Paul Gascoigne's Welcome To David Ginola Remains Iconic, It Was Classic 'Gazza'

Paul Gascoigne welcomed David Ginola to Everton in the only way he knew how to - by running out to training wearing a wig.

The Frenchman signed for the Toffees in 2002 after two years at Aston Villa and linked up with another one of football's great entertainers in Gascoigne, who had been at Everton since 2000.

The pair both turned out for Spurs and Newcastle at different times and so their paths didn't cross until Ginola made the switch up to Merseyside in 2002.

And Ginola received a unique welcome from Gascoigne. Well remembered for his long, well-groomed locks, Ginola saw Gascoigne mimic his iconic hair by whacking on a big old artificial piece and running around with it on.

He looked a lot like Jimmy Bullard, another player who had the cheekiness about him.

Teammates and reporters were in complete and utter hysterics, as Gascoigne took part in fitness drills while trying to stop his new temporary hair from getting in his eyes.

When Paul Gascoigne welcomed David Ginola at his first Everton training session by wearing a long wig 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/wtT0hY5dIz

— 90s Football (@90sfootball) July 3, 2022

Gascoigne will remain one of the most colourful characters in football and he got up to all sorts in his career. They simply don't make them like him anymore.

Gazza was on pure vibes looool https://t.co/HyHoH0Harw

— Prince de la poche (@yxnnck) July 4, 2022

Typical everyday Gazza 🤣 #paulgascoigne @Everton @RangersFC @NUFC https://t.co/aytdZhEFVc

— Trevor Steven (@TrevorSteven63) July 4, 2022

This man was something else https://t.co/Nlfkx6Tdu9

— Keiron Horncastle (@Broleythedog01) July 4, 2022

🤣 class. Players are like robots these days https://t.co/UMiTqmqsIN

— Jack Morton (@Jack_em) July 4, 2022

There won’t be a wittier player than Gazza. Ever. https://t.co/dkfEGfdUrD

— Yaw (@theyawofosu) July 3, 2022

When footballers had and were allowed to have personalities https://t.co/lcXmqjhrio

— Charlie (@CharlieP2304) July 3, 2022

Sadly Ginola and Gascoigne did not spend much time with one another on the pitch at all.

The former Paris Saint-Germain star made just five appearances in the Premier League for Everton and retired at the end of the season.

Gascoigne, meanwhile, played 23 times in all competitions but moved on not long after David Moyes replaced Walter Smith at the helm.

He later turned out for Burnley, Chinese side Gansu Tianma and Boston United.

But his stint at Everton did also feature a memorable meeting with a 14-year-old Wayne Rooney in 2000. Rooney was making waves at Everton and well on his way to being the future of English football.

Gascoigne had a chat with the Everton youth team after a game in which Rooney scored twice and ended up giving England's record goalscorer £40 for some pints.

Recalling the story on Amazon Prime's 'Back of the Net', Rooney said: “I remember Gazza coming to see us in the changing room and asking ‘Is anyone going out tonight? I’ll give you a bit of money’.

“Me being confident I say ‘yes’, and Gazza came up to me and gave me £40.

"It was only a few years ago when I saw him again, he asked for his £40 back!”

Years later, when Rooney headed back to Everton, the two recreated the moment as Gascoigne visited the Finch Farm training ground.