Paul Gascoigne's best-selling memoir is set to be translated into multiple European languages just in time for the World Cup and the England legend's birthday.
'Eight' Shortlisted for Sports Book of the Year 2026
The autobiography, titled 'Eight', has been shortlisted for Sports Book of the Year 2026 and will initially be translated into Dutch and Polish. Talks are ongoing to secure translations in Italian and Danish, with the book published by Reach Sport.
Paul, who turns 59 next month, has previously faced language barriers himself. In an interview with the Mirror, he recalled how his Tottenham Hotspur teammates struggled to understand his Geordie accent after his record £2.2 million transfer in 1988.
He joked: 'No one at Spurs could understand a word I was saying. They had to get Chris Waddle to translate for me at training. It was really embarrassing.'
Waddle, also from Gateshead, helped bridge the gap. Similarly, during his appearance on the Italian version of 'I'm a Celebrity' in 2021, Gascoigne relied on the Italian he learned during his time with Lazio in the 1990s, though it remained a struggle.
Honest Account of Highs and Lows
The book provides a compelling account of Gascoigne's football career and his battles with addiction after retirement. He describes Italia '90 as the pinnacle of his fame but is brutally honest about his lowest moments, including his 2010 attempt to 'save' fugitive killer Raoul Moat while high on cocaine.
Gascoigne also recounts how doctors restarted his heart in rehab, calling it the lowest point of his life. In 2013, he was admitted to a clinic in Arizona after celebrities like Chris Evans, Alan Shearer, and Danny Baker rallied to help. He spent 18 days in an induced coma and received a life-saving injection into his heart.
Rumours of his death were so widespread that upon returning to Tyneside, a woman stopped him in the street and said, 'I thought you were dead.' He admitted he has never won his battle with alcohol addiction but has come to terms with his situation.
The autobiography section of the Sports Book Awards is decided by public vote. To vote for 'Eight', visit the official website.
