Former England and Tottenham Hotspur footballer Paul Gascoigne has been rushed to hospital after reportedly collapsing at his home.
The 58-year-old, affectionately known as Gazza, was found semi-conscious on the floor of his home in Dorset by his close friend and personal assistant Steve Foster.
“Paul is in hospital, which is the best possible place for him to be right now,” Foster told The Sun.
He added that Gascoigne would 'like to thank everyone for the support he’s received so far from so many old friends who wish him well and want to see him back to his best'.
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The footballing icon is reportedly in an acute medical ward, but is currently in a stable condition and is expected to remain in hospital for several days until he is fully recovered.
Gascoigne, who also played for Rangers and Newcastle United, has endured a long battle with alcohol and drugs, something which began during his playing career and only got worse after he retired from professional football in 2004 at the age of 37.
Speaking to the High Performance Podcast last year, Gascoigne described himself as a 'sad drunk', while he also had anti-alcohol pellets sewn into his stomach back in 2020, which would make him sick if he had a drink.
He said: "I used to be a happy drunk, I ain't anymore... 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.
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"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 all right. Last year wasn't brilliant, was off and on for a couple of months.
"I went to a meeting the other night so that was all right. Just an AA meeting. I went with a friend and that was okay. They're all right, harmless."
Gazza is well-renowned as one of the most talented players to play for England, earning 57 caps during his career and scoring a memorable goal against Scotland at Euro 96.
Gascoigne, who has three children with his ex-wife Sheryl, also revealed that he is living in a spare room of his agent Katie Davies, having called her up a few years ago 'crying his eyes out'.
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He added: "What I put myself through and other people, jail and rehab – taking cocaine off toilet seats – and then I’m asked to be ambassador for my country, I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.”
LADbible group has contacted the reps of Gascoigne for comment.
James Moorhouse