March 6th 2024.
Paul Gascoigne, known as Gazza to his fans, has recently opened up about his struggles with alcoholism. The former England football star, who was once hailed as the most talented player of his generation, has fallen on hard times due to his ongoing battle with sobriety. He has even found himself without a permanent home, currently residing in the spare room of his agent, Katie Davies. However, things are starting to look up as Gascoigne has returned to attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
In a recent interview on the High Performance podcast, Gascoigne shared that he still has "bad days" where he turns to alcohol. He used to be a happy drunk, but now he admits that he is a sad drunk. Instead of going out to drink, he now prefers to drink alone at home. But he has found healthier ways to cope, such as going fishing with his flying rod. However, he acknowledges that it's not the drinking itself that's the problem, but rather the aftermath and the consequences that come with it.
Gascoigne has been in and out of rehab for the past thirty years, struggling with various addictions. He reveals that he has never been to rehab for drugs, but has been a few times for alcohol and even for his addiction to Calpol, a children's medicine that contains a small amount of alcohol. He shares that he used to think that drinking 20 bottles of Calpol was equivalent to drinking a pint of alcohol. But now, he recognizes that this was just another misguided coping mechanism.
The former football star also reflects on his past successes and regrets. He became a national hero during the 1990 World Cup, but his life took a downward spiral after suffering a devastating knee injury the following year. Gascoigne admits that he has let himself down with his drinking, but also acknowledges that he has missed out on achieving even more in his football career due to his injury.
Gascoigne also opens up about his emotional struggles and the toll his past actions have taken on his relationships. He shares that he has nine children from three different marriages and has put his loved ones through a lot of pain and suffering. But he has now reached a point where he wants to change and make amends.
Gascoigne has found some solace in sharing his story with others, often making people laugh with his crazy antics and wild stories. But he also admits that it can be emotionally challenging at times and has even cried on stage during his speaking engagements. He recognizes that he needs to share his feelings and experiences with others, but it is often scary for him to do so. Despite his struggles and setbacks, Gascoigne remains optimistic and hopes to continue to grow and learn from his past mistakes.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
