Born: 1967-05-27
Profession: Athlete
Nation: English
Biography of Paul Gascoigne
The drink? Yes, I've had tough times in my life, especially the last year, regarding my ex-wife, my kids, I nearly broke my neck, I was on death row with pneumonia.
Tags: Death, Life, ToughThen all the foreigners started coming over. I don't mind that but a lot of teams are laying out fortunes for ordinary players and that's no good for our youngsters coming through.
Tags: Good, Mind, StartedWell, I did know - but I just wanted the day to pass and the next day to come and then I wanted that one to pass. It was a horrible cycle. I felt so close to having to pack the game in.
Tags: Game, Next, WantedBut if I wasn't playing, I would drink Saturdays, then Sunday, then Monday. Then I would try and train and it was no good, then have another drink just to pass the day away.
Tags: Good, Sunday, TryIf I want to be a better person for whoever is in my life, I have to learn.
Tags: Learn, Life, WhoeverI'll tell you the truth: I had a double brandy before the game but, before, it used to be four bottles of whisky. Not any more. I was fine. I had a glass of wine after the game. But it was just a mouthful.
Tags: After, Game, TruthBut then I always wanted to play for Rangers. Man United is a great club and Alex Ferguson is a legend.
Tags: Great, United, WantedI like to help create team spirit in the dressing room. I feel that I've got loads of love to give.
Tags: Give, Help, LoveI never predict anything, and I never will.
Tags: PredictI won player of the year and players' player, two cups and two championship medals, had a great time.
Tags: Great, Time, YearI know as a manager you have to abide by the chairman's decisions. But his decisions were this team, that team, this player, that player. The chairman is a control freak.
Tags: Control, Decisions, TeamYou learn, right, a lot of people's problems - why they get upset, why they get down, why they turn to drink - is because they can't say one word and it's N-O, no.
Tags: Learn, Problems, WhyAt the end of it, I'll maybe do a coaching badge but I'm not going to get forced into things.
Tags: End, Forced, MaybeHopefully everybody will just let me get on with my life. I'm going to.
Tags: Everybody, Hopefully, LifeI am going to continue and bring this club forward. I am Paul Gascoigne the footballer.
Tags: Bring, Continue, ForwardIf the fans want me out, I'll put my hands up and leave. Like a proper man. I won't make excuses, I'll leave.
Tags: Excuses, Leave, PutAnyway, how can you sack anyone who still hasn't got a contract. I'll be there for the game and I'll stand behind the dugout giving instructions to the players from there. They will respond to me more than the next manager.
Tags: Game, Giving, StandI don't really do pranks any more. I have a laugh in the dressing room here, where it's safe, and the guys don't go to the papers and tell them what I've done.
Tags: Done, Here, LaughI fought back, got injured again and I had to have another operation. I got down and depressed and I think I was drinking more than I should. Well, I know I was.
Tags: Again, Another, DepressedI had to accept that I was an alcoholic, that was the main thing. I think you've got to. But I try not say that I'm an alcoholic. I prefer to say that it's a disease I've got.
Tags: Accept, Alcoholic, TryI never refused an autograph, never refused to buy someone a drink. Now I'm learning to say I've got other things on, instead of doing it and wondering why.
Tags: Learning, Someone, WhyVisit partners pages
Visit partners pages
I thought I did well for someone who has been out for 10 or 11 months. Then I was sub against Liverpool and tried to play for the guys and work on my fitness.
Tags: Fitness, Someone, Work