The legendary midfielder played alongside Gary Lineker for Tottenham Hotspur and though the ‘Match of the Day’ host always enjoyed being around Gazza, he admitted his unwillingness to pass “drove [him] mad”.

Asked the best thing about being Gazza’s teammate, Gary told FourFourTwo magazine: “Laughing at his jokes, you’d constantly be chuckling.

“Sometimes he’d drive you mad though, particularly playing with him because he’d never pass you the ball unless he was knackered – in fact, he was so good that the only time you’d get it was if he knew you had no choice but to give it back. He was lots of fun.”

And the squad knew they were always at risk of falling foul to one of Gazza’s gags.

Asked the worst thing about being his teammate, Gary said: “Being on the receiving end of some of his practical jokes!

“I rarely was, he knew better, but some were quite disgusting.”

The 64-year-old pundit scored 48 goals in 80 games for England, including bagging the Golden Boot after scoring six in the 1986 World Cup, and he’s proud he “surpassed is natural ability”.

Asked what he’s most proud of in his playing days, Gary said: “I surpassed my natural ability.

“I wasn’t naturally gifted technically but I was quick. I was quick of thought and worked out how to score goals.

“Then probably the Golden Boot. It changed my life.

“Not many people have done that. Some of the greatest ever players – Pele, Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona – haven’t done it, so I’m quite proud of that.”