Paul Gascoigne

Rarely far away from the headlines, Gazza is one of British football's most colourful and controversial characters. Immediately impressing as a teenager in United's senior XI, his array of skills and vision was supplemented by a tremendous appetite for the game. Adored from the terraces he had recently patronised, a new British transfer record took him to Tottenham Hotspur in 1988.

Many believed Everton boss Walter Smith to be taking an unnecessary gamble when he signed English football's fading Enfant Terrible from Middlesbrough on a free transfer. But Paul repaid his old Glasgow Rangers' manager's faith by getting himself into the best shape he had been in for years - and showed a consistency and quality of performance to match. The old drawing power was still there - 15,000 for a pre-season friendly at Tranmere and 13,000 at Plymouth - and while the legs weren't quite as quick, the speed of thought was still evident. Initially employed as a 'supersub', capable of coming on and influencing the final quarter of matches, 'Gazza' forced his way into the Everton starting line-up and stayed there for nine successive matches. Such was the quality and energy he displayed in a televised draw at Leicester in September that some analysts were suggesting that Kevin Keegan should include him in his England squad for the World Cup qualifier against Germany. The fairy tale comeback ended with a torn thigh muscle against Aston Villa in November, but Paul had proved his fitness again by the end of the season and was intent on starting the 2001-02 season - the 15th of his professional career - with the same zest he had shown for the last one.