The football pundit on his very expensive suit, fighting addiction and why he owes Walsall fans an apology
Born in London, Paul Merson, 54, started his career at Arsenal as an apprentice. He spent 11 seasons with the club, winning the League Championship twice, the FA Cup, the League Cup and the European Cup Winners’ Cup; he went on to play for Middlesbrough, Aston Villa and Portsmouth. He was capped 21 times for England, playing in the 1992 European Championship and the 1998 World Cup. Now a Sky Sports pundit, he is also an ambassador for Recoverlution, an online platform for people in recovery. Married for the third time, he has eight children and lives in London.
When were you happiest?
On holiday in Orlando with my wife, Kate, and kids just before lockdown. I wasn’t drinking or gambling. I was so happy, so at peace with myself – I’d been searching for that for many a year.
