Former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne has said that he was relieved when he was told that he was an alcoholic.
Gascoigne, who retired from football in 2004, was diagnosed as an alcoholic four years earlier and has been in and out of rehabilitation clinics since then.
"When it was explained, and when I heard other people's stories, I was like 'thank God'," he told BBC Sport. "I didn't know what was going on. Why did I wake up at 5am and want a drink? It was not normal. People want to know if there is any medication they can take when they have an illness and it was a relief.
"I am happy in life, I am happy with the way things are going. I know it won't last forever because I know what the press can write. The lies written about me over the last two years have been horrendous and you have to be strong to get through that.
"I accept that is going to be for life for me. I admit I haven't dealt with it properly sometimes and hit the drink, it hasn't been month-long benders, it has been a few days and I have paid the consequences."
Gascoigne made 57 appearances for England in a 19-year career that included spells with Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Rangers.
Jonathan McIntosh
