• Bursts into tears after a yellow card during England's semi-final clash against West Germany in the 1990 World Cup. He would have missed the final had England not lost on penalties.

• Outrages Italy by belching on national television when asked how he felt about being dropped nine months after completing his £5.5 million move from Spurs to Lazio.

• In his autobiography, Gazza: My Story, he admits headbutting his wife Sheryl and throwing her to the floor during an argument in October 1996, breaking her finger.

• Dropped from the England World Cup squad in 1998. After a series of spectacular binges, is admitted to a private clinic to tackle alcohol addiction.

• In December 2005 quits as manager of Nationwide Conference North club Kettering after just 39 days. Chairman Imraan Ladak claims Gascoigne was "under the influence of alcohol before, during and after several first team games and training sessions". Hours later is arrested for an alleged assault on a photographer outside a Liverpool city centre hotel. Charges are later dropped.

• Undergoes emergency surgery for a perforated stomach ulcer after celebrating his 40th birthday.