Former footballer Paul Merson is venturing into the world of dance on this year’s season of Strictly Come Dancing, becoming only the fifth footballer to grace the BBC show. At 56 years old and a father of eight, Merson will be following in the footsteps of other footballers like John Barnes, Robbie Savage, Alex Scott, and his ex-Arsenal teammate Tony Adams as he prepares to put on his dancing shoes for the 22nd season of the popular show.
Merson’s football career began in 1984 when he joined Arsenal as an apprentice, leading to his debut in a match against Manchester City in November 1986. He became a key player on the right wing during the 1988/89 season, contributing to Arsenal’s First Division title win. Further success followed with another league title in 1990/91, a memorable FA Cup and League Cup double in 1992/93, and securing the European Cup Winners Cup in 1994. His talent also earned him a spot in the England squad, participating in Euro 1992 and the unsuccessful 1994 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Despite his on-field achievements, Merson publicly disclosed his struggles with addiction to alcohol, drugs, and gambling shortly after Arsenal’s European success. He continued to excel on the pitch until moving to Middlesbrough in 1997, where he helped the team regain Premier League status. Merson’s international career culminated at the 1998 World Cup, where he notably scored a penalty against Argentina before retiring with 21 caps and 3 goals for England.
Post-football, Merson played for Aston Villa, Portsmouth, and Walsall, even taking on a managerial role at Walsall. However, his time there was marred by personal issues and addiction struggles. He eventually retired in 2006 after a brief stint at non-league side Tamworth. Transitioning into punditry, Merson has been a regular fixture on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday since 2006.
In recent years, Merson has been candid about his battles with addiction, penning several books on the topic, including his latest work in 2021, “Hooked: Addiction and the Long Road to Recovery,” which chronicles his 30-year journey dealing with addiction and mental health challenges.