I told a teacher I was going to make it as a footballer and got kicked out of class. After the 1990 World Cup, I went back to the school and said, "Do you remember me, you f**king bastard!"' Paul Gascoigne on practising his autograph at school

"When FourFourTwo ask him what the first moment he realised he had a special talent as a footballer was, he replies without hesitation. Seven years of age, he tells us. Did he always know that he'd make it to the top? Yeah, he explains. I came from a rough background, but when I was 14, I did my autograph during a geography lesson. The teacher asked what I was doing and I told him, I'm signing my autograph, I want to be a professional footballer.'"

"Italia 90 saw Gazza become a household name with his spellbinding performances that helped England enjoy their best major tournament since the 1966 World Cup, while his tears in the semi-final defeat to West Germany showed off another layer of his personality. Throughout his progression into adulthood, there was never any doubt where he was at his happiest. When I put the boots on, he says. It didn't matter when it was I enjoyed playing whether it was in front of 5,000 or f**king 95,000."

Paul Gascoigne recognised his football talent from age seven and declared an ambition to become a professional by age 14. He performed an autograph in a geography lesson, told the teacher 'I'm signing my autograph, I want to be a professional footballer,' and was removed after insisting 'I'm going to f**king make it.' Italia 90 elevated him to household-name status through spellbinding performances and visible emotion after the semi-final defeat to West Germany. He described feeling happiest when playing and enjoying matches whether before 5,000 or 95,000 spectators. Strong self-belief and a determination to prove doubters wrong defined his progression into adulthood.

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