PAUL GASCOIGNE has revealed one of his greatest regrets in life was leaving Rangers as he expressed his admiration for former Ibrox boss Walter Smith.
The Englishman became a hero to supporters during his short but successful stint in Glasgow before he moved to join Middlesbrough in 1998.
Gazza played an integral role in helping Smith's side clinch nine-in-a-row as his mercurial talents saw him light up Scottish football and make headlines on the front and back pages.
And he admits his time in Light Blue allowed him to rediscover his love for the game after clinching a multi-million deal to leave Italian giants Lazio.
“Great memories," Gascoigne told the Rangers Museum Lotto website. "I loved it. People ask me if I have any regrets in life and one of them was leaving this club.
“I have so many great memories of my time at Rangers, like winning nine-in-a-Row. I always get emotional when I walk into the Main Stand.
"I still get a lump in my throat when I come back to Ibrox, those were the days. When you come up here it is something different.
“I was in holiday in Tampa once and I saw Walter Smith and said to my wife at the time that I would love to play for him one day.
“I remember Terry Butcher told me years ago not to mock Scottish Football until I tried it and he was right.
“When I was leaving Lazio, Dino Zoff told me Chelsea, Aston Villa and Rangers were in for me.
"I told him I didn’t want to sign for Queens Park Rangers but he said it was Glasgow Rangers and that was it. I said get them over, straight away!
“When I spoke to Walter he asked me what I was missing in football and I told him it was playing with a smile on my face.
“I wasn’t getting that in Italy and he told me I would get that here and he was spot on.
“When I signed I had blonde here and Rangers fans had turned up with their hair dyed blonde too.
“I never thought I would see anything like I did when at the airport when I signed for Lazio as there were so many fans there but the reaction at Rangers was incredible. I loved playing for Rangers."
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