Welsh footballer Gareth Bale has announced his retirement from professional football, ending an illustrious career that spanned 17 years. The 34-year-old decided to retire midway through his contract at Los Angeles FC, which was due to expire this summer. He is Wales’ all-time leading goalscorer and a five-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid.
Early Years and Rise to Fame
Bale started his football journey at Southampton, where he made his debut at 16. After six years at Tottenham, he signed with Real Madrid in 2013 for a then-world-record transfer fee of £85 million. His nine-year spell with the Spanish club saw him score 81 goals in 176 appearances, becoming a crucial part of the team that won four Champions League titles.
Bale’s Greatest Moments
One of Bale’s most memorable moments came in the 2018 Champions League final against Liverpool, where he scored a stunning overhead-kick goal later named UEFA Goal of the Year. His match-winning goal in the 2014 Copa del Rey final against Barcelona was another high point where he picked up the ball from halfway and sprinted off the pitch before returning to slot home the winner.
Bale’s international career also had many memorable moments, including his sensational double for Wales against Austria in the World Cup playoff semi-final in Cardiff. His final goal for Wales was a penalty against the USA in the World Cup in Qatar.
Controversy and Criticism
Despite his success on the pitch, Bale’s latter years at Real Madrid were disrupted by controversy and injury. He received stinging criticism in Spain for celebrating Wales’ qualification for Euro 2020 by cavorting with a flag that read: “Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that Order”. However, Bale defended his love for golf, stating that it was a way to escape the pressure of football and the intensity of life.
Final Goodbye
Bale’s final game was the 3-0 defeat by England in November 2021 in Qatar, in which he was substituted at half-time. His last goal at the domestic level was a 128th-minute headed equaliser to help LAFC en route to their Major League Soccer Cup victory earlier that month.
Bale is honoured with a mural in Whitchurch, north Cardiff, where he grew up with his parents, Frank and Debbie, and sister, Vicky. He expressed his gratitude for the support from the Welsh Football Association, stating that the dragon on his shirt inspired him to play his best.
Legacy
Gareth Bale’s retirement from football marks the end of an era, but his legacy will continue. In addition to being widely regarded as one of the greatest Welsh footballers of all time, he is also one of the most decorated players in British football history. His international success has been a role model for up-and-coming Welsh footballers, and his impact on the sport will last long after he is gone.
Conclusion
Gareth Bale’s football career may have ended, but his achievements and impact on the sport will not be forgotten. From his stunning overhead-kick goal in the Champions League final to his role in Wales’ World Cup journey, Bale has left a lasting impression on football. While he may retire from the sport To this day, his legacy has inspired countless young Welsh footballers.
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