Paul Merson Article Index for
Paul
Website Links For
Paul
 

Information About

Paul Merson




  Fullname Paul Charles Merson
  Height 6' / 182 m
  Nickname Merse, The Magic Man
  Cityofbirth Harlesden , London
  Countryofbirth England
  Currentclub Retired
  Position Midfielder
  Years 1985-1997<br>1987<br>1997-1998<br>1998-2002<br>2002-2003<br>2003-2006<br>2006
  Clubs Arsenal <br>→ Brentford ''(loan)''<br> Middlesbrough <br> Aston Villa <br> Portsmouth <br> Walsall <br> Tamworth
  Caps(goals) 327 (78)<br>7 (0)<br>48 (12)<br>117 (18)<br>45 (12)<br>77 (6)<br>1 (0)
  Nationalyears 1988-1990<br>1991-1998<br>1991-1998
  Nationalteam England U21 <br> England B <br> England
  Nationalcaps(goals) 4 (0)<br>4 (3)<br>21 (3)
  Manageryears 2004-2006
  Managerclubs Walsall


Paul Charles Merson (born Harlesden , 20 March 1968 ) is a retired English Football player, and former player-manager of Walsall . His playing career has 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.


CAREER

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 .