Sad state of affairs for a truly gifted footballer.. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/mar/06/paul-gascoigne-sad-drunk-agent-spare-room
Very sad indeed, Gazza has some dark demons I'm afraid combined with the loss of football, addiction, poor people around him and his own will power all make for a sad situation with only one outcome.
The sad thing is I had to check when that article was written, it could have been any time in the last twenty years.
His agent has supported him for a few years now and still is by the sound of it. Several ex pro footballers have also tried to help him over many years but to no avail apparently. Sad situation for such a brilliant footballer and character
Extremely sad. Addiction is life-consuming. You could tell Gascoigne just lived for football, his teammates and that camaraderie in the dressing room/club. Soon as he retired he was always chasing that feeling, and unfortunately he felt it was at the bottom of a bottle.
Badly letdown by friends and family for years IMHO. Instead of helping him when there was still a chance for him , they seemed happy to just bask in his reflected glory and encouraged him to crack on with his lifestyle instead of helping hi. To change. Then it was too late and too ingrained in him. Sure he’salso been one of his own worst enemies too,but……
Unfortunately no one can make you stop drinking, if you don’t want it, you won’t. We don’t know how many people have tried to help him, chances are plenty and he’s not been interested. I know the thing that triggered me the most to carry on drinking was my wife telling me I was drinking too much.
That's not what I've read re his family and true friends. You also have to want to be helped and put in the effort. His Biography was a brilliant read. And I think he needed attention all the time. His pals paid £100k to get him into rehab. I truly hope he gets through his troubles. But the signs aren't good. From 2008 Friends of the former England football star have said they are alarmed he prefers the company of drug pushers and hangers-on rather than those most concerned about him, his father John, 62, mother Carol, 65, brother Carl, 40, and sisters Anna Marie, 42, and Lindsay, 35.
I wouldn't take any news source as gospel regarding anything like this really, how sensationalised they are. But you are completely right, mate. If he doesn't/didn't want help and wasn't ready to change things he had no chance, regardless of how many people were around him trying... Very sad reality of addiction
Re the £100k it was his mates from the celebrity world I forgot to add. Among em. Lineker and Ronnie Irani. (Who gazza owes a lot to after standing by him. In gazzas own words). It was well spoken about at the time.
His biography is a good read. I also think a lot of his issues stem from the childhood trauma of the death of the young lad he was looking after. He was probably the best naturally gifted footballer I have seen. He just needed to spend more time with Bobby Robson. London wasn’t a good move for him either.
