Ex-Lazio star Gascoigne reveals he’s homeless and still battling alcohol | OneFootball

Former Lazio star and England international Paul Gascoigne admits he continues struggling with alcoholism and that he is currently living in the spare room of his manager Katie Davies’ home.

The 56-year-old a former Lazio midfielder between 1992 and 1995, admitted to continuing to struggle with alcoholism in an interview with Hig Performance Podcast.

Gascoigne has been battling alcohol and mental health problems for years and said in 2021 that he will “always be an alcoholic.”

During his latest interview, the former midfielder admitted that 2023 “was not brilliant” for him as he was “on and off” for a couple of months.

“I called Katie up in November a few years ago crying my eyes out. What I put myself through and other people, jail and rehab – taking cocaine off toilet seats – and then I’m asked to be an ambassador for my country, I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“I used to be a happy drunk. I ain’t anymore,” he added.

“I’m a sad drunk. I don’t go out and drink, I drink indoors.”

The former Lazio midfielder said that he is now homeless, so he lives in the spare room of his manager Katie Davies’ home.

“People know Paul Gascoigne, but Gazza, no one knows—even me sometimes. I’ve spent a lot of years being down when I did my ligaments and then my kneecap. I missed four years of football,” he continued as quoted by the Mirror.

“I would’ve got 100 caps (for England). I try not to get down because the world’s already down enough. And when I’m really down, that’s when I pick up a drink to cheer myself up. I don’t think I let any managers down, or the players or the fans you know.

“If there was anyone I let down, it was myself. But more the drinking side of it, when I finished playing. 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, 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.”

Gascoigne joined Lazio from Tottenham in 1992 and spent three years in the capital, scoring six goals in 47 matches. Six of his goals with the Biancocelesti were scored in Serie A games. He left the Stadio Olimpico in the summer of 1995 to join Rangers in Scotland.

His career continued at Middlesbrough, Everton, Burnley, Chinese side Ningbo Yaoma and Boston United. The former England international retired in 2005.