Former British soccer star Paul Gascoigne, who came to China in hopes of reviving his career, has signed to play with a B-league team in the country's desert northwest.
``It's a challenge for me. I like challenges,'' Gascoigne said yesterday. He signed Sunday with Gansu Tianma, a team in the impoverished province of Gansu. It is ranked last among 12 teams in the second division of China's top league.
``We picked him because he's a real professional player,'' said Zhong Bohong, general manager for Gansu Tianma, which means Heavenly Horse. ``He has a good sense of the game. He has good skills and experience, especially in the big matches.''
Zhong said Gascoigne signed the one-year, renewable contract on Sunday, but would not reveal how much the deal was worth.
Key player
"We think he could play a key role in the team. We'd like him to be the spiritual leader of the team," Zhong said.
"He is player and also an assistant. We need his experience to help our young coaches."
Gansu Tianma ended the 2002 season bottom of the B-league with a record of four wins, seven draws and 11 defeats.
Zhong said Gascoigne had weaknesses. "We noticed he has two shortcomings; one is his physical fitness, another is leg strength," Zhong said.
"It's fine if he can play the whole match. If he cannot, we can let him to play half of a match, or 30 minutes, even 15 minutes, only if he can steady the morale of the team," Zhong said.
``It's a great opportunity,'' Gascoigne said. ``They're enthusiastic, they're fit guys. The team didn't do really well last year, and hopefully I'll be able to help them to do better.''
The flamboyant 35-year-old former midfielder for England, once regarded as one of the biggest talents in world soccer, has battled weight and drinking problems, and been branded a wife-beater in media reports.
He was unsuccessful in hooking up with an English club this season, even though he said he has shed his drinking habit as well as a few kilograms and was ready to play.
``I've changed a hell of a lot,'' said ``Gazza.''
He said he turned down offers to play for several English clubs because he wanted to ``get out of England.''
Gascoigne, who has played in Italy and Scotland, also tried to win a spot with DC United, an American team in Washington, DC, but it declined to take him on. He has also been linked with teams in New Zealand, Russia and elsewhere -- all of whom declined to take him on.
In the gym
Putting his hopes in China, Gascoigne arrived in mid-January, saying he had trained ``really, really hard.''
He was scheduled to try out with several of the country's top clubs, including Liaoning Bodao, but it decided not to sign him because it said his physical condition was not up to par.
But Gascoigne said he stayed confident and it paid off.
``China feels great,'' he said. ``It's one of these places that has grown on me. I'm enjoying every day of it.''
The ex-England star's move to the Chinese league would be the latest high-profile football exchange between the two countries.
Two Chinese internationals now play in England's premier league, including international midfielder Li Tie at Everton.
Gascoigne arrived in Beijing earlier this month hoping to revive his career with a Chinese club and trained with first division side Liaoning Bodao, who appeared less than impressed by his performance.
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