ENGLAND icon Paul Gascoigne teared up as he bravely discussed his battle with alcohol addiction in an emotional TV interview.
Gazza, 58, told how he “necked brandy” before going on to score two goals in a cup final as he was quizzed on his new tell-all book, Eight.
In the candid discussion, the former Spurs midfielder apologised for swearing as he spoke about his struggles with mental health.
The footballing legend choked up after revealing he went months without speaking to his parents as he discussed his new book.
He paused to gather himself several times during the discussion, where he also talked about having a close friend die in his arms.
When asked by presenter Richard Madeley about drinking during games, he revealed he downed brandy during a league cup final.
Speaking on GMB this morning, he said: “Yeah it was half-time. It was in the cup final.
“The manager asked if I’d had a drink and I said no. And he went ‘go and get one’.
“So I had nine brandies and went out and I scored two in the cup final… got man of the match.
“But I wasn’t allowed to the after-dinner party because I’d already had my drinks at half-time!”
When asked if it affected the way he played, Gazza joked: “It made me play better I think.”
Gascoigne is understood to have been talking about the Scottish League Cup final in 1996.
His Rangers side were drawing 2-2 with Hearts when he scored two goals in quick succession.
After his man-of-the-match form at Celtic Park, Rangers went on to win the game 4-3.
Outside of football, Gazza bravely admitted not speaking to his mum and dad for three months “destroyed” him.
He continued: “I fell out with mam and dad for three months. That destroyed us.”
“That destroyed us. Then the drugs took hold of us. It was only ’til me dad got me sectioned.”
The much-loved star told how getting sectioned was “one of the best things” that ever happened to him.
“Which was 11 days, which was the best thing that happened to us. I miss him still,” he added.
“Obviously I did some crazy stuff, but I try and look at life in a different way now.”
Richard Madeley apologised for Gazza’s language before saying both he and co-host Susanna Reid understood why he was emotional.
Discussing the root of his alcoholism and mental health struggles, he asked Gascoigne about the death of his friend’s younger brother.
His latest book talks about one of the most traumatic experiences of his life.
Gazza describes the moment he holds his friend’s dying brother – who was just eight at the time – after the youngster was hit by a car.
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He said: “His younger brother wouldn’t go to the boys club and I said I’d look after him and make sure he’s okay.
“We left the shop and I said ‘quick let’s go’, and he ran in front of us just one yard and a car just hit him.
“I ran down and he died in me lap. I thought he was still alive because his lip was moving a bit.
“I thought ‘he’s okay, he’s breathing still’, but he wasn’t. That was his last movement.”
He went on to describe picking up the “freezing” body out of his coffin.
An emotional Gazza added: “I picked him up out of his coffin at only ten.
“I remember him being freezing. When the coffin left I went and stayed with him in that same room for a week.
“I was staying in the same room as a coffin. It was horrific. That hit me for a hell of a lot.
“Me mam took us to see a psychiatrist when I was just ten because I ended up with noises and twitches.
“It wasn’t until I really started getting involved with football that it took my mind off it.”
In the new novel the former Spurs, Lazio and Rangers player candidly admits that his marriage was a “mistake.”
Gascoigne tells all about the night in 1996 when he head butted his ex-wife and pushed her over at the lavish Gleneagles hotel.
Sheryl filed for divorce just one year after marrying Gascoigne, who paid her £700,000 plus £10,000 per month in maintenance.
Despite the divorce, Sheryl stood by Gazza’s side when he was sectioned under the mental health act in 2008.
His brave honesty about the fracas in his new book has now been revealed.
The footballing great also details the night his son was born when he was in London playing for Rangers.
While he was in the pub, a friend pointed out a newspaper article about how Sheryl was in labour with a boy she planned to call Regan.
Gascoigne says that is how he found out his son’s name, from a newspaper in the pub.
Earlier this year, the England great was found semi-conscious by a pal in the bedroom of his home at Poole, Dorset.
Gazza was admitted to an intensive care ward but was moved to an acute medical unit where his condition was described as stable.
Pal Steve Foster, who found him, said Gazza would “like to thank everyone 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 is viewed as one of the greatest playmakers of his generation, with a stellar club and international career.
He was capped 57 times and scored ten goals for the Three Lions between 1988 and 1998.
His tears as England crashed out of the 1990 World Cup in the semi-final against Germany touched the nation.
He went on to score an unforgettable wonder goal at Euro 96.
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