Problems with alcohol, injuries and his weight jinxed one of the most dazzling midfield players England has ever seen.“Gazza” grabbed the headlines for both self-destructive behaviour and brilliance. It was a tragedy for him, and for England, that he lacked the mental strength to match his mazy dribbling and slide-rule passes - a great footballing talent was squandered.
A Geordie full of laddish humour; he quickly made an impact at Newcastle United, which he joined in 1985 at 17.Terry Venables paid a record ?2 million to bring the prodigious talent to Tottenham Hotspur in 1988. But in the 1991 FA Cup Final, having scored some fabulous goals on the road there, including a blinding 35-yard free-kick against the Gunners in the semi-final, Gascoigne recklessly fouled Forest's Gary Charles and injured his own cruciate ligament, which put him out of the game for a season.
National hero
Italia 90 had seen him emerge as a national hero, with the fans loving his heartfelt emotion when England went out to West Germany on penalties in the semi-final as much as they'd admired his moments of inspirational genius. He returned to Italy in 1992 for three difficult and injury-beset years at Lazio, but came back to Britain in 1995 for a renaissance at Glasgow Rangers, helping them to the Scottish title with 14 league goals in his first season and becoming Scotland’s Footballer of the Yean
Euro 96, held in Britain, was a stage on which Gascoigne shone, and he scored a memorable goal against Scotland - one of the best of the championship. It was to be his high-water mark, for Glenn Hoddle left him out of the England squad for France 98, and he would never play for his country again.
Erratic in fitness and performance, Gazza's subsequent career; via Middlesbrough in 1998 and briefly Everton, has seen him unsigned at home and desperately trying to keep his place in China. It would be wonderful if he made a spectacular comeback, but sadly it now seems beyond him.
Opposite right: One of the most dramatic moments of Euro ’96 when Stuart Pearce scored against Spain. After blasting the kick into the corner, he roared with delight. Pearce had missed from the spot when England were knocked out of the 1990 World Cup semi-finals by West Germany. Above: Teddy Sheringham shares the moment with an emotional Pearce.
Opposite left: Sheringham and Gascoigne celebrate after the midfielder’s stunning goal clinched England’s victory over Scotland in Euro ’96.
World History
