Paul Merson, the ex-footballer competing on Strictly after rollercoaster career

4 days ago

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Paul Merson is taking part in this year's Strictly Come Dancing, becoming just the fifth football player to feature on the popular BBC program.

Merson, a 56-year-old dad of eight, is set to join the ranks of other football stars like John Barnes, Robbie Savage, Alex Scott, and his former Arsenal colleague Tony Adams as he prepares to showcase his dance moves in the 22nd season of the popular BBC show.

Merson started his football journey in 1984 after joining Arsenal as a young trainee. He played his first game for the team on November 22, 1986, in a 3-0 victory against Manchester City.

In the 1988/89 season, Merson established himself as a key player on the right wing and played a crucial role in the team's historic victory for the First Division title on the final day at Anfield. Their winning streak didn't stop there; they celebrated another league championship in the 1990/91 season, followed by a remarkable FA Cup and League Cup double in 1992/93. The following year, Merson contributed to Arsenal's achievement of their first European trophy in 24 years, helping the team overcome Parma to win the European Cup Winners' Cup.

During this time, Merson established himself as a consistent member of the England national team, making his first appearance against Germany in September 1991 after being selected by manager Graham Taylor. He took part in the Euro 1992 tournament held in Sweden and was also involved in England’s unsuccessful bid to qualify for the 1994 World Cup in the United States.

Paul Merson - Figure 2 — Photo The Independent

Only a few months after Arsenal's success in the Cup Winners Cup, Merson candidly spoke about his struggles with addiction to alcohol, drugs, and gambling—challenges that have impacted his career for many years.

Merson remained a key player for Arsenal's first team until 1997, but after the 1996/97 season, he was transferred to Middlesbrough, who had just been relegated, for £4.5 million—setting a new record for transfers involving a club outside the Premier League at that time. Even though he moved down a level, his skills thrived at Middlesbrough, where he played a significant role in their swift return to the Premier League.

His impressive performance led new England manager Glenn Hoddle to select him for the 1998 World Cup team. He played in the memorable 2-2 match against Argentina in the knockout stage, where he successfully converted a penalty in the shootout. This match marked the conclusion of his international career, finishing with a total of 21 appearances and 3 goals for England.

Merson continued his career with Aston Villa, Portsmouth, and Walsall, where he eventually took on the role of manager. However, his tenure with Walsall was marred by struggles with addiction and personal conflicts with his wife. In March 2006, he decided to hang up his boots for good after a short time playing for the non-league team Tamworth.

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Merson primarily works as a sports analyst and has been a consistent feature on Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday since 2006.

In recent times, he has been more candid about his fight against addiction, penning multiple books on the topic. His latest work, "Hooked: Addiction and the Long Road to Recovery," published in 2021, chronicles his 30-year journey dealing with addiction and mental health challenges.