Paul Gascoigne’s Tottenham career was short, but its brightest moments have never faded.

At his best, he could turn a match with a feint, a pass or a burst of imagination that seemed to come from nowhere.

He played with joy and mischief, but beneath the personality was a world-class footballer whose balance, strength and technique made him almost impossible to contain.

Gascoigne joined Spurs from Newcastle United in 1988 for £2 million, a British record transfer fee at the time. He quickly became one of English football’s most exciting talents.

His Tottenham record reflects the impact he made.

He scored 33 goals in 112 appearances in all competitions between 1988 and 1991, including 19 goals in 92 league outings.

He made 37 appearances and scored seven goals in his first season alone. Those figures, published in Tottenham’s official account of his Spurs debut, underline just how much he contributed before his career in north London was cut short by injury.

His game mixed the daring of a street footballer with the power to ride challenges and the vision to release team-mates.

He was not merely an entertainer: he could dictate play, carry the ball through midfield and create chances under pressure.

A free-kick that became football folklore

His defining Tottenham moment arrived in the 1991 FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal at Wembley.

Gascoigne struck a ferocious free-kick from long range, sending the ball beyond David Seaman and igniting a performance that became part of Spurs folklore.

Tottenham went on to win the FA Cup, defeating Nottingham Forest in the final.

But the showpiece at Wembley on 18 May 1991 would also prove to be Gascoigne’s final appearance for the club.

Just 10 minutes into the match, he suffered a serious knee injury after a challenge on Forest defender Gary Charles, rupturing his cruciate ligament and leaving the pitch on a stretcher.

The injury was a cruel interruption to a career that seemed destined for the very top.

It also put his proposed move to Lazio in doubt. The Italian club ultimately stood by the deal, and Gascoigne moved to Rome in 1992 for a fee of £5.5 million.

Gascoigne’s later career was shaped by both brilliance and personal struggles. Those complexities should not erase the joy he brought supporters when he was playing freely and fearlessly.

For Tottenham, Gascoigne remains one of the great what-might-have-beens and one of the most loved talents ever to wear the shirt.

The Wembley free-kick captures him perfectly: audacious, technically magnificent and utterly unforgettable. Few players have left such a lasting impression in so few appearances.