Paul Gascoigne

Paul Gascoigne was one of the most talented players of his generation. A playmaker who could do everything and who brought the fans to their feet with his many goals or brilliant actions.

Trophies

120

Goals

535

Games

1984/88 Newcastle UTD (ENG) 104 games, 25 goals

(England Championship: 92 games, 21 goals)

(England Cup: 4 games, 3 goals)

(England League Cup: 8 games, 1 goal)

1988/92 Tottenham Hotspur (ENG) 112 games, 33 goals

(England Championship: 92 games, 19 goals)

(England Cup: 6 games, 6 goals)

(England League Cup: 14 games, 8 goals)

1992/95 Lazio Rome (ITA) 47 games, 6 goals

(Italian Championship: 43 games, 6 goals)

(Italian Cup: 4 games)

1995/98 Glasgow Rangers (ECO) 114 games, 39 goals

(Scottish Premier League: 74 games, 30 goals)

(Scottish Cup: 8 games, 3 goals)

(Scottish League Cup: 7 games, 4 goals)

(UEFA Champions League: 13 games, 2 goals)

(UEFA Cup: 2 games)

1998/2000 Middlesbrough (ENG) 48 games, 4 goals

(English Premier League: 34 games, 4 goals)

(English Premier League D2: 7 games)

(English Cup: 2 games)

(English League Cup: 5 games)

2000/02 Everton (ENG) 38 games, 1 goal

(English Premier League: 32 games, 1 goal)

(UEFA Cup of England: 4 matches)

(English League Cup: 2 matches)

2002 Burnley FC (ENG) 6 matches

2003 Gansu Tianma (CHN) 4 matches, 2 goals

2004 Boston UTD (ENG) 5 matches

(English Premier League: 4 matches)

(English League Cup: 1 match)

With the National Team :

57 caps, 10 goals

(Friendly matches: 19 caps, 2 goals)

(World Cup qualifiers: 16 caps, 7 goals)

(World Cup: 6 caps)

(Euro qualifiers: 1 cap)

(Euro: 5 caps, 1 goal)

(Kirin Cup: 2 caps)

(Rous Cup: 2 caps)

(Tournoi de France: 3 caps)

(Umbro Cup: 3 caps)

1st cap: September 14, 1988 against Denmark (1-0)

Last cap: May 29, 1998 against Belgium (0-0)

B: 4 caps, 1 goal

U21: 12 caps, 5 goals

Paul John Gascoigne

Born on 27th May 1967 in Gateshead (ENG)

English, Attacking-Midfielder, Second Striker, Central-Midfielder, 1m77

Nickname: Gazza

One of English football's greatest hopes

Paul Gascoigne was born on May 27, 1967 in Gateshead, England. He began his career in April 1985 after coming on as a substitute against Queen's Park Rangers. A young nugget with a stocky physique, he was powerful, technical and rough, a real pain to defend for defenders. In 1988, he was voted best young player in the English championship and became an English international at the same time.

Compared to George Best for his imperfect genius, he struggled throughout his career with alcoholism. During the late 80s, he became one of the greatest hopes of world football. Especially after his incredible 1990 World Cup during which he was simply exceptional.

Throughout most of the tournament, he showed an extraordinary quality of football for his age. He helped the English to come out top of their group with an assist against Belgium, then in the round of 16, he gave another assist, this time on a free kick. In the quarter-finals, he conceded a penalty but made up for it by being one of the best players on the pitch.

In the semi-finals, he became a hero for England since in the 98th minute of play, he received a yellow card which deprived him of a possible final, Gascoigne burst into tears, and it was all the English supporters who cried with him. In the end, England did not even reach the final, eliminated by West Germany.

An injury that significantly slowed down his career

At club level, he then played for Tottenham where he only won one FA Cup in 1991. A final that will remain in the memories because Gascoigne fouled Gary Charles after a few minutes of play, it was ultimately the English attacking midfielder who ended up injured, with a torn cruciate ligament.

Absent the entire following season, he finally ended up signing for Lazio Rome for 8.5 million pounds, a considerable sum for the time. In Rome, the player struggled to convince and display the level he had previously had, his inconsistent physical form prevented him from truly showing the extent of his talent.

A career shattered by mental and health problems

In 1995, he left Italy and joined Glasgow Rangers, he found an excellent level there but this time it was extra-sporting problems that tarnished his career. Having health and mental problems, the player even admitted to having been afraid of drinking glasses of water, thinking that it could kill him.

From 1998, he began to play for clubs and in 2004, he decided to retire in total anonymity, a tragic descent into hell for a legendary player in the English and Scottish championship. He was then 37 years old. He leaves behind the image of the wonderful football player he was during Euro 1996 where individually he had made a flawless performance.