Paul Gascoigne On Jack Grealish’s Future and Funny Vatican City Story

In an exclusive interview with Casino Beats, Paul ‘Gazza’ Gascoigne chimes in on Jack Grealish’s future and also praises Declan Rice with a comparison to the iconic Ray Wilkins.

The ex-England international also explains how he tried to make the Pope’s guards laugh during a visit to the Vatican, but failed in doing so. 

Question: Did you hear what Gary Lineker had to say about you this week? “Playing with Gazza would drive you mad because he’d never pass you the ball unless he was knackered.” What was it like playing with him? 

A: I just knew I was ahead and I wouldn’t do a one-two with him unless I knew I was gonna get it back. But it was funny, because I remember when we signed Lineker at Spurs. And God, he was fit. He was tanned, not a hair on his body. He was alright and took it well and then a couple of games went by and he didn’t score and I said to the gaffer, “I thought he said he was good!” But I said the wrong thing, the next game he scored four, I think it was against Norwich and he ended up getting the golden boot. Some striker though, his body was like his T-Rex, big legs and little arms. That’s why he never put his hand in his pocket! But he is a great guy. 

On Jamie Vardy’s Future

Q: Jamie Vardy is leaving Leicester at the end of the season after 13 seasons and nearly 200 goals. What a great legacy but what next for him?

A: I’ve seen Jamie Vardy at a few of my shows and I met him and he had a selfie and he sat in the crowd and I said, “Jamie. I’ve gotta see you when you have a day off. You must catch pigeons, you’re that fast!” But his Mrs is fit. So he’s alright. He’s been a brilliant servant to Leicester and when you see him playing, you wouldn’t think he’s that age, but good on him and hopefully he’s thinking about something he wants to get into. Because I remember years when I think I had three years left to play at Newcastle and Kenny Dalglish said, “when you’ve got two or three years left on your contract, you know you’re gonna quit. So think of something that you’re gonna do afterwards.” It’s like Lineker with Match of the Day, he started learning the autocue when he was still playing. But you know, Vardy seems like the type of guy who’s got his head screwed on and I don’t think he has many problems. 

Q: He’s going to carry on playing, just not at Leicester. Do you think he could end up at Rangers? 

A: Possibly. But Rangers is a tough team to play for. They expect you to be winning every game. But I’m sure he’d score some goals up there. Easy, no problem. Especially because he’s still got that pace.

Q: Which career would you want, Vardy’s or Harry Kane’s?

A: I just still can’t understand Harry Kane, but it’s something to do with his Mrs. Why didn’t he go to Real Madrid? That’s a weird move for me. But he might still end up there if he keeps on scoring goals the way he is. There’s plenty of options out there for him. But for Vardy, he should pick somebody that’s been relegated and try and get them a promotion and get a better bonus.

Recalls FA Cup and World Cup Heartbreak and Gary Lineker Story

Q: He says losing to West Germany in that World Cup semi-final is the biggest disappointment of his football career. Would you say losing that match is yours too, or is there something else? 

A: Well for me, I wasn’t bothered with the World Cup. But it was more losing in the FA Cup I cared about. I never got to do the walk up the stairs. Obviously the World Cup, I loved it because I loved training more than playing, because I knew I could do the business on match days. But training, I loved to do it because I used to have so much fun. but Lineker was a funny trainer. I remember doing preseason training with Tottenham and we were all so shocked at how quick Lineker was. 

But we used to run around this pitch in training and Lineker would run one lap then hide behind the tree. So we finished the fifth lap and he joined in the last 100 meters of the fifth. But we’d do shooting practice, most players loved doing shooting practice but Lineker never did it. All he did at the end of training was take three penalties with no goalkeeper whatsoever. And then five-a-side, he’d play as a centre half! But you can’t fault the guy. He’s just a legend, but he’s doing Match of the Day, a bit of golf and then Sports Personality of the Year.

Q: We spoke about who you thought might replace Lineker as Match of the Day presenter. You went for Gareth Southgate didn’t you? 

A: Yeah, I went for Gareth. I thought Gareth, because I haven’t seen that he’s taken any manager’s jobs. I always say now, once you become England manager, you can get a job anywhere. Whether he’s looking or he’s not interested, or he could be sitting in learning that autocue, like Lineker did. He used to do it twice everyday about 10 o’clock at night. 

Advice For Jack Grealish And Famous Rooney Story

Q: Have you heard much from Jack Grealish recently? I saw he might be heading off to Everton next season.. 

A: Oh, Jack’s a good lad. That’s a weird move for him. He should stay at the club he’s at. He got stopped from going to Chelsea. I mean, Everton’s a good club to be fair. It’s a big club, you know? I think it’s just a case of all these players, all these teams now, you’ve got to try and match Man City and Arsenal. You gotta spend money and if you’re not spending money, you got no chance. 

Q: Was Wayne Rooney still around when you were at Everton? 

A: If we had a 3pm kickoff, I’d go down to watch the youth teams at the training ground before. I remember going there and he was a sub, and I think he was 14 or something playing in the U19s. He was only 14. Everton were losing 1-0 and the manager said ‘watch how good he (Rooney) is, I’m gonna put him on.’ God almighty, he scored two unbelievable goals, one from 35 yards out. After the game, I went to the dressing room and these guys were U19s. I said, ‘well, I’ve got 40 quid in my pocket. Anybody going out tonight? You can have it. Rooney said, ‘I am!’ So he still owes me 40 quid plus interest. He’s doing well. Went into management and it just shows us how much he loves his football, some people like to get away from it. It’s a shame I never really got the chance to play with him, but what a credit to the game.  

On British Players In Serie A 

Q: Scott McTominay has broken your record for most goals by a British player in a Serie A season. He’s scored a lot of goals for Napoli. Do you think it was a mistake for United to let him leave? 

A: I think so because look what happened to Paul Pogba. But McTominay might like it up there in Napoli, I’ve been to Napoli when Maradona was there. And that’s a tough town and a tough team to play for because the fans expect to win every game, like Newcastle. But it will be an amazing experience there like it was for me. I mean before I signed for Lazio, I was almost crying watching them train. I said to my dad ‘I’m not f**king doing that!’ He said, ‘well you better get used to it because I’ve already seen a villa I like!’. 

But I loved it and it took me three months to get used to the training and then I broke my ankle and it took us a year to get fit again. But then I started enjoying it and changed they changed their manager. But I did start to like it out there, it was good as well ’cause two weeks before I was leaving, they opened up a Guinness bar. They opened up an Irish bar. And I thought, ‘I might want to stay now!’ 

Q: There’s quite a lot of English players over there in Serie A now? Before it was just you.

A: There was Ian Rush, he just stayed overseas. And then there was Graham Souness who sort of did well. But that was only Incey, myself and Plat, I think I stayed longer. But Plat had some fun becoming the Sampdoria manager. But I know that’s Platty for you.

On Spurs 

Q: Spurs have got Dominic Solanke, haven’t they? He scored a few goals. They’re still in the Europa League..

A: Yeah, he scored a few. Yeah. But they rely a lot on Son. If they win that competition, they get a lot of money. And then spend it, because you make a lot of money from the European Leagues, you know? Spend it wisely on a good couple of players, Because all you gotta do is sign a great unbelievable name.

When I sign for a club, I say, who plays for them? That was funny. I said, “Who’s there before I sign?” And they went, we’ve got Michael Landrup and then I went, yeah, I’m signing. Then when I signed they f**ked off, I thought oh shit, what have I done wrong? I had a chance to play with Brian though. So it was good with Haji and that, ’cause you played with quality players like that. Haji’s son plays for Rangers now. Yeah, he scored not long ago. But my experience over there, I did start enjoying that. Never changed managers. 

On Declan Rice and Marcus Rashford

Q: You said there before Arsenal thriving, they knocked out Real Madrid, and the Champions League. Did you see Rice’s second free kick?

A: That was brilliant. I tell you, it changed my mind, because I watched him. I just said God, he’s a bit like Ray Wilkins. He just did everything sort of exciting. But he’s a tough guy. He never really gives the ball away and he’s got a good engine on him. Yeah, I watched him in the last four games and that, including England. Wow. The guy’s impressed us so much. And those two free kicks. I would’ve been proud of them. I did score a few like that. I think that’s why he scored, the keeper probably thought, ‘oh it’s only Rice’ Just let him hit it. But good on him.

Q: He overshadowed Jude Bellingham in those matches as well, didn’t he?

A: Yeah, he did. I mean, he’s a powerful and strong lad that Rice, really strong. It’s like me, I’ve scored a couple of goals. People say, brilliant, brilliant. It’s not. There’s pressure on him now. You know, because the next game I go to score two or the winner or get man of the match or score a hat trick. That’s it. And if you didn’t, you get like, ‘oh, that must have been a one off’. You put pressure on yourself. And Aston Villa. That’s the best I’ve seen Aston Villa for years and years against PSG. Wow. The performance is brilliant. You see the crowd, obviously they got beaten. The crowd applauds them. Then the next year they got beat, the crowd booing them. It’s like, wow.

Q: You mentioned Aston Villa there, Marcus Rashford has come in and taken Ollie Watkins’ place. I don’t think Ollie Watkins is too happy about that.

A: He’s not. I’ve seen his face on the bench at times. I mean, yeah, the only time I was upset at being a substitute, well, I wasn’t upset at being a substitute, I was at Everton. Because if he was a substitute, he used to get the toffee. I used to grab loads of toffee, put them in my jacket and just eat them. I remember one had 20 odd toffees, the Gaffer was like ‘Gazza, get warmed up’. I’m like, oh f**k. I got on the pitch. I ran five yards, got a stitch. Jesse said, what f**kng happened to you? Wasn’t me. Whose fault was it? The toffee lady. She gave us too many. I think he dropped us probably six games after that.”

On Burnley and Scott Parker

Q: Have you got good memories from your time at Burnley? I see they got promoted.

A: It’s funny ’cause I was signed for Burnley. This was unbelievable. I signed there, first day of training, a couple laps warming up and then Stan Turner said come here, have a cigarette.

He says, you’re not training with them, they’re crap. I went, wow, but I want to train. So obviously he didn’t train us and then come Saturday, he didn’t pick us. I said what’s happening?  He said, you didn’t train all week. I said, you fu**ing told us not to go out and train. And it was another time. He said, look, we’ve got an easy game next week, why don’t we go on holiday for a week, come back and be sound? I went, okay then. Wow. So I went on holiday and I came back. He didn’t pick us on a Saturday, so why you not fucking pick us? Well you’ve been on holiday for a week when he told me to fucking go on holiday for a week. So I thought, yeah, and then left. After training, obviously all the players you’d see all round the country, put the kit down. The players started laughing as I walked down the dressing room, Gazza, where are you going? Wash your kit and dry it and bring it the next morning. I say, you’re fu**ing joking. There was a young kid outside, I gave him like 20 quid to do my kit for us. Bad move. Because he’s obviously a Burnley fan. I never saw that shirt again. I just thought this is enough for me. I decided I was leaving. 

Q: Stan Turner was a Geordie like you though? 

A: He was a tough guy. I knew he was tough, a nice guy as well. But getting beat, he hated it, you know? He showed it in the dressing room. 

Q: Now they’re managed by Scott Parker, you probably played against him when he was with Charlton?

A: He was a tight player, Scott. He’s doing really well. 

Q: Do you think he could be England manager in the future?

A: Yeah, definitely. I mean, you know, just an intelligent guy. Smart guy. Even when he played, he was an intelligent player. He kept everything neat and that. A bit like Rice. He is neat as well, and once again had a good engine on him.

Q: A lot of midfielders are becoming managers now. Jack Wilshire as Norwich now..

A: Oh is he? He’ll just try and emulate other managers. I just laughed at the Man United ones ’cause Fergie’s manager and when you want to become manager, a lot of people go, I’m gonna do what Fergie did and you look at them, line them up. Steve, Bruce, Paul Ince. There’s about eight of them. Gary Neville, eight of them probably would try to be managers and just end up getting sacked. Yeah, I think it’s because it tried to be like what Fergie was and that doesn’t work. You know, Fergie’s Fergie. Mouriniho is Mouriniho. Bobby Robson is Bobby Robson. You don’t emulate. When I was a player I wanted to be the best. I knew I could play and try and be the best player, but as a manager you wanna be the best manager. And I just look at Fergie or Mourinho or Bobby Robson and you just think I’m gonna just copy that so that.

On Future Plans and Vatican Story

Q: How are you doing right now anyway? 

A: Still have plenty of work on and I’ve got a book coming up and a movie deal and documentary. So that would be quite good. Got young people that played me when I was seven. 

Q: If someone made a film about your life, who would play you? 

A: I don’t know. I think there’s a name. Someone was trying. I know. The actor from Sheffield was gonna play us. Tough guy. I can’t remember his name. He was gonna play us. I think Danny Dyer wanted to play us. I mean, it’s okay playing me throughout my career, but who’s gonna play me now? Been to rehab and hospital.

Q. Elton John’s number was in your phone at one point, right?

A. Yeah. We were playing in the youth cup final away in Watford and Elton John said “Well done, son. You played good.” and I couldn’t resist and I started thinking “give us a song then, Elton!”. He ended up leaving me his number. When I wasn’t well a few years ago, he called me and asked me to come and stay with him and his boyfriend in New York. I thought nah I’ll give that a miss. I knew I’d be hitting the drink if I went to New York.

Q. What about when the pope invited you to the Vatican? Did you actually go?

A. Yeah, I went with my dad to get pictures in the house with the Pope. They gave my dad a medal and my dad had his hand out so I asked him what he had his hand out for, and he said “I’m asking them for some money.” My bodyguard was also the Pope’s, and when the Pope was in the hospital on his last legs, I got a call and said to them “you’ll have to wait, I’m training!”. They said you have to take it but I said “I’m not f***ing taking it, who the f**k is it?”. They explained it was the pope and I went “…oh okay!”. I picked up the phone and I said “Oreyt Pope?” So anyway, we got invited to the Vatican and my dad was so excited because he’s Catholic. It was such an experience. We got to go places where many people hadn’t been before. I remember two people were standing there with two big hats on, so obviously from the Vatican. It was all serious, with guns and that. I just stood in front of them making stupid faces, trying to get them to laugh. They would not laugh. 

On Eddie Howe and Newcastle

Q. Eddie Howe was ill with pneumonia recently but he’s out of hospital now which is great news. Should he stay at Newcastle or will they replace him? Is he good enough for them to challenge for the title?

A. When I heard he had that, I thought he’s got a battle on his hands. I think it’ll give him a boost for the end of the season. I think the guy who took over won a few games. He did well for Eddie but I think Eddie was obviously giving some instructions from home. I think Eddie would say Newcastle is a great place to live, you know? And the fans are great too. I remember the time when I lived near Graham Souness. He owned a restaurant at the time. My phone rang and he said “I need a word with you.” so I got ready and made my way down there and he said “how do I win over these fans?”. I just said “f***ing win every game 5-0, see ya later!” and f***ed off!

Miscellaneous  

Q. When fans come up to you today, what kind of memories or moments do they usually bring up—and how does it feel knowing you’ve made such a lasting impact on English football?

A. They always say “Gazza, do you remember that goal against Scotland?” And I’m like… I think so because I f***ing scored the thing. I seem to get pestered more now than I did when I actually played. I think it’s because I used to spend half the day at the training grounds so they couldn’t get near me and Saturday was obviously the games, so they’d only see me afterwards. I was walking around in Bournemouth once. It’s not a really big football town but it’s picking up now. It’s a small place so if Man Utd are playing against them at home and you walk about, you’ve got all the Man Utd fans coming up going “C’mon Gazza, let’s go on the lash” and I’m just like no, no, no. I get pestered a lot. I don’t mind though! It paid my wages, and my holidays… and my divorce!

Q: If you could invite 4 people dead or alive to dinner, who’s it going to be?

A. Well, the dead ones would be easier because they wouldn’t have to eat anything! Ben Fogle would be one, I watch him all the time. He’s a lucky b***ard, going all over the world with the same job. I like Danny Dyer, he’s got such good crack. Robbie Williams. I’ve had a few laughs with him. And then, Liz Hurley. She’s stunning, her. 

Q: You say you hate watching overpaid players that don’t try hard. Who’s the most overpaid player you’ve watched recently?

A. I haven’t seen that many games recently. I generally just don’t like players who don’t put in the effort. I hate seeing midfield players when they have the opportunity to go and attack someone and they just go sideways. I’ve watched England a few times and a couple of top class teams, and they’ve been outside the box and I’m thinking “go on, have a go!” and then the next thing you know, the ball’s back to the goalkeeper. Pickford had more touches than anyone after five minutes. Another thing I don’t like is when they’re running up to take a penalty and they’re stuttering their runs. Just pick your spot, go up and just whack it in! None of this fancy s**t.