Paul Gascoigne, amid concerns about the Tottenham Hotspur and England legend's health, has provided a heartbreaking update about his personal situation as he admits that he can't stop drinking after a lifetime of fighting his addiction and says that he'll 'die as Gazza'.
Initial concerns were raised by viewers after Gascoigne, now 58 years of age, appeared on Good Morning Britain (GMB) to promote the retired midfielder's new autobiography, which is called 'Eight' and reflects on both the ups and downs of a career of great promise.
GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: When Paul Gascoigne signed for Rangers in 1995 for £4.3 million, he became the Scottish club's record signing.
Speaking to hosts Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley, Gascoigne – widely regarded as one of the biggest legends in British football history – said: "I can go months and months without bothering and then have a two-day blip and then [feel] the consequences.
"And then I don't like myself for a few days. I just get miserable and then have to go to an AA meeting and just listen because you wonder what it is. It wasn't until I first went to AA meetings that I realised I was an alcoholic."
In an exclusive interview with The Mirror, Gascoigne – who also turned out for the likes of Serie A side Lazio and Rangers of the Scottish Premiership between 1985 and 2004 – admitted to not being able to kick his drinking habit. "I have not changed. I cannot change, I would not know how to change," he said before adding:
"I will probably die as Gazza. But I have nothing to hide. The whole country knows what I have done now. I drank because I wanted to drink. I regretted the consequences afterwards."
Despite multiple stints in rehabilitation in an attempt to ease his addiction, Gateshead-born Gascoigne admitted that a relapse nowadays does not result in weeks and weeks of endless drinking like it used to.
"Now if I have a relapse, I do not go for weeks on end like I did before," he said before admitting the effect it must've had on his parents. "Looking back, I must have hurt my mum and dad. But you do not think about it. The person you hurt most is yourself."
Gascoigne, in his interview, also pointed to the likes of Jimmy Greaves and George Best; two British football icons that also struggled with their respective battles with alcohol. The Newcastle United academy graduate, however, admitted that his entire recovery is unique to him, and only him. "Jimmy Greaves stopped drinking, but that is Jimmy Greaves. I am not Jimmy Greaves, and I am not George Best," the former attacking midfielder said.
"I don't get drunk because I hate my mum and dad or I hate the public. It is not about that. I do it for the sake of it. I might regret it. But I don't think about yesterday, I don't think about tomorrow. I just think about today and live for today."
Gascoigne last played football in 2004 for Boston United but enjoyed a career full of moments. A 57-cap England international, he scored ten goals for the Three Lions – and that includes his iconic strike against Scotland at Euro 1996, which you can relive below:
At club level, the icon's most notable stint came between 1998 and 1992 in north London with Tottenham Hotspur, but he left Spurs to join Lazio as England's top flight turned into the Premier League. After winning nothing of note in Italy, he returned to British shores in 1995 to join Rangers before stints at Middlesbrough, Everton and Burnley followed.