Gazza talks about his scandalous marriage and a call to the Pope in his new book.

Paul Gascoigne's book about his tumultuous life

According to The Sun: Former England star Paul Gascoigne shares about the difficult moments of his life in his new autobiography. He recalls a landmark night at the Gleneagles Hotel near Perth, Scotland, when he missed the birth of his son and even called the Pope.

AFP

Details of his personal life

In the book, the former Tottenham midfielder candidly admits that his marriage was a "mistake". He recalls the 1996 incident when he hit his wife Cheryl at the Gleneagles Hotel.

Cheryl filed for divorce a year after their wedding, and Gazza agreed to pay her £700,000 and £10,000 monthly for support. Despite this, she supported him when Gazza was admitted to a psychiatric hospital in 2008.

He describes this situation in the book, noting that the "disharmony" between them led to a "horrific episode" that he "regrets all his life".

"I started arguing with Cheryl over some nonsense when we were in a restaurant. She went upstairs to the room, and I followed her and put my head to her head. Instinctively, I pushed her away, and she fell to the floor."

Cheryl was spotted the next day with her arm in a sling, which sparked widespread media attention.

Struggles in his professional career

Gascoigne admits that fans chanted "wife-beater" at the stadium, and this incident left a "dark shadow" over his reputation. He also recalls feeling regret as soon as they exchanged vows.

Gazza recounts that he missed a meeting with the Pope due to a delay in training when the coach said that the Pope himself was on the line.

"F***, I thought, no one is more important than the Pope,"

- recalls Gazza.

Gazza also learned about the birth of his son while spending time with friends in a pub. He found out about this event by reading a newspaper in which a friend showed him an article about Cheryl becoming a mother.

PA:Press Association

He actually learned his son's name from a newspaper in the pub.

Struggling with issues

Gazza candidly speaks about his problems with alcohol and drugs, which have repeatedly led him to rehabilitation, including a prestigious center in Arizona.

In 1998, he ended up in the hospital after hitting "rock bottom" following a night of drinking 32 shots of whiskey.

He suffered from depression and believes that on the football field he was able to escape these feelings: "When I played football, I didn’t feel anxiety or fear."

Paul Gascoigne's new book “Eight” will be released on October 23.

Getty In his new autobiography ‘Eight’, Paul Gascoigne reveals important facets of his life that emerge against the backdrop of his success on the football field. His candid admissions about personal issues and challenges not only reflect the path of a sports star but also impart significant lessons about recovery and the struggle against adversity that many readers may find relatable.