| GASCOIGNE | Paul _, ex-footballer nicknamed Gazza (9) |
| RUDDOCK | Neil_, ex-footballer nicknamed Razor (7) |
| INCE | Paul ___, ex-footballer (4) |
| PIRLO | Andrea, Italian ex-footballer nicknamed The Architect (5) |
| FERDINAND | Rio _, ex-footballer turned TV pundit (9) |
| NEGLIGENT | Thoughtless Gazza initially left one German with space in goal (9) |
| LOFTHOUSE | Nat ___, English footballer, nicknamed The Lion of Vienna |
| TEDMCMINN | Scottish footballer nicknamed 'The Tin Man' whose clubs included Rangers, Sevilla, Derby County and Birmingham City |
| PAUL | _ Gascoigne, ex-footballer aka "Gazza" (4) |
| REDKNAPP | Harry _, ex-footballer behind Harry's Heroes: The Full English (8) |
| BECKHAM | David _, ex-footballer and subject of a Netflix documentary (7) |
| FERGUSON | Barry ___, ex-footballer who became interim head coach of Glasgow Rangers in 2025 (8) |
| UKRAINIAN | Ex-footballer Andriy Shevchenko has this nationality (9) |
| PRESIDENT | Trump was the last citizen ex-footballer's taken to court (9-5) |
| SHERYL | First name of Paul "Gazza" Gascoigne's ex-wife (6) |
| ALEKARRAS | Heady ex-footballer? |
| ALEXSCOTT | Ex-footballer who has hosted Football Focus since 2021 (4,5) |
| PEARCE | Ex-England footballer nicknamed Psycho (6) |
| ROBSON | Bryan, ex-Manchester United and England footballer nicknamed Captain Marvel (6) |
| TONYADAMS | Ex-footballer who sustained an injury and bypassed a Strictly dance-off (4,5) |
