Paul Charles Merson is a former English professional footballer and manager,
turned football television pundit. As a player he played a large majority of his
career as a winger. He notably played in the Premier League
for Arsenal, Middlesbrough and Aston Villa, as well as appearing in the
Football League for Brentford and Portsmouth. He also played for Walsall
where he spent two years as player-manager before finishing his
career in Non-League football with Tamworth. He briefly came out of
retirement in 2012 for Welshpool Town where he played in a one-off game.
Merson earned 21 caps for England, scoring 3 times.
Club career = Arsenal =
Born in Harlesden, North West London, Merson started his career at Arsenal,
joining the club as an apprentice in 1984. After a loan spell at Brentford,
then under manager Frank McLintock, he made his debut for the Gunners on 22
November 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 of
the season 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 Arsenal, Merson bagged another league championship in 1991, both the FA
Cup and League Cup in 1993 and the Cup Winners' Cup in 1994. He also made his
debut for the full England side, in a friendly against Germany on 11 September
1991. Merson's career was put on the line in
November 1994 when he admitted to being an alcoholic and cocaine and/or gambling
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.
In 1995–96, Merson remained a regular first team player under Arsenal's new
manager Bruce Rioch and continued to play regularly during the 1996–97 season
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 £4.5million deal –
making him the most expensive player ever signed by a non-Premiership club.
Arsene Wenger had offered Merson a new two-year contract, but Merson elected to
join Boro for a longer contract. Merson played 423 times for Arsenal and scored
99 goals in all competitions. = Middlesbrough =
In the summer of 1997, Merson left the Gunners to sign for Relegated
Middlesbrough for a reported fee believed to be £4.5million. Merson later
said "People thought I was mad to leave Arsenal for Boro, but they were mad to
think it. I joined a club that wanted me, a club going places, it wasn't for
the money, I actually took a pay cut to join them, it's not everyday you have an
opportunity to work with somebody like [Bryan Robson], it was a no brainer."
Merson made his league debut for Boro in the opening day victory over Charlton
Athletic in a 2-1 victory. 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 for [World Cup 1998] in France.
During the start of the 1998/99 season Merson stated he was home sick and
wanted a return South, media coverage stated Merson had said his transfer
request was down to a players drinking and gambling culture within the club. A
statement later denied by Merson's agent. Middlesbrough later agreed to
Merson's request and he was sold to Aston Villa for £6.75million.
= Aston Villa = Merson played a key creative role in the
Villa side, and helped them to the FA Cup Final in 2000, where they lost 1-0
to Chelsea. = Portsmouth =
Merson signed for Division One club Portsmouth on a two-year contract, 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. Following a possible move to
West Brom which was later vetoed by then Manager Gary Megson, he was eventually
snapped up by Division One side Walsall in summer 2003.
= Walsall = In February 2004, Merson admitted
himself to the Sierra Tucson Clinic in Arizona 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 following Colin Lee's sacking
for allegedly having talks with Plymouth Argyle over a vacant manager's position
there. Merson led 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. The 2004–05 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 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, 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 the 2005–06 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 at Griffin Park. 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 arrangement only lasted two games before
he announced his retirement from professional football playing on 9 March
2006. = Tamworth =
In 2006, Merson decided to drop down the leagues and play for Tamworth, 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. The arrangement however only
lasted two games, although Merson only played once in the 2–1 home loss to
Halifax Town. Merson was dropped to the bench for the following game, which was
a 5–0 defeat away to Grays Athletic. Merson later announced his retirement
from professional football as a player on 9 March 2006, less than a month after
joining Tamworth. = Whitton Athletic =
In February 2012, Merson agreed to play for Chiswick & District Sunday League
side Whitton Athletic, he played three games scoring once against Hanwell Utd
= Welshpool Town = On 28 March 2012, he made a one-off
appearance for Mid Wales Football League side Welshpool Town, playing alongside
fellow Sky Sports pundit Chris Kamara against Newbridge-on-Wye. Merson scored
the opening goal in the 4–1 defeat at the Maes y Dre Recreation Ground.
International career = Euro 1992 =
Merson first played for the England national team in 1991, being called up
by Graham Taylor. He participated in the 1992 European Championships in Sweden.
He played in the opening 0–0 draw with Denmark. England went out after another
0–0 draw against the French and a 2–1 loss to hosts Sweden.
= 1994 World Cup qualifying = Merson also played a part in the failed
campaign to qualify for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. He played in the opening
game, a 1–1 home draw with Norway. He next played against the Netherlands as a
substitute for Paul Gascoigne who was injured. England were leading 2–1, but
crucially conceded a late penalty for a 2–2 draw. Merson also played in the 1993
US Cup against Brazil and Germany, 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 a free-kick.
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. 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. = 1998 World Cup =
Merson held the distinction of being the only player in England's 1998 FIFA World
Cup 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.
1998 marked the end of Merson's international career after 21 full caps
in seven years, in which he scored three times.
Media work In August 2006, he also 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 on Sky Sports, where he is a match reporter and regular pundit for Gilette
Soccer 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.
Merson writes a weekly column for the Daily Star's 'Seriously Football'
pullout every Saturday. Since the 2012–2013 season Merson has
been a co-host with John 'fenners' Fendley on the Sky Sports TV programme
'Fantasy Football Club'. This programme is aired weekly on Friday nights at
10pm. The duo also co-manage a fantasy team in the Sky Fantasy 'Celebrities'
League. Career statistics
1Includes European Cup, UEFA Cup & UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
2Includes FA Charity Shield Managerial statistics
As of 31 January 2015. = International goals =
Honours = Player =
Arsenal Football League First Division: 1988–89,
1990–91 FA Cup: 1992–93
League Cup: 1992–93 FA Community Shield: 1991
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1994 Aston Villa
UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2001 Portsmouth
Football League Division One: 2002–03 = Individual =
PFA Young Player of the Year: 1989 PFA Team of the Year Division One:
1997-98 PFA Team of the Year Division One:
2002–03 Premier League Player of the Month:
February 2000 Personal life
Merson has been married twice, and has six children. His first marriage
crumbled under his recovery from drug addiction and alcoholism. In October
2011, Merson was involved in a car crash with a lorry on the M40 near Warwick,
UK, and arrested for drink-driving. He is a life long supporter of Chelsea
References External links
Paul Merson career statistics at Soccerbase
Paul Merson management career statistics at Soccerbase
Paul Merson at the Internet Movie Database
Paul Merson at National-Football-Teams.com
Profile at sporting-heroes.net