Paul Charles Merson (born
20
March
1968) is a former
English
football player, now player-manager of
Walsall. His playing career included spells at
Arsenal,
Middlesbrough,
Aston Villa and
Portsmouth. He also played for
England 21 times. He was a skilful forward who later in his
career dropped more into the midfield.
Born in London,
Paul Merson started his career at Arsenal, joining the club as an apprentice in
1984. After a loan
spell at
Brentford, he made his debut for the Gunners on
November
22, 1986
against
Manchester City, and gradually established himself in
George Graham's successful Arsenal side of the late
1980s. By the
1988-89 season he was a regular on the right wing, at the end of which
Arsenal secured the
First Division title with a last gasp
Michael Thomas goal in the final game against
Liverpool. Merson scored ten times that season, made his debut for the
England U21 side, and was voted
PFA Young Player of the Year.
With Merson, Arsenal bagged another league championship in
1991, both the
FA Cup and
League Cup
in 1993 (Merson
scoring the first goal of the League Cup final), and the
Cup Winners' Cup in
1994. He also made his debut for the full England side, in a friendly
against
Germany on
September 11, 1991.
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, just before
the dismissal of George Graham as manager. Under caretaker manager
Stewart Houston, Merson helped Arsenal reach the Cup Winners' Cup final for
the second season in a row - but they lost to
Real
Zaragoza, after
Nayim scored a last minute goal from the half way line.
In
1995-96, Paul Merson remained a regular first team player under Arsenal's
new manager
Bruce
Rioch and continued to play regularly in
1996-97 following the appointment of
Arsène Wenger. In a somewhat surprising move, at the end of the 1996-97
Premiership campaign, in which Arsenal finished third, Merson was sold to
relegated Middlesbrough in a £4.5million deal - making him the most expensive
player ever signed by a non-Premiership club. In all Merson played 425 times for
Arsenal, scoring 99 goals.
Paul Merson was a key player for Middlesbrough's promotion success as
Division One runners-up in
1997-98. Merson also held the distinction of being the only player in
England's
1998 World Cup squad not to play for a top flight club. In that tournament,
he played in England's famous second round match against
Argentina, scoring in the
penalty shootout, although England eventually lost.
In the autumn of
1998, Paul Merson was sold to Aston Villa for £4million. He remained on the
club's payroll for nearly five years, helping them reach the 2000 FA Cup final,
before he was finally given a free transfer at the end of the
2001-02 season. Merson signed for Division One club
Portsmouth, and was instrumental in the club's promotion to the Premiership
in
2002-03.
Merson, however, felt that he was too old for a return to the Premiership,
and wanted to move closer to his home in
Sutton Coldfield. He was eventually snapped up by Division One side Walsall
in summer 2003. Merson's troubles didn't stop there. In February 2004, he
admitted himself to the Sierra Tucson Clinic in
Arizona to
seek help for his gambling addiction, and missed several key games whilst
Walsall slipped in the league from mid table mediocrity into the relegation
zone. However, a couple of months after his return, Merson was quickly thrown
into the manager's spot at Walsall following
Colin Lee's
sacking for allegedly having talks with
Plymouth Argyle over a vacant manager's position there. Merson lead a
gallant bid to retain Division One status, but was hindered by a harsh last
minute penalty against
Crystal Palace, and eventually relegated after a 3-2 victory against
Rotherham United whilst having to rely on
Stoke City beating
Gillingham F.C. on the final day. The following month, despite relegation,
Merson was rewarded with the manager's job on a permanent basis.
2004-05 proved to be a difficult season for Merson, on and off the field.
Walsall went out of all cup competitions against lower league teams, and it was
reported that Merson had had a rift with his wife, and had started drinking and
gambling again, whilst the press reported on him inviting disgraced goalkeeper
Mark
Bosnich back into the game. Walsall slipped close to a second consecutive
relegation. Merson responded by making several key signings on transfer deadline
day;
Julian Joachim, Andy Oakes, Anthony Gerrard (cousin of
Steven Gerrard), Craig Pead and David Perpetuini. Merson's side went
undefeated during May 2005, securing League One status for another year.
After a difficult first season in management Merson's position at Walsall
looks more secure as the club enters 2005/06.
PFA Young Player of the Year
1989 |
