LONDON - Paul Gascoigne, one of England's finest and most controversial players, has become a manager for the first time at minor league Kettering Town.
"Gazza" is part of a consortium that has taken over the Midlands club, which was founded in 1872 and has been drawing crowds of about 1000
to games this season.
"It might be non-league football for now but there are very exciting times ahead," Gascoigne, 38, told a news conference.
"I'm excited, I feel good and I'm really looking forward to it."
The 'Poppies' play in the Conference North League, two divisions below the Football League, and their biggest achievement was reaching the FA Trophy final at Wembley in 1999.
"One of my main objectives is to help this club get into the Football League," Gascoigne said.
Gascoigne, who won 57 England caps, was part of the Tottenham Hotspur team that won the FA Cup in 1991 although he seriously damaged his knee in a wild tackle early in the first half of their 2-1 extra-time win over Nottingham Forest.
This was the first in a series of injury problems, especially during his three years at Lazio.
He returned to Britain to find success at Rangers in Scotland, where he won the league title, before moving to Middlesbrough and Everton.
He played briefly for China's Gansu Tianma and England's Boston United as player-coach before retiring as a player 12 months ago. Over the past few years Gascoigne has increasingly found himself on the front pages of the newspapers as much as the back pages for his drinking exploits.
Gascoigne will be assisted by Paul Davis, the former Arsenal midfielder, who made a name for himself coaching the north London club's juniors.
Imraan Ladak, the head of the takeover consortium, was confident Gascoigne would prove a success.
"Everyone has to start somewhere," Ladak said. "Paul was the finest player of his generation and he worked under the best managers.
"It will be a learning experience but he will bring his experience and motivational skills to the Kettering players. On paper we have the perfect (managerial) team and I have no doubt it will work."
The highlights of Gascoigne's international career were helping England to reach the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup in Italy and the same stage at Euro 96 in his home country.
- REUTERS
Soccer: Gascoigne manager at Kettering
LONDON - Paul Gascoigne, one of England's finest and most controversial players, has become a manager for the first time at minor league Kettering Town.
"Gazza" is part of a consortium that has taken over the Midlands club, which was founded in 1872 and has been drawing crowds of about 1000
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