Last update 20 January, 2022 by Alberto Llopis
Hanging by the Football presents us possibly the most technical player who has the last 20 years the British Isles. Neither more nor less than Paul Gascoigne. This English-born genius 1967 in Gateshead he is considered one of the most discolo players that have come out lately. And yes, all those who know him agree on something, is that “Magpie” has been a quite peculiar character.
Gascoigne's football history began in 1980, when with just 13 years he was signed by Newcastle for their youth team. However, it wouldn't be until 1985 when this fine midfielder would debut in the English first division, in a newcastle- Queens Park Rangers. Nevertheless, already in his youth years, Gazza would demonstrate his class with the ball and his rebellion outside of it, in addition to living the tragedy of the death of his father and a close friend.
I would be present in the St James´ Park team until 1988 leaving a whopping of 107 parties and 25 goals and England's Best Youth Player award. That same summer of 88, Gascoigne would sign for Tottenham for an amount of 2 million pounds, after discarding the United option.
In the London club, Gazza would live his best times, those that would lead him to be called up for the World Cup 90, where England would fall in the semifinals against Germany. Those were Gazzamania times, where Gascoigne stood out with his high voltage football, fast driving and easy to see door. All of this, coupled with appearances with various musical groups and other extra-sporting mishaps, they made Gazza a fashionable footballer.
In the Hotspur club I'd be up 1992, moment in which he would decide to undertake the adventure of Calcio with Lazio. Without much success due to Italian soccer tactics and injuries, Gascoigne would return in 1995 to the islands, in this case to Scotland and Glasgow Rangers, team where he would spend the next three seasons. With the Rangers, Gascoigne would have a remarkable performance winning two leagues, a cup and being designated the best player in the competition in 1996.
In addition, he would star in a multitude of anecdotes such as lowering his pants to his colleagues at inopportune moments, incidents with journalists, or even joke with a referee by taking out his own cards. His great performances earned him his call for the Eurocup 96 disputed in his own country and where Gascoigne had an outstanding performance reaching a goal against Scotland. England would fall in the semifinals.
From there, Gascoigne would start his downhill footballer. A prominent overweight (that it would cost him not to be summoned to France 98) and very little discipline, In addition to problems with alcohol, they took him to a multitude of teams, leaving more pain than glory in their passage through them. Finally in 2004, Gazza said goodbye to football at Boston United. In 2010, would continue his process of self-destruction with a strong traffic accident that made him hospitalized for several days and in February 2013, He was on the tightrope and admitted to the ICU due to complications in his treatment against his addiction to alcohol, a problem that affects many idols with feet of clay.
