Paul Gascoigne has named Vinnie Jones as the hardest man in football, overlooking other notorious tough players like Roy Keane and Duncan Ferguson.
The former England star, who played with and against some of football's most physical players during his career in the 80s and 90s, singled out the ex-Wimbledon and Leeds United enforcer as his "toughest opponent ever".
Despite having faced Manchester United legend Keane during his time at Nottingham Forest and having played alongside the famously intimidating Ferguson at Everton, Gascoigne was clear that Jones stood alone as the player who truly worried him on the pitch.
Gascoigne enjoyed a storied career with clubs including Newcastle United, Tottenham, Lazio and Rangers, sharing the pitch with footballing greats such as Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer.
Paul Gascoigne played against Nottingham Forest's Roy Keane while he was at SpursGettyDuring his time at Spurs, he faced Keane when the Irishman was still at Nottingham Forest, before the midfielder's move to Manchester United.
Throughout his playing days, 'Gazza' encountered numerous players with fearsome reputations, including his former Everton teammate Duncan Ferguson.
However, when asked to name football's ultimate hard man, Gascoigne bypassed these well-known enforcers, instead singling out Vinnie Jones as the player who truly struck fear into him.
Recalling a specific encounter with Jones, Gascoigne shared: "I remember walking along the corridor at Elland Road when Tottenham played at Leeds and seeing Vinnie in the gym, pumping iron, ripped to bits.
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Paul Gascoigne played against Vinnie Jones on multiple occasions
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"I'd forgotten he'd just signed for Leeds, and I was going, 'Oh sh*t'."
The 57-year-old was unequivocal about Jones' intimidating presence on the pitch.
"He was my toughest opponent ever, without a shadow of a doubt," Gascoigne admitted.
"He was the only player I was ever worried about playing against and it was always a scary 90 minutes. But I would have loved him in my team to protect me."
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Gascoigne and Jones share a legendary rivalry, most famously captured in an iconic photograph from February 1988 showing Jones covertly grabbing Gascoigne by his testicles during a league match between Wimbledon and Newcastle.
The image became one of football's most notorious moments of on-field intimidation.
Despite their fierce battles on the pitch, the pair's relationship off the field tells a different story.
Jones has clarified that their supposed animosity was largely a media creation: "The press made out we hated each other, but we didn't. I did a job on the day.
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The famous photo of Vinnie Jones and Paul Gascoigne was in 1988
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"If we'd lost 3-0, I would've been the laughing stock, but then afterwards we had a laugh and got on really well."
In fact, Jones has revealed that he feels a special connection with Gascoigne that goes beyond their professional rivalry.
Jones suggested a genuine fondness between the two former adversaries, saying: "I see a lot of Gazza in me, our relationship now, he's like a younger brother, I feel like this sixth sense with us."
This brotherly bond between the pair stands in stark contrast to their fierce on-field encounters, demonstrating how football's most intimidating rivalries can sometimes mask unexpected friendships.
Despite Jones being named by Gascoigne as the most fearsome opponent he ever faced, their relationship has evolved into one of mutual respect and affection.
