Paul Merson

A leading football speaker, Paul Merson is undoubtedly one of the characters of football, enjoying a successful professional football career as well as turning his hand to managerial and punditry work. An ideal football speaker for events, Paul describes the drive and determination needed to perform at a high level consistently, combined with the ability to perform under the pressure of the media and fans. Playing for highly successful clubs has given Paul the insight into life at the top, allowing him to deliver intriguing talks as a football speaker. Beginning his career at Arsenal in 1984 as an apprentice, Paul made his debut for the side in 1986 against Manchester City, before becoming a permanent figure on the team towards the late eighties.

The attacking midfielder played for Arsenal 423 times in total, scoring 99 goals in all competitions before moving to Middlesborough for a record £5 million pound fee. Paul first played for his national side in 1991, playing in a friendly against Germany. Also playing in the 1992 Euro Championship, 1994 World Cup and 1998 World Cup, Merson racked up 21 caps for his country, scoring on three occasions. He played a pivotal part in a team that had one of the most successful runs for England in the modern era of the sport.

Since retiring from professional play in 2006, Paul has made his mark as a memorable and well liked TV pundit. Appearing on Sky Sports, where he is part of the panel for Soccer Saturday and on the program ‘Fantasy Football Club’, Paul is an instantly recognisable face for fans. In addition to TV reporting, Paul has also dabbled in writing, mainly articles for the Arsenal FC magazine and the Daily Star’s ‘Seriously Football’ section. Most recently, in 2024, Paul was named as a competitor on Strictly Come Dancing 2024.