PAUL MERSON is on our screens each weekend as part of Sky’s Soccer Saturday.
The former Arsenal midfielder – who battled alcohol and gambling addictions as a player – also made 21 appearances for England during his career.
The Londoner was born March 20, 1968 – meaning he is aged 53.
Merson had a distinguished career as a player, winning the First Division – now Premier League – twice with Arsenal.
The attacking midfielder also played for Middlesbrough, Aston Villa, Portsmouth and Walsall – becoming player-manager at the latter.
Merson also turned out 21 times for England, taking part in the 1998 World Cup where they lost to Argentina in the infamous penalty shootout.
Nowadays, he is most notably seen as one of the panellists on Gillette Soccer Saturday, covering one of the headline matches for Sky Sports.
Merson also co-hosts their Fantasy Football Club programme alongside Max Rushden.
He is currently married to Kate Merson, his third wife – the ex-Arsenal star previously wed Lorraine Costin and Louise.
The Sky Sports pundit has eight children – including twin girls.
Meanwhile, his son Sam from his first marriage with Lorraine, is a footballer, currently turning out for St Albans City in National League South.
Merson’s career was often blighted by his addiction to alcohol and betting, along with drugs.
In October 2011, he was involved in a car crash with a lorry, where he was later arrested for drink-driving.
His first wife Lorraine has recalled how she was unaware that he had gambled away £7million worth – but was never in any financial trouble.
Merson’s childhood sweetheart also claims that he is still afflicted by his addiction and has not yet got a handle on it.
In March 2019, he thanked fans for their support after admitting that his gambling addiction left him feeling “like a crack addict“.
Merson took part in the ITV show Harry’s Heroes: The Full English, which aired in 2019.
Viewers praised him for candidly revealing he wanted to kill himself over gambling and drugs addiction.
The show pitted a team of England legends from the 1990s against their German counterparts.
The veteran Three Lions side was coached by former West Ham and Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp.
Redknapp was tasked with getting the team of unfit England footie heroes back in shape and back into the Three Lions shirts they wore with pride in their heyday.
And the second season Harry’s Heroes: Euro Having a Laugh is coming back to our screens with three episodes in total.
The first episode is on Monday 18 May at 9pm, the second on Tuesday 19 May and the big finale all the same time on Wednesday 20 May.
The series will also be available on ITV Player.
