5 players who ruined their career with substance abuse

#3 Paul Gascoigne

Paul Gascoigne battled substance abuse for years

Arguably the most naturally talented player ever produced by England, Paul Gascoigne had the world at his feet after an outstanding World Cup 1990 campaign and despite suffering a serious knee injury in the 1991 FA Cup final, Italian side Lazio were still willing to part with big money to bring him to Rome from Tottenham.

A further knee injury – caused while in a nightclub – sidelined him until the 1992/93 season, though, foreshadowing what would happen to him later in his career.

Despite some great performances for Lazio and then for Rangers after his move to Scotland in the summer of 1995, off the field, Gascoigne’s personal life was spiralling completely out of control due to his addictive personality and his use of alcohol.

He went into the Euro 1996 tournament with England surrounded by controversy due to his drunken antics prior to the opening match, and despite performing tremendously there, he was dropped from England’s subsequent 1998 World Cup squad due to being unable to curtail his drinking.

That incident basically ended his career at the top level and although he initially remained active with Middlesbrough and then Everton, he also spent stints in rehab, continued to struggle with both alcohol and drug addictions, and suffered bouts of mental illness too. Gascoigne was basically retired by the age of 34 – his career totally ruined by his substance abuse – and he continues to grapple with his demons to this day.