Gazza changes his name

G8 in his old Paul Gascoigne days

Fifteen years ago Paul Gascoigne was one of the finest footballers on the planet.

These days he is struggling to make his mark as a coach, his latest attempt lasting just two months at the League Two side Boston United.

Now the 37-year-old has attempted to resurrect his career by changing his name to, wait for it, G8.

It is nothing to do with the group of eight leading industrial nations, rather it is a combination of his surname and his old shirt number.

"G8 is right for us now," said Gascoigne. "It sounds a bit like great, or it does with my Geordie accent."

I can only hope it is one of his famous wind-ups and he hasn't gone totally loopy From G What should Gazza have changed his name to? Have your say on 606

It is also the name of the group which includes eight of the world's leading nations and holds annual summits where issues ranging from peace and democracy to the global economy are discussed.

Whether Gascoigne was aware of that is another matter.

He wants to sever ties to his hell-raising days when huge amounts of alcohol, consumed in the company of best mate Jimmy 'Five Bellies' Gardner, frequently turned him into the nation's laughing stock.

"Paul's not right for us because it's too closely linked with the past," the former Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Lazio and Rangers player added.

Let's hope the man who will still affectionately be known as Gazza to most of his fans does not go down the route travelled by Prince.

Feature: Gizza break Gazza

In 1993 the American singer changed his name to an unwritable, squiggled symbol.

He topped this by adopting the name The Artist Formerly Known As Prince, and later The Artist.

The singer eventually gave up the absurdity and changed his name back to Prince.