Geordie legend reveals favourite time of football career - and wasn’t at Newcastle United

Paul Gascoigne believes playing for Rangers provided him with the most happiness in his footballing career.

Born and raised in Gateshead, the England legend burst through the ranks at Newcastle United during the late 1980s. The Magpies’ plight saw them struggling to make ends meet in the old First Division and a move beckoned.

Gascoigne was crowned PFA Young Player of the Year in 1988 and helped Newcastle finish eighth - up from 17th the previous season. Manchester United expressed interest but Tottenham Hotspur ultimately secured the local prodigy’s signature.

Spurs would go on to win the FA Cup and Gascoigne would also come close to achieving World Cup glory at Italia 90. Three injury-ravaged years with Lazio followed but he endeared himself to their fervent faithful for his emotional celebration after bagging an 89th-minute equaliser against bitter rivals Roma.

But it was those ensuing years at Rangers - which resulted in two league titles and as many domestic cups - that Gascoigne regards as his favourite years. He told The Rest Is Football podcast: “At Lazio, it came to the latter years. I was in the last year and a bit, I was miserable, sad and wanted to get away. I’d had an injury and waited to get that over with.

“I knew I was leaving and I went to see Dino Zoff. I asked him what teams were involved. He said Chelsea and Glenn Hoddle. I said ‘I’m not going to sign for him’. But Rangers (wanted me) and are a massive club. Walter (Smith), when he came and saw me, he said ‘you seem a bit sad, come to our club and we’ll put a smile on your face’. 

“There was some good guys like Coisty (Ally McCoist). That was all I really needed - I knew how big the club was. On top of that, we had Euro 96, so it all came together for me.”