Paul Gascoigne’s representative says the England football icon is ‘doing well’ and has returned home after a reported collapse and trip to hospital.
Gascoigne was found ‘semi-conscious’ in the bedroom of his home and initially admitted to an intensive care unit, The Sun reported this weekend.
The 58-year-old, nicknamed ‘Gazza’, has long been of concern among many supporters due to his well known battles with alcohol addiction and mental health struggles – although he did reportedly remain sober for three months over the summer.
Gascoigne’s representative has now provided an update on the man who helped lead England to the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup and Euro 1996, widely considered one of the most talented players of his generation.
‘Paul voluntarily went into A&E on Friday after struggling with a throat condition he has had for a while,’ Carly Saward told the Associated Press.
Saward, who works for the MNT talent agency, added: ‘He is already back home and doing well.’
Gascoigne is a legend for his country and a number of clubs he played for during his career – adored for his skill on the pitch and his personality off it.
He is best known for his spells at Newcastle United, Tottenham, Lazio and Rangers and was capped 57 times by the Three Lions from 1988 to 1998.
In March 2024, Gascoigne admitted he was a ‘sad drunk’ as he publicly opened up about his battle to stay sober.
‘I used to be a happy drunk, I ain’t anymore,’ he said on the High Performance podcast.
‘I’m a sad drunk. 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. 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 alright. Last year (2023) wasn’t brilliant, was off and on for a couple of months.’
In November 2024, Gascoigne revealed he had failed the psychiatrist test to appear on ITV reality show I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here five times, confessing that he was high on cocaine for one of the tests.
‘You had to see a psychiatrist. If you pass the psychiatrist’s test, you’re in. I failed five f***ing times,’ he told The Sun.
‘And to be honest, the first time I went to see her, I was on cocaine, so she must have f***ing knew.’
If you have been affected by issues in this story, Samaritans is available for anyone struggling to cope and provides a safe place to talk 24 hours a day. You can call them on 116 123 or visit their website here.
