Meaning behind Gazza’s tattoos branded ‘worst ever’ – penis to misspelt tribute

Paul Gascoigne left fans gobsmacked by his numerous tattoos after posing topless – and some are hilarious.

The England legend posted a snap over the weekend with the caption: “I’m hot. Love Gazza.” It showed the former Spurs star sitting in his garden in sunglasses with a can of Arizona Watermelon in one hand while his other is doing a peace sign.

Many of his fans commented about how healthy he was looking but others were drawn to the several tattoos that cover his arms, chest and stomach.

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One responder said they were “some of the worst tattoos you’re ever going to see” and below we take a closer look at Gazza’s body art journey.

It is no secret that Gascoigne has struggled with alcoholism over the years and the ex-Rangers midfielder revealed in 2020 how his new tattoo addiction was helping him beat the booze.

Speaking exclusively with the best paper in the land, he told The Daily Star: “It’s my new addiction. I’m off booze. I’m getting tattoos because I love them and I’ve got f***ing nothing else to do.”

He added: “If I don’t go to the tattooists, I’ll go to the pub and drink. To be honest, I’d rather go to my tattooist.”

Gascoigne, who lives in Bournemouth, Dorset, gets his fix at South Coast Ink Super Studio. One social media post reads: “We had a visit from the legend that is Paul Gascoigne. He had a tattoo done by our head artist Rob. We’re truly blessed to have him by.”

Rob Matthews never charges the footballer for the ink and he once said: “Gazza has been in five days in a row now but he doesn’t get tattoos every day – sometimes he comes in to look at art work or just for a chat.”

The artist also said how Gazza plays the harmonica and loves doing Van Morrison and Phil Collins songs while he is under the needle.

And explaining the meaning behind some, he said: “I did the picture of Bianca (his daughter) on his back and I’ve just finished a robin in a heart-shaped lock on his back.

“Gazza wanted the robin because he said every time he sees a robin it reminds him of his dad. It was my idea to do the heart on his forearm because it’s symbolic of Gascoigne – he wears his heart on his sleeve. Gazza says he has started to get tattoos done as a way of coping with his demons. We don’t charge him for the tattoos – we’d rather he was with us than down the boozer.”

One of his designs is a red heart on his wrist which is positioned below a similar black one – but not all his tattoos have gone to plan over the years.

He has a Chinese tribute to his ‘mum and dad’ on his stomach spelt incorrectly.

“I was in China and wanted the words ‘Mother’ and ‘Father’ but the guy didn’t understand,” he previously explained. It must have been my accent so he wrote ‘Mother’ and ‘F***er’.

“I didn’t realise until someone who spoke Chinese told me.” The piece includes the word Love which is emblazoned below the Chinese lettering. He had a close relationship with his parents and his mum was even visited by Mike Tyson in Tyneside after the boxer came to see him.

Other inkings include one with the words ‘I Fear Not’ on his right pectoral and he also has barbed wires on his arm – believed to indicate Jesus’ crown of thorns.

The former England ace spoke about turning to God in 2015 and he also has a ‘devil’ panther on his right bicep. Others include scripture on his left forearm and a large rose and butterfly – but the meaning behind them is unknown.

However, much more clear is some of his most bizarre ones, including a penis one he got when drunk. Speaking to Italian reality show Island Of The Famous, he revealed his flower penis tattoo “turns into a tree”.

He also has the names of his manager, Katie Davies, and her husband and two kids on his wrist, previously joking: “At least I didn’t get the dog.” Other names inked to his skin include his friend Debs, ex-wife Sheryl and his son Regan.

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