Paul Merson, the ex-footballer competing on Strictly after rollercoaster career
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Paul Merson is taking part in Strictly this year, becoming just the fifth football player to join the popular BBC program.
Merson, a 56-year-old dad of eight, will join the ranks of former footballers like John Barnes, Robbie Savage, Alex Scott, and his old Arsenal teammate Tony Adams as he gets ready to hit the dance floor for the 22nd season of the popular BBC show.
Merson started his journey in football in 1984 when he joined Arsenal as a trainee. He went on to make his first appearance for the team, known as the Gunners, in a 3-0 victory against Manchester City on November 22, 1986.
In the 1988/89 season, Merson established himself as a key player on the right wing and played an important role in the team that dramatically clinched the First Division title on the final day at Anfield. The victories continued to roll in, with another league championship in the 1990/91 season, followed by a double win of the FA Cup and League Cup in 1992/93. The following year, he contributed to Arsenal's first European title in 24 years when they triumphed over Parma in the European Cup Winners' Cup final.
During this time, Merson established himself as a key member of the England team, first taking the field in a match against Germany in September 1991, after being summoned by coach Graham Taylor. He played in the Euro 1992 tournament held in Sweden and was also involved in England's unsuccessful attempt to qualify for the 1994 World Cup in the U.S.
Only a few months after Arsenal's victory in the Cup Winners Cup, Merson spoke openly about his struggles with alcoholism, drug use, and gambling—challenges that have overshadowed his career for a long time.
Merson remained a consistent presence in Arsenal's main squad until 1997. However, after the 1996/97 season, he was transferred to Middlesbrough, who had just been relegated, for £4.5 million—setting a record for a transfer fee involving a club outside the Premier League at that time. Even though he had moved down a division, he thrived at Middlesbrough and played a crucial role in their immediate return to the Premier League.
His performance led to new England manager Glenn Hoddle selecting him for the 1998 World Cup team. He played in the memorable second-round match against Argentina, where he scored a penalty during the shoot-out. This match marked the conclusion of his international career, leaving him 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 time at Walsall was troubled by ongoing struggles with addiction and difficulties in his marriage. In March 2006, he declared his retirement from football after a short period playing for the non-league team Tamworth.
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Merson primarily works as a sports analyst and has been a consistent member of Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday since 2006.
In recent years, he has become more candid about his battles with addiction, authoring multiple books on the topic. His latest book, released in 2021, is titled *Hooked: Addiction and the Long Road to Recovery*, where he chronicles his three-decade struggle with addiction and mental health challenges.
