Paul Gascoigne admits he’s a ‘sad drunk’ who has effectively been rendered homeless as a consequence of his ongoing battle to stay sober.
The former England hero, arguably the most talented footballer of his generation, is currently living in the spare room of his agent, Katie Davies, and back attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
Speaking on the High Performance podcast, Gascoigne said he has ‘bad days’ when he turns to alcohol.‘I used to be a happy drunk, I ain’t anymore,’ he said. ‘I’m a sad drunk. I don’t go out and drink, I drink indoors. If I want to make it a bad day, [all I need to do is] go down the pub. If I want it to be a good day, I get my flying rod out and go fishing.‘It’s not the drinking, it’s the afterwards. Looking at my phone after and seeing 30 messages or missed calls, I know I’m in trouble. But I’ve been alright. Last year wasn’t brilliant, was off and on for a couple of months.
‘I went to a meeting the other night so that was all right. Just an AA meeting. I went with a friend and that was OK. They’re all right, harmless.’
Gascoigne became a national hero on the back of his exploits at the 1990 World Cup, when his performances helped the Three Lions reach the semi-finals where Sir Bobby Robson’s side were beaten on penalties in heartbreaking fashion by West Germany.The fame and notoriety that followed Italia 90, allied to the devastating knee injury he would suffer in the following year’s FA Cup final playing for Spurs against Nottingham Forest, coincided with his life spiraling out of control.
Addiction to various substances followed and Gascoigne, now 56, has been in and out of rehab over the course of the last three decades.
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