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Paul Merson is a former English football player, now manager of Walsall. His playing career included spells at Arsenal, Middlesbrough, Aston Villa and Portsmouth. He was also capped by the England national football team.
Born in London on 20 March 1968, Paul Merson was employed as an Arsenal player from 1984 to 1997. He firmly established himself in the Arsenal team during the 1988-89 season, at the end of which Arsenal secured the league title with a last gasp goal in the final game against Liverpool. Merson was voted PFA Young Player of the Year. Merson's impressive form on the right side of midfield was crucial in Arsenal's success under George Graham. They bagged another league championship in 1991, both the FA Cup and League Cup in 1993, and the European Cup Winners Cup in 1994.
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 temporary 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 Arsene Wenger. It came as a surprise to everybody at the end of the 1996-97 Premiership campaign, in which Arsenal finished third, when Merson was sold to relegated Middlesbrough in a £4.5million deal - making him the most expensive player ever signed by a non-Premiership club.
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 division club.
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, was too old for a return to the Premiershop, and was snapped up by Division One side Walsall in summer 2003. He was appointed as interim manager the following March, after Colin Lee was sacked for allegedly having talks with Plymouth Argyle over a vacant manager's position there. Although Merson was unable to save Walsall from relegation, he was rewarded with the manager's job on a permanent basis.
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