Paul Gascoigne facts for kids

"Gazza" redirects here. For other uses, see Gazza (disambiguation).

Quick facts for kids
Paul Gascoigne
Personal information
Gascoigne in 2021
Date of birth	(1967-05-27) 27 May 1967 (age 58)
Place of birth	Gateshead, England
Height	5 feet 10 inches (1.77 m)
Playing position	Attacking midfielder
Youth career
1980–1985	Newcastle United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
1985–1988	Newcastle United	92	(21)
1988–1992	Tottenham Hotspur	92	(19)
1992–1995	Lazio	43	(6)
1995–1998	Rangers	74	(30)
1998–2000	Middlesbrough	41	(4)
2000–2002	Everton	32	(1)
2002	Burnley	6	(0)
2003	Gansu Tianma	4	(2)
2004	Boston United	4	(0)
Total		388	(83)
National team
1987–1988	England U21	12	(5)
1989	England B	4	(1)
1988–1998	England	57	(10)
Teams managed
2005	Kettering Town
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Paul John Gascoigne (born 27 May 1967), known as Gazza, is a famous English former professional footballer. He played as an attacking midfielder. Many people think he was one of the best English footballers ever. The National Football Museum calls him "the most naturally talented English footballer of his generation". He was very popular during his career. People even called the excitement around him "Gazzamania".

Paul Gascoigne was born and grew up in Gateshead. He joined Newcastle United as a schoolboy. He became a professional player in 1984. Later, he moved to Tottenham Hotspur for £2.2 million. He won the FA Cup with Tottenham in 1991. After that, he joined the Italian club Lazio for £5.5 million. In 1995, he moved to Rangers for £4.3 million. He helped Rangers win two league titles, a Scottish Cup, and a Scottish League Cup. He came back to England in 1998 to play for Middlesbrough. He also played for Everton, Burnley, Gansu Tianma, and Boston United.

Gascoigne played for the England national team from 1988 to 1998. He played 57 games and scored ten goals. He was part of the England team that reached the semi-finals of the 1990 FIFA World Cup. He famously cried during the semi-final against West Germany. This was because a yellow card meant he would miss the final if England won. He also helped England reach the semi-finals of Euro 96. He scored an amazing goal against Scotland in that tournament.

Early Life and Football Dreams

Paul Gascoigne was born in Gateshead on 27 May 1967. His father, John, worked as a hod carrier. His mother, Carol, worked in a factory. He was named after Paul McCartney and John Lennon from the Beatles.

Paul went to Breckenbeds Junior High School. Then he went to Heathfield Senior High School. Football scouts noticed him when he played for Gateshead Boys. He tried out for Ipswich Town but didn't impress them. He also tried out for Middlesbrough and Southampton. Finally, his favourite team, Newcastle United, signed him as a schoolboy in 1980.

Paul wanted to help his family financially. He saw professional football as a way to earn more money. He loved playing football. He later wrote that he felt happy and calm when he was on the pitch. He signed as an apprentice at Newcastle when he turned 16.

When he was in the Newcastle youth team, he was often a bit overweight. The manager, Jack Charlton, thought he looked "chubby". But Charlton also believed this extra weight made him stronger. He didn't seem to slow down on the pitch. Charlton told him to lose weight. So, Paul trained hard, even wrapping himself in a black bag to sweat more.

Club Career Highlights

Newcastle United Success

Youth Team Captain

Paul Gascoigne led Newcastle United's youth team to win the FA Youth Cup in the 1984–85 season. He scored two goals in the 4–1 win against Watford in the final. After this great win, manager Jack Charlton told Paul he would join the first team.

First Team Debut

Paul made his first team debut on 13 April 1985. He came on as a substitute in a 1–0 win against Queens Park Rangers. At 18, he signed a two-year contract with Newcastle. His manager, Jack Charlton, made sure some of his wages were saved for him.

Willie McFaul became the new manager for the 1985–86 season. He put Paul in the starting lineup. Paul scored his first goal on 21 September 1985 against Oxford United. He scored eight more goals that season. Newcastle finished 11th in the league. The next season, he scored 5 goals in 24 games.

Rising Star and Transfer

In 1988, Jackie Milburn, a Newcastle legend, called Gascoigne "the best player in the world". Paul was named the PFA Young Player of the Year. He was also chosen for the PFA Team of the Year in the 1987–88 season.

Many clubs wanted to sign him. He had even promised to join Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. But then, he signed for Tottenham Hotspur. This was for a record British fee of £2.2 million. Paul said he used some of his signing-on fee to buy homes for his parents.

Tottenham Hotspur Fame

Impressive Start

In his first season at White Hart Lane, Paul helped Terry Venables's Tottenham Hotspur finish sixth. He scored 7 goals in 37 games. The next season, 1989–90, they finished third. In September, he scored four goals in a 5–0 win against Hartlepool United.

In 1990, he won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. He said, "I haven't won anything in the game as yet. But the World Cup did help to put England on the map." He was also named Tottenham's Player of the Year.

FA Cup Glory and Injury

Paul was named in the PFA Team of the Year again in the 1990–91 season. Tottenham reached the FA Cup Final. They beat rivals Arsenal in the semi-final. Paul scored the first goal in that 3–1 win with a free-kick.

Before the final against Nottingham Forest, Tottenham had agreed to sell Paul to Lazio in Italy. The deal was worth £8.5 million. But in the final, Paul got a serious knee injury. He ruptured his cruciate ligaments. He had to leave the game on a stretcher. Tottenham still won the Cup in extra-time.

He missed the entire 1991–92 season while recovering. He had another knee injury later that year.

Lazio Adventure in Italy

Settling in Italy

Paul joined Lazio for £5.5 million in September 1992. He received a £2 million signing-on fee. He made his Serie A debut on 27 September 1992 against Genoa. He was popular with the fans. He scored a goal in the 89th minute to draw the Rome derby against A.S. Roma. This made him a hero to the fans. Lazio finished fifth that season. This was a success, as it meant they qualified for European competition.

Fitness and New Coach

Before the 1993–94 season, Paul was told to lose weight by manager Dino Zoff. He went on a strict diet and succeeded. In 1994, Zdeněk Zeman became the new coach. Paul broke his leg in training in April 1994. After he recovered, he decided to leave Lazio at the end of the 1994–95 season.

Rangers Triumphs in Scotland

Instant Impact and Double Win

Paul signed for Rangers in July 1995 for £4.3 million. He earned £15,000 a week. He made an immediate impact. In his fifth league game, an "Old Firm" match against Celtic, he scored a fantastic goal. He ran almost the full length of the pitch to score. This goal was very important as Celtic only lost one game that season.

On 30 December, Paul jokingly 'booked' the referee with his own yellow card. Rangers went on to win the Scottish Premier Division. Paul scored a hat-trick in the title-clinching game against Aberdeen. Rangers also won the Scottish Cup, beating Heart of Midlothian 5–1 in the final. He scored 19 goals in 42 games. He was named both PFA Scotland Players' Player of the Year and SFWA Footballer of the Year.

More Trophies

Rangers won the league title again in 1996–97. This was their ninth title in a row. Paul scored hat-tricks against Kilmarnock and Motherwell. He finished the season with 17 goals in 34 games. The "Gers" also won the Scottish League Cup. They beat Hearts 4–3 in the final, with Paul scoring twice.

In 1997, young Italian player Gennaro Gattuso joined Rangers. Paul welcomed him by secretly paying for his club suits. The 1997–98 season was less successful. Paul scored only 3 goals in 28 games. He was then sold, and Rangers did not win any trophies that season.

Middlesbrough and Everton

Paul joined Middlesbrough for £3.45 million in March 1998. His first match was the 1998 Football League Cup Final defeat to Chelsea. He helped Middlesbrough get promoted to the Premier League. He played seven games in the First Division.

He started the 1998–99 season well. Middlesbrough finished ninth in the Premier League. He scored 3 goals in 26 games. He was even considered for the England squad again. In the 1999–2000 season, he broke his arm.

Paul signed a two-year contract with Everton in July 2000. He started the 2000–01 season well. But injuries kept him out of the team. He scored his first goal for Everton, and his last in English football, against Bolton Wanderers in November 2001. He then had a hernia injury. He left Everton in March 2002.

Later Career and Coaching Attempts

Paul then played for Burnley for two months, making six appearances. In 2002, he was added to the National Football Museum. He was called "the most naturally gifted English midfielder of his generation". Paul Ince said Paul was "the best player I've ever played with".

In 2003, he signed a nine-month contract with Chinese club Gansu Tianma. He was both a player and a coach. He scored two goals in four games in China. In July 2004, Paul joined Boston United as a player-coach. He said he wanted to be a great coach and manager. He played five games in three months before leaving.

In 2005, he spent two months as a player-coach for Portuguese team Algarve United. He was appointed manager of Kettering Town in October 2005. He wanted to invest in the club. But his time there lasted only 39 days. He left in December. He later said he was never paid for his work there.

International Career for England

Youth and Senior Team Debut

Paul was first called up to the England under-21 team in 1987. He scored on his debut against Morocco. He played 12 games for the under-21s.

He joined the senior England squad in September 1988. He came on as a substitute in a friendly against Denmark. He scored his first goal for England in a 5–0 win over Albania in April 1989. He became a regular starter for England. He also played four games for the England B team.

1990 FIFA World Cup Heroics

Paul went to the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy. He played in all three group games. England topped their group. Paul provided an assist for Mark Wright's winning goal against Egypt. In the knockout game against Belgium, he made another assist. He chipped a free-kick to David Platt, who scored.

In the quarter-final against Cameroon, Paul gave away a penalty. But in extra time, he made a great pass. This led to Gary Lineker winning and scoring a penalty, which was the winning goal. Bryan Robson said Paul was the "best player" he had ever played with. He believed Paul was "challenging Maradona as the best player in the world" at that time.

His tears in the national limelight made Gascoigne famous enough to be lampooned on Spitting Image. His puppet, which employed projectile tears, is now on display at the National Football Museum.

On 4 July 1990, England played West Germany in the World Cup semi-final. Paul received a yellow card. This meant he would miss the final if England won. Television cameras showed him crying. This made him very popular with the British public. England lost the match in a penalty shoot-out.

After the tournament, Bobby Robson left the England job. The new manager, Graham Taylor, sometimes left Paul out of the team. Paul returned to the starting lineup in February 1991. But his FA Cup final injury meant he missed the next twenty-one England games. This included all of UEFA Euro 1992.

Euro 96 and Later Years

Paul returned to fitness in 1994. His former Tottenham manager, Terry Venables, became England manager. England hosted UEFA Euro 1996, so they didn't need to qualify. They played many friendly games, with Paul often starting.

The tournament began with a 1–1 draw against Switzerland. Paul scored an amazing goal in England's second game against Scotland. He received the ball, flicked it over a defender, and volleyed it into the net. This sealed a 2–0 victory. The goal was followed by a famous "dentist's chair" celebration. Paul lay on the ground, and teammates sprayed water into his mouth. Terry Venables called it "a goal of unimpeachable quality, world-class, extraordinary".

England beat the Netherlands 4–1 to reach the knockout stages. They then beat Spain on penalties. Paul scored one of the penalties. England drew 1–1 with Germany in the semi-finals. Paul almost scored a winning goal in extra time. But England lost to Germany in the penalty shoot-out. Xavi later said he remembered Paul playing "some great matches" at Euro 96.

Under Glenn Hoddle, Paul was picked regularly. He helped England win the Tournoi de France in 1997. England qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Paul played well in the final qualifying game against Italy. However, Glenn Hoddle decided not to pick Paul for the final World Cup squad. Paul was very upset by this news. He never played for England again. He earned 57 caps and scored ten goals for his country.

Playing Style

Paul Gascoigne was a creative, fast, and skilled playmaker. He played as an attacking midfielder. He could score goals and set them up for others. He was known for his accurate passing, powerful shots, and heading ability. He had speed, physical strength, and excellent dribbling skills. This allowed him to keep the ball, beat opponents, and handle tough challenges. He was also good at taking free kicks and penalty kicks.

FourFourTwo magazine said he was a "central midfielder with Glenn Hoddle's eye for a pass and Bryan Robson's love of a tackle". They added that his creativity was key in winning close matches.

Gary Lineker called Paul "the most naturally gifted technical footballer that I played with". He said Paul had "a sort of impudence" and "great confidence". Lineker added that Paul "played completely for the love of the game". Steven Gerrard named Paul as his "hero". Gareth Southgate said Paul, Paul Scholes, and Wayne Rooney had "that little bit more than all the others".

Football writer Brian Glanville said Paul showed "a flair, a superlative technique, a tactical sophistication, seldom matched by an England player since the war". Despite his talent, Paul was sometimes criticised for his unpredictable behaviour on the pitch. His injuries are also thought to have affected his career.

Other Projects and Public Life

After the 1990 World Cup, Paul became very famous. He reached number 2 in the UK Top 40 with "Fog on the Tyne". This was a song he recorded with the band Lindisfarne. He set up Paul Gascoigne Promotions to handle requests from companies. He also promoted two video games: Gazza's Superstar Soccer and Gazza II.

Paul Gascoigne playing for England during Soccer Aid in May 2006.

In August 2006, he visited Botswana for the Football Association. He played football with children from the SOS Children's Village there. In July 2009, Paul appeared on the BBC quiz show The Weakest Link. The next day, he played in a charity football match to raise money for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation. He also played in the first Soccer Aid game in 2006.

Paul Gascoigne speaking at an event in Southampton, 2023

In August 2014, Paul started playing amateur football. He signed for a Sunday League team in Bournemouth. In 2015, a documentary film called Gascoigne was made about him. In 2022, a two-part TV series called Gazza was also made.

Paul has written three autobiographies: Gazza: My Story (2004), Being Gazza: Tackling My Demons (2006), and Glorious: My World, Football and Me (2011). He lives in Poole, Dorset.

Career Statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Continental		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Newcastle United	1984–85	First Division	2	0	–		–		–		2	0
	1985–86	First Division	31	9	1	0	3	0	–		35	9
	1986–87	First Division	24	5	–		2	0	–		26	5
	1987–88	First Division	35	7	3	3	3	1	–		41	11
	Total		92	21	4	3	8	1	–		104	25
Tottenham Hotspur	1988–89	First Division	32	6	–		5	1	–		37	7
	1989–90	First Division	34	6	–		4	1	–		38	7
	1990–91	First Division	26	7	6	6	5	6	–		37	19
	1991–92	First Division	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		92	19	6	6	14	8	0	0	112	33
Lazio	1992–93	Serie A	22	4	4	0	–		–		26	4
	1993–94	Serie A	17	2	0	0	–		0	0	17	2
	1994–95	Serie A	4	0	0	0	–		0	0	4	0
	Total		43	6	4	0	–		0	0	47	6
Rangers	1995–96	Scottish Premier Division	28	14	4	3	3	1	7	1	42	19
	1996–97	Scottish Premier Division	26	13	1	0	4	3	3	1	34	17
	1997–98	Scottish Premier Division	20	3	3	0	–		5	0	28	3
	Total		74	30	8	3	7	4	15	2	104	39
Middlesbrough	1997–98	First Division	7	0	–		1	0	–		8	0
	1998–99	Premier League	26	3	1	0	2	0	–		29	3
	1999–2000	Premier League	8	1	1	0	2	0	–		11	1
	Total		41	4	2	0	5	0	–		48	4
Everton	2000–01	Premier League	14	0	–		1	0	–		15	0
	2001–02	Premier League	18	1	4	0	1	0	–		23	1
	Total		32	1	4	0	2	0	–		38	1
Burnley	2001–02	First Division	6	0	–		–		–		6	0
Gansu Tianma	2003	China League One	4	2	–		–		–		4	2
Boston United	2004–05	League Two	4	0	–		1	0	–		5	0
Career total			388	83	28	12	37	13	15	2	468	110

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team	Year	Apps	Goals
England	1988	2	0
	1989	4	1
	1990	13	1
	1991	1	0
	1992	2	2
	1993	6	2
	1994	1	0
	1995	6	0
	1996	11	3
	1997	8	1
	1998	3	0
Total		57	10

Scores and results list England's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Gascoigne goal

List of international goals scored by Paul Gascoigne
No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	26 April 1989	Wembley Stadium, London, England	Albania	5–0	5–0	1990 FIFA World Cup qualifier
2	25 April 1990	Wembley Stadium, London, England	Czechoslovakia	4-2	4–2	Friendly
3	18 November 1992	Wembley Stadium, London, England	Turkey	1–0	4–0	1994 FIFA World Cup qualifier
4	18 November 1992	Wembley Stadium, London, England	Turkey	4–0	4–0	1994 FIFA World Cup qualifier
5	31 March 1993	İzmir Atatürk Stadium, İzmir, Turkey	Turkey	2–0	2–0	1994 FIFA World Cup qualifier
6	8 September 1993	Wembley Stadium, London, England	Poland	2–0	3–0	1994 FIFA World Cup qualifier
7	23 May 1996	Workers' Stadium, Beijing, China	China	3–0	3–0	Friendly
8	15 June 1996	Wembley Stadium, London, England	Scotland	2–0	2–0	UEFA Euro 1996
9	1 September 1996	Republican Stadium, Chișinău, Moldova	Moldova	2–0	3–0	1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier
10	10 September 1997	Wembley Stadium, London, England	Moldova	3–0	4–0	1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier