PAUL GASCOIGNE

TEAMS PLAYED FOR
 
Boston United (England): 2004
Gansu Tianma (China): 2003
Burnley (England): 2002
Everton (England): 2000 – 2002
Middlesborough (England): 1998 – 2000
Glasgow Rangers (Scotland): 1995 – 1998
Lazio (Italy): 1992 – 1995
Tottenham Hotspur (England): 1988 – 1992
Newcastle United (England): 1985 - 1988

BIO

Paul Gascoigne has not played a big game for a long time, however he is still very popular.  No matter where he goes, people always ak for autographs, and he never denies.  “Love, Paul Gascoigne” he writes… 
Paul John Gascoigne was born on May 27, 1967 in Dunston, Tyne and Wear, England.  Paul was the second of four children.  Initially the family lived in a single upstairs room in a council house with a shared bathroom, and moved several times during Gascoigne's early life.  When Paul was ten his father moved away to Germany to find work, and Paul suffered a personal tragedy when he witnessed the death of Steven Spraggon, the younger brother of a friend, who was knocked down by a car outside a sweet shop. He suffered further trauma soon after when his father suffered a brain haemorrhage and was in hospital for eight months. In his autobiography, Gascoigne reports that around this time he started exhibiting twitches and symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. In addition to this, he began shoplifting - mainly from slot machines and sweets from a local convenience store. He described the thefts as being motivated not by need for the goods but by the need for excitement.
Subsequently Gascoigne developed an addition to gambling, frequently spending all his money including bus fare home on them. At one point he robbed the entire contents of his sister's purse to feed his habit. Around this time he also had his first taste of alcohol, getting drunk on a bottle of vodka stolen by a friend at age fourteen, but ill effects led to Gascoigne swearing off alcohol for life - in the event he didn't drink again until he was eighteen. Responsibility for a death made another appearance in Gascoigne's life when a friend he had encouraged to join Newcastle United from Middlesborough went to work with his uncle in the building trade while waiting for an opening at Newcastle and was killed in a building site accident.
Paul began playing soccer at the age of four.  At first he played in the streets and parks with his friends and eventually started playing for his school team.  Soccer scouts noticed him while he was playing for kid’s team and offered him a trial at Ipswich Town, however the trial was unsuccessful.  He subsequently tried out for Middlesborough and Southampton, but also unsuccessfully

CLUB CAREER


Paul Gascoigne began his professional soccer career in 1985 coming as a substitute against QPR for Newcastle United.  He subsequently played for Tottenham Hotspur, Lazio and Glasgow Rangers.  

NATIONAL TEAM CAREER


Gascoigne was first called up to the National team by Bobby Robson in 1988 in a friendly against Denmark.  He eventually became a regular in the squad and went to 1990 World Cup with the team.  His performance at the World Cup helped England take forth place in the tournament and earned him a place on the all-start team.  All together Gascoigne played 57 games for his country.     

PERSONAL INFO


Nicknamed Gazza… In 1989 one of the BBC commentators gave him this nickname after telling the audience that the field reminded him of sector Gazza every time Gascoigne played.  Paul loved to joke around on and off the field.  Many times he would torment his players or opponents or make fun of them each time they miss a goal on an empty net or get injured.  He never showed any compassion to players, according to witnesses, all he cared about was winning, at any cost.  Throughout his career, Paul has suffered from alcoholism and faced numerous health and legal problems.  However, on July 2009, he confirmed that he had been clear of drugs and alcohol for 15 months after spending yet another stint at a rehab.

       

TITLES AND AWARDS

Newcastle United

FA Youth Cup: 1984, 1985

Tottenham Hotspur

FA Cup: 1991

Glasgow Rangers

Scottish League: 1996, 1997

Scottish Cup: 1996

Scottish League Cup: 997

International

World Cup All-star Team: 1990

Scottish Player of the Year: 1996

English Football Hall of Fame: 2002