knee, Whiteside was forced to retire from the game at 26. He’d won 38 caps and played at two World Cup Finals for his country.