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Paul Gascoigne, one of the most media-friendly and controversial footballers in the history of English soccer, has once again spoken openly about his problems with alcohol.
He revealed that he is staying in his agent's (Katie Davies) spare room in Poole and that he has resumed attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings ("they're fine, they're harmless.... After attending the first couple of meetings, I followed the 12 steps and one of them was to meet the person you were blaming and apologize to them.").
The 56-year-old ex-footballer, who was born in Gateshead on May 27, 1967 and was capped 57 times for England scoring 10 goals, has spoken publicly about his eternal struggle to stay sober.
"I used to be a happy drunk, I ain't any more ... I'm a sad drunk," Gascoigne told the High Performance podcast.
"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.
The former Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur , Lazio, Rangers, Middlesbrough, Everton, Burnley, Gansu Tianma and Boston United player shared that "people know Paul Gascoigne, but nobody knows Gazza. Even myself sometimes."
Gascoigne reflects on his career
Gascoigne, who stars in the High Perfomance Originals documentary 'Gazza vs. Paul,' noted that: "I was out of action for many years, like when I tore my ligaments and then my kneecap. I missed four years of soccer. I would have played 100 international games for England."
Gascoigne acknowledged that "I try not to get down because the world's already down enough and when I'm really down, that's when I pick up a drink to cheer myself up."
"I don't think I let any managers down, or the players or the fans, you know. If there was anyone I let down, it was myself. But more the drinking side of it, when I finished playing", reflected the ex-footballer, who hung up his boots in 2004 and has since been admitted to rehab centers a minimum of seven times.
Gascoigne admits that "I will always be an alcoholic" and that "I even took cocaine out of the toilets".
In 2021 Paul Gascoigne, who hardly watches soccer because he misses it so much, already confessed in an interview that he "will always be an alcoholic".
About his routines Gascoigne explained that "if I want it to be a bad day, all I have to do is go to the pub. If I want it to be a good day, I get my 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 all right. Last year wasn't brilliant, was off and on for a couple of months."
To avoid drinking Gascoigne reveals that he has swapped alcohol for 15 coffees a day: "It's really easy, I just try to stay away from dangerous places. If I have a drink, I have it because I want to, it's not for any particular reason. I don't blame anyone, I used to blame a lot of people when I drank."
"I have never given up. I think the moment I give up will be when I'm in a wooden box. Other than that, I'll keep fighting," he said.