Gazza’s football and personal life has been filled with much-publicised controversy, and the former midfielder has recently returned to the spotlight
Paul Gascoigne remains a popular figure as a former England international, but his post-footballing career has been blighted with controversy, as well as mental illness and substance abuse.
The ex-midfielder has appeared in the headlines once more, and Goal takes a look at Gascoigne’s career trajectory, his highs and lows with England, and life after he hung up his boots.
Gascoigne – or ‘Gazza’ as he is more known – is a 51-year-old English retired professional footballer who has been heralded as one of the most talented footballers from the England team, having earned 57 caps with the Three Lions.
Born in Gateshead, Gascoigne came up through the ranks of the Newcastle academy with which he turned professional, and then signed for Tottenham Hotspur three years later for a £2.2m fee, helping them win the FA Cup.
He then enjoyed further spells at the likes of Italian side Lazio, Scottish team Rangers – where he guided the team to two league titles and two trophies – before returning to England to play for Middlesbrough in 1998, where he made his Premier League debut.
The former midfielder then had stints at Everton before moving to Burnley, Gansu Tianma in China, and Boston United.
A technically skilled playmaker who was able to be deployed as an attacking midfielder, Gascoigne was capable of both scoring and setting up goals, and was revered for his passing and striking ability.
Gascoigne netted 83 domestic goals in 388 total club appearances before retiring from club football in 2004, citing managerial aspirations.
The ex-playmaker earned 57 caps for England while netting 10 goals, and was a Three Lions regular, having represented his side in two World Cups in 1990 to 1994.
Most of Gascoigne’s career will be remembered from his time with the England side beginning from the early ’90s, which had been dubbed ‘Gazzamania’.
Gascoigne was part of the team that reached fourth place in the 1990 World Cup – where he gained fame and notoriety for notably crying after receiving a yellow card in the semi-final against West Germany.
The booking meant that he would have been suspended for the final had England had won the game, which they did not.
The former midfielder featured in all three of the group games in the 1990 World Cup in Italy, with England topping Group F after he provided the assist for Mark Wright’s winner against Egypt. In the opening knockout game against Belgium, Gascoigne made set up another goal after sending a fine free-kick into the penalty area, which was converted by David Platt. He was once again at the crux of the action in the quarter-final tie against Cameroon when he gave away a penalty, which was scored – but then made up for it when he scored the winning penalty in extra-time.
Gascoigne then played a part as his team reached the semi-final stage of the 1995 European Championships, netting against Scotland – a goal that was described as one of the finest of the whole tournament.
He is also well-known for his famous celebrations for both club and country, including that of the ‘dentist’s chair’ from Euro ’96, as well as miming playing a flute with Rangers in 1998.
Gascoigne was an integral part of the England side under manager Glen Hoddle and helped his side to secure the 0-0 draw against Italy needed to qualify for the 1998 World Cup, but British tabloids later published photos of the midfielder eating late-night kebabs alongside DJ friend Chris Evans only a week before the final squad for the tournament was due to be confirmed.
As a result, Hoddle snubbed Gascoigne and did not call him up to England’s World Cup squad after finding out that he had his room trashed by the former international in an angry rage. Gascoigne never featured for England following the qualifier against Italy.
‘Gazza’ married his long-term girlfriend Sheryl in Hertfordshire in 1996 but separated in early 1999. The couple had one son named Regan, and Gascoigne adopted the two children from Sheryl’s previous marriage, Mason and Bianca.
In the later stages of his early career and in the time immediately following his retirement from the game, Gascoigne’s life has been befuddled with mental and emotional distress, particularly involving his struggles with alcohol – and has been in and out of treatment for the majority of his post-playing career.
He has been jailed or sectioned on multiple occasions and his personal difficulties have been well-documented by British tabloids, and his alcohol and substance abuse problems effectively ended his managerial career – and he has not worked in the industry since being fired as head coach of Kettering Town in 2005.
Gascoigne has fallen into trouble numerous times – having been faced with a bankruptcy petition over a £200,000 tax bill in 2008 after not having filed his tax returns for more than two years, though later avoided being declared bankrupt by the High Court in London.
In October 2015, the former England internatinonal was fined and handed a restrainig order after harassing an ex-girlfriend and assaulting a photographer, and in September 2016, conceded to telling a racist joke and racially abusing his black bodyguard.
Gascoigne was hospitalised with head injuries in December 2016 after being kicked down the stars of a London hotel after he was accused of making yet more racist remarks – though his assailant was jailed for 23 weeks and was made to order £7,800 in compensation.
His struggles with substance abuse have been long, having first entered therapy sessions in October 1998 when he was admitted to hospital after a drinking session that involved consuming 32 shots of whisky. Despite his manager Bryan Robson admitting him for treatment, he self-released himself from the hospital early despite the suggested minimum stay of 28 days, and later returned to drinking alcohol.
He was sectioned in June 2008 after being hospitalised following a drug and alcohol overdose in an apparent attempt at suicide, and in July 2010, was charged for drink-driving, driving without a proper license, and driving without insurance.
In October 2010, Gascoigne was charged for possession of cocaine and was later admitted into rehab.
Gascoigne was arrested at Durham station in August 2018 by police for sexually assaulting a woman on board a train, and in November 2018 was charged with sexual assault and is due to appear in court for the charge on December 2018.
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