Paul Merson

Template:Football player infobox2Paul Charles Merson (born Harlesden, 20 March 1968) is a retired English football player, and former player-manager of Walsall. His playing career has included spells at Arsenal, Middlesbrough, Aston Villa and Portsmouth. He also played for England 21 times. He was a skilful forward who later in his career dropped more into the midfield.

Career

Born in London, Paul Merson started his career at Arsenal, joining the club as an apprentice in 1984. After a loan spell at Brentford, he made his debut for the Gunners on November 22, 1986 against Manchester City, and gradually established himself in George Graham's successful Arsenal side of the late 1980s. By the 1988-89 season he was a regular on the right wing, at the end of which Arsenal secured the First Division title with a last gasp Michael Thomas goal in the final game against Liverpool. Merson scored ten times that season, made his debut for the England U21 side, and was voted PFA Young Player of the Year.

With Merson, Arsenal bagged another league championship in 1991, both the FA Cup and League Cup in 1993 (Merson scoring the first goal of the League Cup final), and the Cup Winners' Cup in 1994. He also made his debut for the full England side, in a friendly against Germany on September 11, 1991.

Paul Merson's career was put on the line in November 1994 when he admitted to being an alcoholic and cocaine addict. 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 manager Stewart Houston, Merson helped Arsenal reach the Cup Winners' Cup final for the second season in a row - but they lost to Real Zaragoza, after Nayim scored a last minute goal from the half way line.

In 1995-96, Paul Merson remained a regular first team player under Arsenal's new manager Bruce Rioch and continued to play regularly in 1996-97 following the appointment of Arsène Wenger. In a somewhat surprising move, at the end of the 1996-97 Premiership campaign, in which Arsenal finished third, Merson was sold to relegated Middlesbrough in a £5 million deal - making him the most expensive player ever signed by a non-Premiership club. In all Merson played 425 times for Arsenal, scoring 99 goals.

Paul Merson was a key player for Middlesbrough's promotion success as Division One runners-up in 1997-98. Merson also held the distinction of being the only player in England's

squad not to play for a top flight club. In that tournament, he played in England's famous second round match against Argentina, scoring in the penalty shootout, although England eventually lost.

In the autumn of 1998, Paul Merson was sold to Aston Villa for £6.75 million. He quickly established himself as a fans favourite due to his creative, flamboyant brand of football. He remained on the club's payroll for nearly five years, helping them reach the 2000 FA Cup final, before he was finally given a free transfer at the end of the 2001-02 season. Merson signed for Division One club Portsmouth, and was instrumental in the club's promotion to the Premiership in 2002-03.

Merson, however, felt that he was too old for a return to the Premiership, and wanted to move closer to his home in Sutton Coldfield. He was eventually snapped up by Division One side Walsall in summer 2003. Merson's troubles didn't stop there. In February 2004, he admitted himself to the Sierra Tucson Clinic in Arizona to seek help for his gambling addiction, 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 following Colin Lee's sacking for allegedly having talks with Plymouth Argyle over a vacant manager's position there. Merson lead a gallant bid to retain Division One status, but was hindered by a harsh last minute penalty against Crystal Palace, and eventually relegated after a 3-2 victory against Rotherham United whilst having to rely on Stoke City beating Gillingham F.C. on the final day. The following month, despite relegation, Merson was rewarded with the manager's job on a permanent basis.

2004-05 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 disgraced goalkeeper Mark 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 of Steven 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 2005/06; 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. Despite a number of offers from clubs as high as the Championship, Merson opted to resume his playing career at part-time Conference club Tamworth, however this arrangment only lasted two games (with Merson playing only once) before he announced his retirement from professional football playing on 9th March 2006[1]

Personal life

Merson has been married twice (to Lorainne and Louise), and has five children. His first marriage crumbled under his recovery from drug addiction and alcholism, fueled by tabloid stories that he continued drinking and slept with other women. His second marriage crumbled in light of a recurrance of his drink and gambling problems, and he has since admitted that during his time as manager at Walsall, he was drining and lost £7Million gambling.

In March 2006, he was photographed by the Daily Mirror whilst drunk and appearing overweight at the Boujis nightclub in South Kensington. In June 2006, Merson was accused of drug rape after a night at a flat owned by Sloane Club in Chelsea, West London [2]

External links

• Playing Statistics at soccerbase.com
• Profile at sporting-heroes.net