By Paul Fletcher BBC Sport Online

A career in football gives a player the opportunity to ply his trade all over the world.

And Paul Gascoigne's desperation to keep on playing way past the final whistle has now taken him to Gansu Tianma, based in the city of Lanzhou.

England's daftest footballer and an obscure location in deepest China does not instantly seem a match made in heaven.

After all, Gazza's cheeky chappie humour doesn't always go down well with the locals - as his infamous belch into an Italian television camera illustrated.

So just what are Gazza's new surroundings like and how will the erstwhile Geordie cope?

Home sweet home

Lanzhou, in the province of Gansu, is an important stop on the Silk Road and lies on the Yellow River - which were undoubtedly key factors in Gazza's decision to move there.

Gansu is largely desert and one of the poorest and most under-developed parts of China.

Lanzhou used to be officially the most polluted place in the world and is not exactly known as a place of historical interest or aesthetic delight.

Nearby are the Thousand Buddha Caves - though it takes a substantial stretch of the imagination to visualise Gazza visiting on his day off for a spot of meditation.

Howay the lads

Gazza has joined second division strugglers Gansu Tianma as a player-coach - but what good is that if no-one can understand what the great sage has to say?

Fortunately lots of the locals speak English.

"The manager speaks good English and some of the players do," said Gazza.

He is a popular figure in China and his communication skills are sure to be tested by the inquisitive locals.

"People in China know all the details about Gazza," said Victor He, a sports producer with the BBC World Service.

"They know he is naughty and a bad boy - but that is part of the reason why they like him so much."

When training's finished

Gansu province may be poor but Lanzhou seems fully stocked with all Gazza's entertainment needs.

"Gazza will have a good life - no doubt," said He.

"He can gamble, drink and have fun.

"Life in China, for someone like Gazza, can be a lot more free than it is in London."

And on a reported �400,000-per-year, a monster salary by local standards, Gazza will be able to afford just about anything he wants.

Food and drink

No need to worry here either - in fact Gazza has already been busy acquainting himself with the local delicacies.

Gazza can get a kebab in Lanzhou

"I've tried everything. I've tried duck's head, I've tried chicken's head, chicken's feet, bats and everything," said Gascoigne.

"And hopefully if I keep that up I'll be flying."

And if Gazza is hit by a sudden pang of nostalgia and wants to recreate one of his more infamous moments from yesteryear he could always try a Chinese-style kebab.

They might not look quite like the post-pub English version but they should do a job.

"There is a lot of lamb and beef in Ginsu and kebab-style food is popular if a little smaller in size than Gazza will be used to," said He.

Tsingtao is the most popular beer, but imported lagers such as Fosters and Carlsberg are readily available.

China crisis

Even with so many factors seemingly in Gazza's favour there is no guarantee the move will work out.

Roeder could keep Gazza company

Maybe a minder is required to keep an eye on the great man.

Beleaguered West Ham boss Glenn Roeder did the job when Gazza joined Lazio - helping Gazza to settle in a foreign land.

And his dazzling skills in guiding the Hammers to the bottom of the Premiership mean he could soon be available to fill his nursery role again.

The way things are going at West Ham, Roeder might soon feel like getting away from it all.