Former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne has spoken candidly about reaching “rock bottom” in 1998, when he contemplated suicide after a four-day drinking binge in Ireland. The 58-year-old, who now lives in Poole, Dorset, reflected on the darkest period of his life in a new interview with The Sunday Times.
Gascoigne said his alcohol addiction did not become severe until the late 1990s, following his failure to make the England squad for the 1998 World Cup and the death of a close friend from acute alcohol poisoning. He described being “demonised” in the press as a drinker, but insisted things only truly worsened later in the decade.
During that low point, Gascoigne called his then-wife Sheryl, who “talked me round”. He was subsequently placed on suicide watch at Marchwood Priory Hospital in Hampshire. The couple, who married in 1996 and divorced in 1998, share three children, including Regan, 29, winner of Dancing on Ice in 2022. Gascoigne has admitted to domestic violence against Sheryl, saying: “I will always be sorry for the pain I caused her.”
Earlier this year, Gascoigne was hospitalised after being found “semi-conscious” at his home in Poole. His representative said he had voluntarily attended A&E for a throat condition and was soon discharged. Gascoigne enjoyed a stellar career with Newcastle, Tottenham, Lazio and Rangers, and helped England reach the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup and Euro 96.
