 Merson in 2021 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Paul Charles Merson[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1968-03-20)20 March 1968 (age 57)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Harlesden,London, England | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Forward,attacking midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1982–1985 | Arsenal | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1985–1997 | Arsenal | 327 | (78) |
| 1987 | →Brentford (loan) | 7 | (0) |
| 1997–1998 | Middlesbrough | 48 | (12) |
| 1998–2002 | Aston Villa | 117 | (18) |
| 2002–2003 | Portsmouth | 45 | (12) |
| 2003–2006 | Walsall | 77 | (6) |
| 2006 | Tamworth | 1 | (0) |
| 2012 | Welshpool Town | 1 | (1) |
| 2017–2018 | Caerau | 1 | (0) |
| 2019–2020 | Hanworth Villa | 2 | (0) |
| Total | 626 | (127) | |
| International career | |||
| 1988–1990 | England U21 | 4 | (0) |
| 1991–1998 | England B | 4 | (3) |
| 1991–1998 | England | 21 | (3) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2004–2006 | Walsall | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Paul Charles Merson (born 20 March 1968) is an English former professionalfootballer, manager, commentator and sports television pundit forSky Sports.
Originally aforward, Merson found success as anattacking midfielder andplaymaker later in his career.[3] After making his debut forArsenal in the1986–87 season, Merson went on to play eleven seasons with the North London club. While with the Gunners, Merson was a key player in the club's success under Scottish managerGeorge Graham, winning theFootball League Championship twice, theFA Cup, theFootball League Cup, and theUEFA Cup Winners' Cup. In 1997, he joinedMiddlesbrough, helping the club gain promotion to thePremier League and finish as runner-up in the1997–98 Football League Cup. After joiningAston Villa in 1998, Merson went on to become clubcaptain and played for the team in the2000 FA Cup final, the last to be held at the originalWembley Stadium. In 2002, he signed for second-tierPortsmouth and captained the club to theFirst Division Championship title and promotion to the Premier League. A year later, he returned to the West Midlands withWalsall, where he went on to serve asplayer-manager until he was sacked in February 2006.
Merson was capped 21 times for theEngland national football team and represented the nation atUEFA Euro 1992 and the1998 FIFA World Cup.
Born on 20 March 1968 inHarlesden, North West London, Merson started his career at Arsenal, joining the club as an apprentice in 1984. After a loan spell atBrentford, then under managerFrank McLintock, he made his debut for the Gunners on 22 November 1986 againstManchester City, and gradually established himself inGeorge Graham's successful Arsenal side of the late 1980s. By the1988–89 season he was a regular on the right wing, at the end of which Arsenal secured theFirst Division title with a stoppage timeMichael Thomas goal inthe final game of the season againstLiverpool atAnfield. Merson scored ten times that season, made his debut for the England U21 team, and was votedPFA Young Player of the Year.
In 1991, Merson achieved another league championship with Arsenal and had the highest goalscoring season of his career with 13 goals. He also won a double of theFA Cup andLeague Cup in 1993, scoring in the1993 Football League Cup Final againstSheffield Wednesday. A year later, he helped Arsenal win its first European trophy in 24 years as the Gunners defeatedParma in Copenhagen to win the1993–94 European Cup Winners' Cup.[4]
Merson's career was put on the line in November 1994 when he admitted to having addictions toalcohol,cocaine andgambling.[5]The Football Association arranged for Merson to undergo a three-month rehabilitation programme and he returned to the side in February 1995, just before the dismissal of George Graham as manager. Under caretaker managerStewart Houston, Merson helped Arsenal reach theCup Winners' Cupfinal for the second season in a row, where Arsenal lost toReal Zaragoza at theParc des Princes in Paris.
In1995–96, Merson remained a regular first team player under Arsenal's new managerBruce Rioch and continued to play regularly during the1996–97 season following the appointment ofArsène Wenger. In a somewhat surprising move, at the end of the 1996–97Premiership campaign, in which Arsenal finished third, Merson was sold to relegatedMiddlesbrough in a £4.5million deal – making him the most expensive player ever signed by a non-Premiership club. Wenger had offered Merson a new two-year contract, but Merson elected to join Middlesbrough for a longer contract. Merson played 423 times for Arsenal and scored 99 goals in all competitions.
In 2008, Merson was ranked the 26th greatest Arsenal player of all time in a fan poll published by the club's official website.[6]
In the summer of 1997, Merson left the Gunners to sign for relegated Middlesbrough for a reported fee believed to be £4.5 million. Merson said he was offered a new contract at Arsenal but turned it down for a longer contract and higher wages at Middlesbrough. When telling Arsene Wenger of his decision, Merson claims Wenger told him he would be paid more at Middlesbrough than Dennis Bergkamp was paid at Arsenal.[7] Merson made his league debut for Boro on the opening day in a 2–1 victory over Charlton Athletic. He played a key role in helping Boro return to the Premier League and was nicknamed by fans as "The Magic Man". Merson's form with Boro also won him a place in England's squad for1998 FIFA World Cup in France. Whilst at Middlesbrough he played in the1998 Football League Cup Final.[8] During the start of the1998–99 season Merson stated he was home sick and wanted a return South. Middlesbrough later agreed to Merson's request and he was sold to Aston Villa for £6.75million.
Merson scored on his Villa debut, converting from his own missed penalty. Merson said in an interview that playing at Villa was the best part of his career.[9] He scored a 'wonder goal' winner versus Everton away from forty-five yards out in November 2000. Merson played a key creative role in the Villa side and helped them to theFA Cup Final in 2000, where they lost 1–0 to Chelsea.
Merson signed for Division 1 clubPortsmouth on a two-year contract in August 2002,[10] and was instrumental in the club's promotion to the Premiership in2002–03. Merson, however, felt that he was too old for a return to the Premiership, and wanted to move closer to his home in the West Midlands. In July 2003 he signed a two-year deal atWalsall in the First Division, paying compensation to Portsmouth for his remaining year of contract.[11]
In February 2004, Merson admitted himself to the Sierra Tucson Clinic inArizona to seek help for his gambling addiction under the advice and financial backing of the PFA, and missed several key games whilst Walsall slipped in the league from mid table mediocrity into the relegation zone. However, a couple of months after his return, Merson was quickly thrown into the manager's spot at Walsall followingColin Lee's sacking for allegedly having talks withPlymouth Argyle over a vacant manager's position there. Merson led a bid to retain Division One status, but was hindered by a last-minute penalty againstCrystal Palace, and eventually relegated after a 3–2 victory againstRotherham United whilst having to rely onStoke City beatingGillingham on the final day. The following month, despite relegation, Merson was rewarded with the manager's job on a permanent basis.
The2004–05 season proved to be a difficult season for Merson, on and off the field. Walsall went out of all cup competitions against lower league teams, and it was reported that Merson had had a rift with his wife, and had started drinking and gambling again, whilst the press reported on him inviting goalkeeperMark Bosnich back into the game. Walsall slipped close to a second consecutive relegation. Merson responded by making several key signings on transfer deadline day;Julian Joachim, Andy Oakes, Anthony Gerrard (cousin ofSteven Gerrard), Craig Pead and David Perpetuini. Merson's side went undefeated during May 2005, securing League One status for another year.
After a difficult first season in management, Merson's position at Walsall looked more secure as the club entered the2005–06 season; however, he was unable to lift Walsall out of the relegation zone, and with the club in 19th place, he was sacked on 6 February 2006 after his Walsall side lost 5–0 to Brentford atGriffin Park.
Despite a number of offers from clubs as high as the Championship, Merson decided to drop down the leagues and play for part-timeConference clubTamworth, which surprised many but enthralled the Tamworth fans. However, the arrangement meant that until the end of the season, the majority of Merson's wages were to be paid by the club he used to manage, Walsall. Merson played just once, in the 2–1 home loss toHalifax Town. He was dropped to the bench for the following game, a 5–0 defeat away toGrays Athletic. Merson later announced his retirement from professional football as a player on 9 March 2006, less than a month after joining Tamworth.[12]
On 28 March 2012, he made a one-off appearance forMid Wales Football League sideWelshpool Town, playing alongside fellowSky Sports punditChris Kamara againstNewbridge-on-Wye. Merson scored the opening goal in the 4–1 defeat at theMaes y Dre Recreation Ground.[13] On 11 October 2017, Merson signed forWelsh Football League Division Three teamCaerau. Following international clearance, he made his debut on 18 October againstPontyclun.[14] In December 2019, Merson joinedHanworth Villa in theCombined Counties League Premier Division,[15] making two appearances for the Villains in total.[16]
Merson first played for theEngland national team in 1991, being called up byGraham Taylor. He made his debut for the full England side, in a friendly againstGermany on 11 September 1991. He participated in the1992 European Championships inSweden. He played in the opening 0–0 draw withDenmark. England went out after another 0–0 draw against theFrench and a 2–1 loss to hostsSweden.
Merson also played a part in the failed campaign to qualify for the1994 FIFA World Cup. He played in the opening game, a 1–1 home draw withNorway.[17] He next played against theNetherlands as a substitute forPaul Gascoigne who was injured. England were leading 2–1, but crucially conceded a late penalty for a 2–2 draw.[18] Merson also played in the1993 US Cup againstBrazil andGermany, nearly scoring in a 2–1 defeat to the later,Bodo Illgner saving from a 20-yard shot. He returned for the critical and controversial 2–0 defeat against the Dutch in Rotterdam. Merson nearly equalised the opening Dutch goal, and hit the post with an excellent free-kick.[19]
England failed to qualify for the World Cup. Taylor's successor,Terry Venables, told Merson that he would not get into the team owing to his life style of heavy drinking.[citation needed] In his book,How Not to be a Professional Footballer, Merson refers to an incident in Chicago while on duty with England during the US Cup. After drinking he wandered off into the city on his own. Merson ended up in a dangerous area and was involved in trying to break up a fight while very drunk himself. When the combatants turned on Merson, he fled back to the hotel. The next morning the FBI came to the hotel and briefed the players on the dangers in the city. They expressed surprise that Merson was not injured in the incident.
Merson held the distinction of being the only player in England's1998 FIFA World Cup squad not to play for a top flight club. In that tournament, he played in England's famous second round match againstArgentina, coming off the bench and scoring in thepenalty shoot-out, although England eventually lost. Later he said if England had won their penalty shoot-out he believed England would have won the World Cup.[20]
1998 marked the end of Merson's international career after 21 full caps in seven years, in which he scored three times.[21]
In August 2006, he commenced a column for the official Arsenal FC magazine. He also continues to play for the England Legends, a 16-man squad of former internationals who have played Italy, Germany, Scotland, Ireland, and the rest of the world. Merson's main job is onSky Sports, where he is a match reporter and regular pundit for GilletteSoccer Saturday. Merson is often the target of good-humoured jabs from Jeff Stelling and other members of the Soccer Saturday panel; for example, in his attempts to pronounce the names of foreign players. However, Stelling himself, in September 2016, attempted to have Merson agree with him that Ireland internationalHarry Arter (who had made his debut against England) should get an England call-up in the weekGareth Southgate took over in an emergency capacity followingSam Allardyce's dismissal.[22]
Merson writes a weekly column for theDaily Star's 'Seriously Football' pullout every Saturday and predicts scores for the weeks premier league games called 'Merson Predicts'.[citation needed]
From the 2012–2015 season Merson co-hosted with John Fendley on the Sky Sports TV programme 'Fantasy Football Club'. From the start of the 2015 season Max Rushden took on co presenting after John Fendley returned to Soccer AM as a co-host. Fantasy Football Club is aired weekly on Friday evenings at 6pm. Both co-hosts also co-managed a fantasy team in the Sky Fantasy 'Celebrities' League.[citation needed]
In 2019, Merson won the second series of the5Star competitionCelebs on the Farm.[23] From September 2024, Merson was a contestant on thetwenty-second series ofStrictly Come Dancing and was partnered withKaren Hauer.[24] The couple remained until week 5 when, on 20 October 2024, they lost in the dance-off.[25][26]
Born in Harlesden, North West London,[27] Merson supported Chelsea growing up, and has remained a fan throughout his career.[28]
He has been married three times (to Lorraine, Louise and now Kate), and has eight children, including one set of twin girls. His first marriage crumbled under his recovery from drug addiction and alcoholism.[29]
In October 2011, Merson was involved in a car crash with a lorry on theM40 motorway nearWarwick and arrested for drink-driving.[30]
While appearing onHarry's Heroes: The Full English, a 2019ITV documentary, Merson opened up about how substance abuse and gambling have affected his life, and his continued struggles with addictions. He received praise for his candid discussion of the topic.[31] In the second series Merson confided in former Arsenal teammate, goalkeeperDavid Seaman, that he voluntarily attendsAlcoholics Anonymous, including English speaking meetings in Paris, during breaks in filming for ITV's Harry's Heroes: Euro...Having a Laugh, football tour S2.Ep1.[32]
Merson participated in the Mental Health Awareness Week.[33] In January 2020, Merson spoke about how his drink, drug and gambling habits fuelled his struggles withmental health.[34][35]
In February 2024, Merson was probed by theAdvertising Standards Authority for misconduct while promoting and advertising Supreme CBD, owned by ex-boxerAnthony Fowler.[36] Fowler along with other celebrities including Merson,Matt Le Tissier andJohn Hartson have all been investigated and issued with a warning by the ASA.[37] The ASA investigation concluded that their social media posts have been found to be commercial in nature, and not "honest" opinions about the benefits of CBD, since they were being financially rewarded for their posts. The investigation also concluded that the posts made by these celebrities were making unlawful medical claims about the use of CBD, which is prohibited by theMedicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.[38]
In May 2024, Merson was banned from driving for six months following a series of speeding offences.[39]
During a Thanksgiving NFL show on Sky in November 2024, Merson revealed that he is a fan of theNew York Jets.
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Arsenal | 1986–87 | First Division | 7 | 3 | – | – | – | – | 7 | 3 | ||||
| 1987–88 | First Division | 15 | 5 | – | – | – | – | 15 | 5 | |||||
| 1988–89 | First Division | 37 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | – | 1[a] | 0 | 44 | 14 | ||
| 1989–90 | First Division | 29 | 7 | – | – | – | 1[b] | 0 | 30 | 7 | ||||
| 1990–91 | First Division | 37 | 13 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 2 | – | – | 49 | 16 | |||
| 1991–92 | First Division | 42 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4[c] | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 51 | 13 | |
| 1992–93 | Premier League | 33 | 6 | 8 | 1 | 9 | 1 | – | – | 50 | 8 | |||
| 1993–94 | Premier League | 33 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 7[d] | 3 | 1[b] | 0 | 48 | 12 | |
| 1994–95 | Premier League | 24 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 8[e] | 2 | 2[f] | 0 | 36 | 7 | |
| 1995–96 | Premier League | 38 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | – | – | 47 | 5 | |||
| 1996–97 | Premier League | 32 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2[e] | 2 | – | 40 | 9 | ||
| Total | 327 | 78 | 27 | 4 | 36 | 10 | 21 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 417 | 99 | ||
| Middlesbrough | 1997–98 | First Division | 45 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 3 | – | – | 55 | 16 | ||
| 1998–99 | Premier League | 3 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 3 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 48 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 3 | – | – | 58 | 16 | ||||
| Aston Villa | 1998–99 | Premier League | 26 | 5 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | 27 | 5 | |||
| 1999–2000 | Premier League | 32 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 0 | – | – | 45 | 5 | |||
| 2000–01 | Premier League | 38 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[g] | 0 | – | 45 | 6 | ||
| 2001–02 | Premier League | 21 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5[g] | 1 | – | 27 | 3 | ||
| 2002–03 | Premier League | – | – | – | 1[g] | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 117 | 18 | 11 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 9 | 1 | – | 145 | 19 | |||
| Portsmouth | 2002–03 | First Division | 45 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 48 | 12 | ||
| Walsall | 2003–04 | First Division | 34 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | – | – | 36 | 6 | ||
| 2004–05 | League One | 36 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 37 | 2 | |||
| 2005–06 | League One | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 8 | 0 | |||
| Total | 77 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | – | – | 81 | 8 | ||||
| Career total | 614 | 126 | 42 | 5 | 57 | 15 | 30 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 749 | 154 | ||
Arsenal[42]
Middlesbrough
Aston Villa[42]
Portsmouth[42]
Individual
England squads | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
