Ex-wife of tragic soccer hero Best fears Gazza could meet similar grisly end

Tragic soccer hero George Best's ex-wife Alex Best has wished that troubled footie legend Paul Gascoigne will remember how her husband died and will have the willpower not to drink.

Once married to the Manchester United legend, Alex knows all too well the destructive temptations from people drinking around their idols and fears Gazza could sadly go the same way as George, whose alcoholism led to his death in 2005.

"I hope Paul will see what happened to George and take that on board, because it won't be a happy ending if he starts drinking again," The Sun quoted Alex as saying.

"Hopefully he can find the willpower. Jimmy Greaves did it. He hasn't had a drink for 30 years. Drink will lead Paul to ill health and bad situations. He needs to stay off it," she added.

Gazza, 45, is a recovering alcoholic, while George Best died in 2005 aged just 59 from complications arising out of a liver transplant.

"George was really, really ill for three years before he got his liver transplant. He also had pellets sewn into his stomach, which made him have an allergic reaction when he had a drink. He tried everything. He tried counselling. It's a hard battle," Alex added.