|
|
|
Paul
Merson |
Arsenal FC,
Middlesbrough FC, Aston Villa FC
21 appearances, 3 goals
P 21 W 5 D
9 L 7 F 26: A 22
*(actual F 15: A 11)
45% successful
1991-99
disciplined: none
captain: none
minutes played: 1033 |
|
 |
|
Profile |
|
Full name |
Paul Charles Merson |
(*Actual
for and against are the goals scored
while the player was on the field.) |
|
Born |
20 March 1968 in Harlesden,
Greater London [registered in
Brent, March 1968].
notes:
Brent replaced Willesden to become part of the Greater London registration county in 1965. |
|
Married |
twice, to Lorraine
Costin [registered in
St. Albans, June 1990], then to Louise A. Bache [registered in
Westminster, May 2002] |
|
Height/Weight |
6'
0", 13st.
2lbs [2004]. |
|
Source |
Barry Hugman's
PFA Yearbook [2005] & Ancestry.com |
|
Biographies |
How Not to Be
a Professional Footballer - Paul Merson
(HarperSport, reprint 1 March 2012)
Hero and Villain - Paul
Merson with Ian Ridley (Willow, September 2000)
Hero
and Villain: A Year in the Life of Paul Merson - Paul Merson with Ian
Ridley (Willow, 20 September 1999)
Rock Bottom - Paul
Merson (Bloomsbury Publishing, May 1996) |
| |
x.
- A Football Compendium, Peter J. Seddon (1999). |
|
Club Career |
|
Club(s) |
Played with Brent Schools and Kingsbury's Forest United FC. He was
tracked by Arsenal FC, Watford FC, Chelsea FC and Queen's Park Rangers FC,
he chose to train with Watford, but it was Arsenal he signed associated
schoolboy forms with in April 1982. He then signed as a YTS trainee in
1984. Signed professional terms on 1 December 1985 making his Arsenal
debut in November 1986. Loaned out to Brentford FC on 22 January 1987,
playing in six league appearances. His successful stint
at Highbury saw him make 289 league appearances, scoring 78 times.
Despite being offered a new contract, Merson decided to join second tier
side Middlesbrough AFC on 15 July 1997, who were doubling his salary, so
he was sold to the relegated club in a £4.5 million deal - making him the
most expensive player ever signed by a non-Premier League club. And after
successfully guiding the Boro back into the Premier League, scoring
twelve times in 48 league matches, Merson moved to Aston Villa FC
for £6.75 million on 10 September 1998, 101 Premier League
appearances followed, as did eighteen goals. A move to Portsmouth
FC was next on 8 August 2002 on a free transfer, with another 44
league matches and twelve goals. On 18 July 2003, Merson joined
Walsall FC, whom he eventually took over the manager's seat in 2004. He
was sacked on 6 February 2006, he had played 68 league matches,
scoring six times. Merson returned to playing with Conference side
Tamworth FC, but played only once, he retired from
playing on 9 March 2006. |
|
Club honours |
Football League Champions 1988-89, 1990-91; FA
Charity Shield runners-up 1989, 1993, winners
1991; Football League Cup winners 1992-93, runners-up
1997-98; FA Cup winners 1992-93, runners-up 1999-2000;
UEFA European Cup Winners Cup winners 1993-94, runners-up
1994-95; UEFA Super Cup runners-up 1994; Football
League Division One runners-up 1997-98, winners
2002-03; UEFA Intertoto Cup winners 2001; |
|
Individual honours |
PFA... Young Player of the Year
1988-89; Division One Team of the Year 1997-98, 2002-03;
League One Team of the Year 2004-0;
Premier League Player of the Month February 2000;
BBC Match of the Day Goal of the Month
2 May 2001 vs. Coventry City FC; |
|
Distinctions |
None |
|
Source |
Douglas Lammings' An English
Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990]. |
|
England Career |
|
Player number |
One of two who became the 1033rd players
(1033) to appear for England.
Merson
came onto the field a second before Paul Stewart |
|
Position(s) |
Midfielder |
|
First match |
No. 677,
11 September 1991,
England 0
Germany
1,
a friendly match at Wembley Stadium, Wembley, London,
substitute (67), aged
23 years
175 days. |
|
Last match |
No. 754,
18 November 1998,
England 2
Czech Republic
0,
a friendly match at
Wembley
Stadium, Wembley, London, substituted (77), aged 30 years
243 days.
 |
|
Major tournaments |
European Championship Finals 1992; World Cup
Finals 1998; |
|
Team honours |
None |
|
Individual honours |
England B (four appearances), England
U21 (four appearances), England Youth |
|
Distinctions |
The fiftieth Londoner to represent England. |
|
England Disgrace |
|
Paul Merson's career was put on the line in November 1994 when he
admitted to being an alcoholic and cocaine addict. The Football
Association arranged for Merson to undergo a three-month rehabilitation
programme and he returned to the side in February 1995. 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. In October 2011, Merson was involved in a car crash
with a lorry on the M40 near Warwick, UK and arrested for drink-driving. |
|
Beyond England |
|
Carved out a successful career in Football punditary, particularly
with Sky Sports. In February 2012, Merson agreed to play for Chiswick &
District Sunday League side Whitton Athletic FC, he played three games
scoring once against Hanwell United FC. On 28 March 2012, he made a
one-off appearance for Mid Wales Football League side Welshpool Town FC.
Merson scored the opening goal in the 4-1 defeat. |
|
Paul Merson - Career Statistics |
| Squads |
Apps |
comp. apps |
Starts |
Sub on |
Sub off |
Mins. |
Goals |
goals ave.min |
comp. goals |
Capt. |
Disc. |
| 36+ |
21 |
11 |
9 |
12 |
5 |
1033 |
3 |
344
min |
0 |
none |
none |
|
minutes are an approximation, due to the fact that many matches rarely stick to exactly ninety minutes long, allowing time for injuries and errors. |
|
Paul Merson
- Match Record - All Matches |
|
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS
|
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
|
Home |
8 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
14 |
6 |
+8 |
3 |
2 |
1.75 |
0.75 |
56.3 |
+1 |
|
Away |
8 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
8 |
11 |
-3 |
1 |
2 |
1.00 |
1.375 |
37.5 |
-2 |
|
Neutral |
5 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
-1 |
2 |
2 |
0.80 |
1.00 |
40.0 |
-1 |
| All |
21 |
5 |
9 |
7 |
26 |
22 |
+4 |
6 |
6 |
1.238 |
1.048 |
45.2 |
-2 |
|
Paul Merson
- Match Record - By Colour of Shirt |
|
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS
|
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
|
White |
15 |
3 |
7 |
5 |
15 |
15 |
=0 |
5 |
5 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
43.3 |
-2 |
|
Blue |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
-1 |
1 |
0 |
1.00 |
1.50 |
25.0 |
-1 |
|
Red |
4 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
9 |
4 |
+5 |
0 |
1 |
2.25 |
1.00 |
62.5 |
+1 |
| All |
21 |
5 |
9 |
7 |
26 |
22 |
+4 |
6 |
6 |
1.238 |
1.048 |
45.2 |
-2 |
|
Paul Merson
- Match Record - By Type of Match |
|
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
|
WCP
|
4 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
6 |
-3 |
2 |
0 |
0.75 |
1.50 |
25.0 |
-2 |
|
WCF |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
-0 |
0 |
0 |
2.00 |
2.00 |
50.0 |
=0 |
| World Cup |
5 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
8 |
-3 |
2 |
0 |
1.00 |
1.60 |
30.0 |
-2 |
|
ECP
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
-1 |
0 |
0 |
1.00 |
2.00 |
0.00 |
-1 |
|
ECF |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
-1 |
1 |
1 |
0.50 |
1.00 |
25.0 |
-1 |
|
European Championship |
3 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
-2 |
1 |
1 |
0.667 |
1.333 |
16.7 |
-2 |
|
Minor Tournament |
3 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
-1 |
1 |
1 |
0.667 |
1.00 |
33.3 |
-1 |
| Friendly |
10 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
17 |
7 |
+10 |
2 |
4 |
1.70 |
0.70 |
65.0 |
+3 |
| All |
21 |
5 |
9 |
7 |
26 |
22 |
+4 |
6 |
6 |
1.238 |
1.048 |
45.2 |
-2 |
|
Paul Merson
- Match Record - Tournament Matches |
|
World Cup Preliminary Competition |
|
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
|
WCP 1992-94 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
-2 |
1 |
0 |
1.00 |
1.667 |
33.3 |
-1 |
|
WCP 1996-98 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
-1 |
1 |
0 |
0.00 |
1.00 |
0.00 |
-1 |
|
WCP
All |
4 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
6 |
-3 |
2 |
0 |
0.75 |
1.50 |
25.0 |
-2 |
|
World Cup Final Tournament |
|
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
|
WCF 1998 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
-0 |
0 |
0 |
2.00 |
2.00 |
50.0 |
=0 |
|
WCF
All |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
-0 |
0 |
0 |
2.00 |
2.00 |
50.0 |
=0 |
|
World Cup |
|
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
|
WC 1992-94 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
-2 |
1 |
0 |
1.00 |
1.667 |
33.3 |
-1 |
|
WC 1996-98 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
-1 |
1 |
0 |
1.00 |
1.50 |
25.0 |
-1 |
|
WC
All |
5 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
8 |
-3 |
2 |
0 |
1.00 |
1.60 |
30.0 |
-2 |
|
European Championship Preliminary Competition |
|
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
|
ECP 1998-2000 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
-1 |
0 |
0 |
1.00 |
2.00 |
0.00 |
-1 |
|
ECP
All |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
-1 |
0 |
0 |
1.00 |
2.00 |
0.00 |
-1 |
|
European Championship Final Tournament |
|
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
|
ECF 1992 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
-1 |
1 |
1 |
0.50 |
1.00 |
25.0 |
-1 |
|
ECF
All |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
-1 |
1 |
1 |
0.50 |
1.00 |
25.0 |
-1 |
|
European Championship |
|
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
|
EC 1990-92 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
-1 |
1 |
1 |
0.50 |
1.00 |
25.0 |
-1 |
|
EC 1998-2000 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
-1 |
0 |
0 |
1.00 |
2.00 |
0.00 |
-1 |
|
EC
All |
3 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
-2 |
1 |
1 |
0.667 |
1.333 |
16.7 |
-2 |
|
Minor
Tournaments/Competition |
|
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
|
US Cup 1993 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
-1 |
0 |
0 |
1.00 |
1.50 |
25.0 |
-1 |
|
King
Hassan 1998 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
=0 |
1 |
1 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
50.0 |
=0 |
|
TC
All |
3 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
-1 |
1 |
1 |
0.667 |
1.00 |
33.3 |
-1 |
|
All Competition |
|
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
|
WC |
5 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
8 |
-3 |
2 |
0 |
1.00 |
1.60 |
30.0 |
-2 |
|
EC |
3 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
-2 |
1 |
1 |
0.667 |
1.333 |
16.7 |
-2 |
|
TC |
3 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
-1 |
1 |
1 |
0.667 |
1.00 |
33.3 |
-1 |
|
All |
11 |
0 |
6 |
5 |
9 |
15 |
-6 |
4 |
2 |
0.818 |
1.364 |
54.5 |
-5 |
|
Paul Merson
- Match History |
|
Club: Arsenal F.C. -
15 full appearances |
manager: Graham Taylor - 13
full capsx
|
|
|
Age 23 |
|
1 |
677 |
11 September 1991 -
England 0
Germany
1,
Wembley Stadium, Wembley |
Fr |
HL |
sub 67 |
16 |
|
0-1 when substituting |
|
- |
678 |
16 October 1991 -
England 1
Turkey 0, Wembley Stadium, Wembley |
ECP |
HW |
unused sub |
15 |
|
1 |
b |
18 December 1991 - Spain Olympic 0 England 1,
Castellón |
Fr |
AW |
Start off 81
|
11 |
|
2 |
b |
18 February 1992 - England 3 France 0, Rangers Stadium, Shepherds Bush |
Fr |
HW |
Start
|
8 |
|
Age 24 |
|
2 |
681 |
25 March 1992 -
Czechoslovakia
2 England 2, Stadion
Evzena Rošického,
Praha |
Fr |
AD |
Start
28 |
8 |
|
3 |
683 |
12 May 1992 -
Hungary
0
England 1,
Népstadion,
Budapest |
Fr |
AW |
Start off ht |
8 |
|
0-0 when substituted |
|
4 |
684 |
17 May 1992 -
England 1
Brazil
1,
Wembley Stadium, Wembley |
Fr |
HL |
sub 62 |
16 |
|
1-1 when substituting |
|
5 |
685 |
3 June 1992 -
Finland
1 England 2,
Olympiastadion,
Helsinki |
Fr |
AW |
sub 17 |
16 |
|
0-0 when substituting |
|
6 |
686 |
11 June 1992 -
Denmark
0
England
0,
Malmö Stadion, Malmö |
ECF |
ND |
Start off 61 |
16 |
|
0-0 when subbed |
|
- |
687 |
14 June 1992 - France
0
England 0,
Malmö Stadion, Malmö |
ND |
unused sub |
|
7 |
688 |
17 June 1992 -
Sweden 2 England 1,
Råsunda Fotbollstadion, Solna |
AL |
sub 76 |
|
1-1 when subbing |
|
8 |
689 |
9 September 1992 -
Spain
1
England 0,
Estádio El Sardinero,
Santander |
Fr |
AL |
sub 78 |
16 |
|
1-0 when substituting |
|
9 |
690 |
14 October 1992 -
England 1
Norway
1,
Wembley Stadium, Wembley |
WCP |
HD |
sub 68 |
16 |
|
1-0 when substituting |
|
- |
691 |
18 November 1992 -
England 4
Turkey 0,
Wembley Stadium, Wembley |
HW |
unused sub |
14 |
|
- |
692 |
17 February 1993 -
England 6
San Marino 0, Wembley Stadium,
Wembley |
WCP |
HW |
unused sub |
14 |
|
Age 25 |
|
10 |
694 |
28 April 1993 -
England 2
Netherlands
2,
Wembley Stadium, Wembley |
WCP |
HD |
sub ht |
14 |
|
2-1 when substituting |
|
- |
697 |
9 June 1993 - United States
2
England 0,
Foxboro Stadium, Foxboro |
TC |
AL |
unused sub |
17 |
|
11 |
698 |
13 June 1993 -
England 1
Brazil
1,
RFK Stadium, Washington |
ND |
sub 82 |
|
1-1 when subbing |
|
12 |
699 |
19 June 1993 -
Germany
2 England 1,
Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac |
NL |
Start |
|
13 |
701 |
13 October 1993 -
Netherlands 2
England 0,
Stadion
Feijenoord, Rotterdam |
WCP |
AL |
Start off 69 |
8 |
|
2-0 when substituted |
|
- |
702 |
17 November 1993 - San Marino 1
England 7,
Stadio
Renato Dall'Ara, Bologna |
WCP |
AW |
unused sub |
15 |
|
|
Coach: Terry Venables - 1
full capx
|
|
|
Age 26 |
|
14 |
704 |
17 May 1994 -
England 5
Greece
0, Wembley Stadium, Wembley |
Fr |
HW |
Start |
8 |
|
- |
705 |
22 May 1994 -
England 0
Norway 0, Wembley Stadium, Wembley |
Fr |
AW |
squad member |
|
|
Coach: Glenn Hoddle - 7
full capx
|
|
|
Age 28 |
|
15 |
730 |
12 February 1997 -
England 0
Italy
1,
Wembley
Stadium, Wembley |
WCP |
HL |
sub 76 |
16 |
|
0-1 when substituting |
|
Club: Middlesbrough F.C. -
5 full appearances |
|
|
|
Age 29 |
|
3 |
b |
10 February 1998 - England B 1 Chile 2, The
Hawthorns, West Bromwich |
Fr |
HL |
captain |
10 |
|
Age 30 |
|
16 |
742 |
25 March 1998 -
Switzerland
1 England 1,
Wankdorfstadion,
Bern |
Fr |
AD |
Start
70 off 80 |
8 |
|
1-1 when substituted |
|
4 |
b |
21 April 1998 - England B 4 Russia B 1,
Rangers Stadium, Shepherds Bush |
Fr |
HW |
Start |
6 |
|
17 |
743 |
22 April 1998 - England 3
Portugal
0,
Wembley
Stadium, Wembley |
Fr |
HW |
sub ht |
16 |
|
1-0 when substituting |
|
- |
744 |
23 May 1998 -
England 0 Saudi
Arabia 0, Wembley
Stadium, Wembley |
Fr |
HD |
unused sub |
16 |
|
- |
745 |
27 May 1998 -
Morocco
0 England 1,
Complexe
Sportif
Mohammed V, Casablanca |
TC |
AW |
squad member |
|
18 |
746 |
29 May 1998 -
Belgium
0
England 0,
Complexe
Sportif
Mohammed V, Casablanca |
|
ND |
Start |
10 |
|
scored penalty in shootout |
|
- |
747 |
15 June 1998 - England 2 Tunisia 0,
Le
Stade Vélodrome, Marseille |
WCF |
NW |
unused sub |
15 |
|
- |
748 |
22 June 1998 -
Romania 2
England 1,
Stade Municipal, Toulouse |
NL |
unused sub |
|
- |
749 |
26 June 1998 -
England 2 Colombia
0,
Stade
Félix-Bollaert, Lens |
NW |
unused sub |
|
19 |
750 |
30 June 1998 -
Argentina
2
England 2,
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne |
ND |
sub
78 |
|
2-2
when substituting |
|
scored penalty in
shootout |
|
20 |
751 |
5 September 1998 -
Sweden
2
England 1,
Råsunda Fotbollstadion, Solna |
ECP |
AL |
sub 75 |
18 |
|
2-1
when substituting |
|
Club: Aston
Villa F.C. - 1 full cap |
|
|
|
- |
752 |
10 October 1998 -
England 0 Bulgaria
0, Wembley Stadium, Wembley |
ECP |
HD |
squad member |
|
- |
753 |
14 October 1998 -
Luxembourg 0
England 3,
Stade
Josy Barthel, Stad Lëtzebuerg |
AW |
|
21 |
754 |
18 November 1998 -
England 2
Czech Republic
0,
Wembley
Stadium, Wembley |
Fr |
HW |
Start
39 off 77 |
11 |
|
2-0
when substituted |
|
|
Coach: Howard Wilkinson -
0
full capsx
|
|
|
- |
755 |
10 February 1999
- England 0 France 2,
Wembley Stadium,
Wembley |
Fr |
HL |
withdrawn squad member |
Notes
____________________
CG
|
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England
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