Article by Daniel Scorpie – published Monday, October 13, 2025 21:29 / Updated Monday, October 13, 2025 23:03
Paul Gascoigne (58 years old), the former English star, revealed the wounds unknown to a life marked by alcohol abuse, childhood traumas and a father who, to save him, had to admit him to a psychiatric hospital. In his biography, “Gazza” told how he was placed by his manager Rangers Drink in the locker room at the break in a final of the Scotland League Cup!
The episode recalled by Paul Gascoigne spent in the match between Glasgow Rangers and Heart of Midlothian, played on November 24, 1996 on “Celtic Park”. “At the break, the coach asked me if I drank. I replied that he did not. He replied: “Then go and drink something!”
Paul Gascoigne: “Those 11 days in the hospital saved my life”
I drank nine glasses of brandy. I returned to the field, scored two goals and I was chosen the man of the match. But they didn't let me go to dinner after the match because I had already drank too much. ”
The goal scored by Paul Gascoigne (Rangers) in the gate defended by Bogdan Stelea was only enough for a 1-1 / photo: Daily Record
Beyond the shocking story, however, is the great drama of a footballer with exceptional qualities, but who has scattered his talent and ruined his career because of the bahish excesses. Gascoigne told in pain how he lived for months without talking to his parents, and the silence at “destroyed”.
Only when his father decided to admit him to the hospital, the ex-internal with 57 selections and 10 goals, he realized that his destiny has changed: “Those eleven days have saved my life.”
In another passage in his book, the former midfielder also tells a tragedy that scored in childhood. It's about the death of a friend's younger brother, killed by a car in front of his eyes.
“I had many crazy people, but today I am looking to look at life differently”
“I had taken the responsibility to take care of him. But, in a moment of inattention, he ran a meter before me and was hit by a car. He died in my arms … I thought he was still breathing. Unfortunately, it was not so.”
Paul Gascoigne, in the final of the lost cup[ pe Wembley ]n Season 1988-89, Arsenal-Tottenham 4-0 / Photo: Imago
Gascoigne has never been able to overcome this trauma, which accompanied throughout the career. And because of this soul wound, his mental health problems and alcohol addiction worsened: “I have done many crazy things, but today I try to look at life differently.”
Another shocking confession, also published in the Daily Mail, is related to the huge amounts he has scattered for cars. His father's obsessive passion forced him to buy them no less than 82 copies!
“Three times a year he was waiting for him to give him a car: his father's day, his birthday and Christmas, just that! Even a Christmas sent me a payment note. There were 75,000 pounds for a BMW. He explained to me that “the father's day”. Oh, God. It didn't matter anymore, I couldn't refuse it, “said” Gazza “.
Another fabulous episode spent on his 1988 transfer from Newcastle to Tottenham. That summer, Sir Alex Ferguson had put his eyes on Paul and he had given him the word that, after returning from the holiday, he would come to sign with Manchester United.
Gascoigne: “For 120,000 pounds and a BMW, my father agreed to go to Tottenham, instead of Manchester United”
Only Irving Scholar, the president of Tottenham, who managed to divert him, although initially Gascoigne's father did not want to hear about Spurs. “One day, the phone rang at home and I answered.
Paul Gascoigne managed to shock Lazio's locker
When he heard my dad, driving him and saying I would go to United, Spurs's president told him that he gives him 120,000 pounds if he changes his mind. Dad raised with a BMW, then my sister Lidsay wanted a lounge chair, and Scholar accepted and clapped the palm. “
47The matches and 6 goals had Paul Gascoigne at Lazio (1992-1995). The English midfielder played 104 parties, scoring 39 goals for Rangers (1995-1998), with whom he won two titles plus Cup and Cup of the Scotland League
Ttenovela continued with the meeting that Gascoigne had with Sir Alex Ferguson: “When he saw the news on television, that I was the most expensive transfer made by a British club, 2.2 million pounds, he went crazy.
For a long time, when I went to see a match of United, he found out and sent me a message through a steward waiting for me in the office on Old Trafford. Even though he was 80, he could not help: «How the hell did you allow me to refuse me? You made the biggest mistake of your life. ”
Probably if I liked it I would have been left for 15 years in Manchester, but I would never have played outside England. “
