Paul Gascoigne, the former England midfield maestro, is said to be “in the best possible place” as he begins his recovery following a sudden collapse at his Dorset home. The 58-year-old was discovered semi-conscious on Friday by his long-time friend and personal assistant, Steve Foster, who immediately drove him to hospital in Poole.
According to Mr Foster’s account in The Sun, Gascoigne was initially admitted to the intensive care unit but has since been transferred to an acute medical ward, where his condition has stabilised. “Paul is in hospital, which is the best possible place for him to be right now,” Foster told the paper. He added that Gascoigne is “grateful 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.”
Gascoigne shot to prominence in the mid-1980s as a dynamic playmaker for Newcastle United before earning a high-profile move to Tottenham Hotspur, where his dazzling footwork and uncanny vision captured the nation’s imagination. His talents later took him to Italy’s Lazio and, most memorably, to Rangers, where he lifted two Scottish Premier Division titles. In total, he won 57 caps for England, starring at both the 1990 World Cup and Euro 96 on home soil.
Yet behind the plaudits lay a long-standing battle with alcohol dependency and depression. Over the past decade, Gascoigne has endured a string of health scares and personal setbacks, prompting an outpouring of public sympathy whenever he has sought treatment. His representatives stress that this latest episode is being managed with the utmost care, and they urge fans to respect his privacy as he focuses on recovery.
Tributes have already begun to pour in from across the footballing community. Former team-mates, opponents and supporters alike have sent messages of encouragement to the former №8, hoping to see one of England’s most gifted footballers regain his health and spirits. As Gascoigne remains under specialist care, the thoughts of the nation will be firmly with him—and with the hope that “Gazza” will soon return to full strength.