Paul Gascoigne, a legendary figure in English soccer known for his media-friendly personality and controversial antics, has once again opened up about his ongoing battle with alcohol. The former footballer, who hails from Gateshead and represented England 57 times, scoring 10 goals, has revealed that he is currently residing in his agent Katie Davies’ spare room in Poole. Gascoigne has also resumed attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, describing them as harmless and revealing that he followed the 12 steps, which included apologizing to the person he blamed for his troubles.
In an interview with the High Performance podcast, the 56-year-old ex-footballer admitted that he used to be a happy drunk but has now become a sad drunk. Gascoigne no longer goes out to drink, preferring to do it indoors. He shared that going to the pub can turn a good day into a bad one, while fishing with his flying rod brings him joy.
Gascoigne, who had stints at various clubs including Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Lazio, Rangers, and Everton, expressed that people may know him as Paul Gascoigne but not as Gazza, his true self. He reflected on his career and the setbacks he faced due to injuries, stating that he missed out on playing for England for four years due to ligament and kneecap injuries. Gascoigne acknowledged that when he feels down, he turns to alcohol to cheer himself up.
The ex-footballer emphasized that he didn’t feel like he let down any managers, players, or fans during his career but rather himself, particularly in relation to his struggles with drinking after retiring in 2004. Gascoigne has been admitted to rehab centers at least seven times since then. He openly admits that he will always be an alcoholic and even confessed to taking cocaine in the past.
Gascoigne, who finds it difficult to watch soccer because it reminds him of what he misses, has developed new routines to avoid drinking. He has replaced alcohol with 15 cups of coffee a day and tries to stay away from tempting environments. Gascoigne no longer blames others for his drinking and takes responsibility for his actions.
Despite his ongoing battle, Gascoigne remains determined and has never given up. He believes that he will continue fighting until his last breath, refusing to surrender to his struggles.
