Gareth Bale

Gareth Bale of Wales leads the applause for the fans after the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match between Wales and England at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on ...

"So, I move on with anticipation to the next stage of my life. "My wife and my children, your love and support has carried me through. "I feel incredibly fortunate to have realised my dream of playing the sport I love.

Five-time Champions League winner and Welsh football icon Gareth Bale has retired at the age of 33.

How do I put into words the way I felt, every single time I put on that Welsh shirt? “So, I move on with anticipation to the next stage of my life. How do I articulate the impact it has had on my life? “It was an honor to have one of the most talented, dynamic and exciting players of his generation finish his career with a title for LAFC, and we wish Gareth, his wife Emma, and their family nothing but the best in their future endeavors,” LAFC Co-President & General Manager John Thorrington said in a statement. “My decision to retire from International football has been, by far the hardest of my career,” he said in a separate “I feel indebted to many people for helping to change my life and shape my career in a way I couldn’t have ever dreamed of when I first started out at 9 years old.

Bale, who broke through at Southampton in 2006, also played for Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid during a storied career. He won the Champions League five ...

I am honoured and humbled to have been able to play a part in the history of this incredible country, to have felt the support and passion of the red wall, and together have been to unexpected and amazing places. The fortune of being Welsh and being selected to play for and captain Wales, has given me something incomparable to anything else I’ve experienced. Right beside me for all the highs and lows, keeping me grounded along the way. All of my previous managers and coaches, backroom staff, team-mates, all the dedicated fans, my agents, my amazing friends and family, the impact you have had is immeasurable. Bale’s statement continued: “I feel incredibly fortunate to have realised my dream of playing the sport I love. Playing for and captaining my country 111 times has truly been a dream come true.

The Welsh legend starred for Southampton, Tottenham, Real Madrid and Los Angeles Football Club during his 17-year career as he won five Champions League titles ...

Wales legend Gareth Bale announced his retirement from professional soccer on Monday. Tottenham and LAFC were quick to post tributes. Real Madrid less so.

"So, I move on with anticipation to the next stage of my life. "My wife and my children, your love and support has carried me through. "To my previous clubs, Southampton, Tottenham, Real Madrid and finally LAFC. "I feel incredibly fortunate to have realised my dream of playing the sport I love. "To show my gratitude to all of those that have played their part along this journey, feels like an impossibility. "His figure will be forever linked to the history and legend of our club.

The Gareth Bale era at LAFC will always be remembered fondly because of one goal, one header, one moment deep into extra-time of MLS Cup 2022.

[2023 Concacaf Champions League](https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/concacaf-champions-league/) and drew Costa Rica’s Alajuelense in the Round of 16. [LA Galaxy](https://www.mlssoccer.com/clubs/la-galaxy/) at the Rose Bowl (9:30 pm ET Internationally, Tello earned one cap for Spain in 2013 and featured at the London 2012 Summer Olympics. He then helped keep Bale out of the team in the summer. Biuk was named to the 40-man shortlist for UEFA’s Golden Boy award in 2022. He appeared in all 34 regular-season matches, underpinning his importance to the group, and started 20 games, despite all of LAFC’s more established attacking talent. With Bale stepping away from the game as a champion and hero for Wales, leading his country to the The answer to replace Bale can already be found within the roster, which we’ll get to in a second. (He headed away a corner a minute later before the penalty shootout). But now with Bale off the books, the salary cap just opened up and there’s full clarity on their final DP spot. The club option to extend his deal would have made him a Designated Player. For more on his stellar career, and all of those accolades, check

The former Wales captain had no shortage of legendary goals, performances and headlines in his 17-year career with club and country.

Bale arrived off the bench in a 1–1 tie in the 61st minute and made an immediate and shocking impact. The dream of a run like its Euro 2016 campaign fizzled out after a 2–0 loss to Iran and 3–0 defeat to England, but the country of just over three million finally got the World Cup moment it desired for decades. But after scoring a solo goal off the bench in his second appearance, Bale offered very little to the league leaders until it mattered most. A wacky back-and-forth match against the Philadelphia Union saw Bale come onto the pitch in the 97th minute and his side go down 3–2 in the 124th. He scored 15 goals and assisted 12 in 27 league matches while Madrid faltered in La Liga to finish third for the first time in a decade. Wales had never reached a European championship and had made the World Cup just once in its history. He took a seemingly heavy touch and maneuvered around Bartra, whose attempt to shield him from the ball was futile, before latching back onto it and finishing cooly between the legs of the goalkeeper. In the end, Spurs nabbed the record fee and Madrid retooled to go after La Liga and the Champions League. Bale had spent most of his six seasons in North London proving himself as one of the most exciting players in all of European soccer. But his legacy will be that of a player of the moment. The comeback fell short, but the shocking performance turned a “welcome to the league” moment into a coming out party. After a breakout 2009-10 season, it was clear Bale was ready for the big time.

Team-mates, coaches and Bale's old physical education teacher on his love of Wales and the remarkable impact he had on the national team.

“That was probably towards the point where a lot of stuff was being said and written, an agenda created, and it probably got to… “I think especially for Wales it might have dawned on him that he was the player that could make the difference for us, and become almost immortal really, a superhero figure,” Vaughan says. “But if you were ever thinking about the things that have got us to this point now, Gareth Bale would be at the forefront. Highlights of Bale’s outstanding performance in that Scotland match were doing the rounds on Twitter in October, marking the fact it was a decade ago. “We’ve had top, top players at club level in the past and we’ve not quite got them to, perhaps, perform or to be able to be as effective in the Wales team. For Roberts, it was a simple case of Bale sending the right message to the other Wales players and the staff. [Chris](https://theathletic.com/football/player/chris-ugTFXg37FLn9pY9z/) that the players weren’t sure and Gareth led that in terms of asking, ‘Why are we doing this?’,” Roberts recalls. “He would have felt he was trusted when he came back to play for Wales,” he says. “He complained in a constructive manner on the pitch. “The fortune of being Welsh, and being selected to play for and captain Wales, has given me something incomparable to anything else I’ve experienced,” Bale writes in his retirement statement. And it’s rubbing off on a lot of players, especially the younger generation — these guys don’t miss Wales games anymore, they don’t pick and choose, they want to be in camp.” He vowed to “keep going” for as long as he was wanted.

Forward Gareth Bale, who made a name for himself in England's Premier League and Spain's La Liga, announced his retirement at the age of 33 on Monday.

"So, I move on with anticipation to the next stage of my life. It has truly given me some of the best moments of my life. "My wife and my children, your love and support has carried me through.

Bale - who announced his retirement in an emotional post on Monday - shot to stardom in 2010 after notching a second-half hat-trick against the reigning ...

They were beaten 4-0 in Spain and 1-0 at White Hart Lane. [BBC World Service](https://twitter.com/JohnBennettBBC/status/1612762480203206656?s=20&t=jyhj17HaBbBe77uxgoF75Q), Bassong said: 'He [Bale] just took the game on, on his own. I remember Samuel Eto'o asking me on the pitch: "Who's that?!" At San Siro, he lifted the game up, changed the whole scenario and gave us hope.' It was crazy to see how easy it was for him to do whatever he wanted to do. [who announced his retirement in an emotional post on Monday](/sport/football/article-11615297/Gareth-Bale-retires-football-Wales-Tottenham-Real-Madrid-legend-hangs-boots.html) - shot to stardom in 2010 after notching a second-half hat-trick against the reigning [Champions League](/sport/champions_league/index.html) holders in Spurs' 4-3 defeat.

Bale, a five-time Champions League winner at Real Madrid, announced his retirement from the game on Monday at the age of 33. Bale captained Wales at the ...

“I told him I think it’s the right time to bow out. Page has said that Bale informed him of his decision to retire on Sunday and agreed that it was the correct call. But it was a disappointing return as Page’s side failed to win a single game and exited at the group stage.

The Welsh attacker retired, effective immediately, from club and country.

The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jan/09/newcastle-target-carabao-cup-to-end-54-year-wait-silverware-leicester) [Napoli blast hooligans after fighting fans cause motorway chaos](https://sports.yahoo.com/napoli-blast-hooligans-fighting-fans-145403434.html) MLSSoccer.com](https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/will-lafc-miss-gareth-bale-here-are-their-options-in-attack) [FA Cup](http://www.sbnation.com/fa-cup) is rich with history and national pride. [Leicester](https://fosseposse.sbnation.com). Reyna: The breakdown - Stars and Stripes FC](https://www.starsandstripesfc.com/ssfc-podcast/2023/1/9/23545820/usa-usmnt-gregg-berhalter-claudio-reyna-danielle-gio-scandal-head-coach-us-soccer) [Atletico Madrid](https://www.intothecalderon.com) and Portugal forward Joao Felix on loan for the rest of the season. [Leeds](https://throughitalltogether.sbnation.com) after a strong start in the Premier League. [Everton](https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com) manager Roberto Martinez is named Portugal head coach following Fernando Santos’ departure. [USMNT](https://www.starsandstripesfc.com/) head coach hiring process. [Arthur Blank’s AMBSE Focuses on Continuity in Leadership Reshuffle – Sportico.com](https://www.sportico.com/personalities/executives/2023/ambse-arthur-blank-leadership-reshuffle-1234700566/) [Robert Kraft States That He's, "Optimistic About A Revolution Stadium," For Record 29th Year — The Nutmeg News](https://www.thenutmegnews.com/current/2023/1/9/robert-kraft-states-that-hes-optimistic-about-a-revolution-stadium-for-record-29th-year) [LAFC](https://www.angelsonparade.com) will always be remembered fondly because of one goal, one header, one moment deep into extra-time of MLS Cup 2022.

Vancouver Whitecaps sign Uruguayan defender Laborda Vancouver Whitecaps FC have added a second center back ahead of the 2023 MLS season, announcing Monday ...

[signed Eldin Jakupović from English Premier League side Everton](https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/lafc-sign-goalkeeper-eldin-jakupovic-from-everton). [re-signed midfielder Amar Sejdić to a one-year contract](https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/atlanta-united-re-sign-midfielder-amar-sejdic) with club options for 2024 and 2025. [signed the midfielder on a free transfer](https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/sebas-mendez-joins-brazil-s-sao-paulo-after-4-year-mls-career). [Sign up for The Daily Kickoff in your inbox!](https://www.mlssoccer.com/newsletters/) The Daily Kickoff is more than an article – it can be delivered to your email account as well. - The San Jose Earthquakes picked up Michael Baldisimo in the Re-Entry Draft and were able to sign him to a new deal. [signed Arnaud Souquet from Ligue 1 side Montpellier HSC](https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/chicago-fire-sign-defender-arnaud-souquet-from-ligue-1-s-montpellier) on a free transfer. Back in November, San Jose selected Baldisimo in Stage 2 of the 2022 MLS Re-Entry Draft. But they’re on a bit of a hot streak as of late when it comes to making steps in the right direction. The Five Stripes still have a long way to go to get their roster up to their fanbase’s standards. Some things will have to break their way, but is it really that far-fetched to see this group putting in a string of consistent performances that keep them above the line for most of the year? Yeah, it would have been nice to have him around for a CCL run, but he wouldn’t have been a locked-in starter. The 23-year-old had exclusively played for Nacional in his home country and now inks a three-year guaranteed deal through 2025 with an option for 2026.

The Manchester City boss wants to be one of the featured groups in Gareth Bale's retirement golf bonanza.

It has morphed from a media narrative to self-fulfilling prophecy in recent years, and who better to talk Guardiola out of it than Mr. Less than 24 hours after the Welshman’s announcement, he is already receiving invites to tee it up from all across sports, including from Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, a mad-hatter-level soccer genius currently pushing to win his fifth Premier League title in the last six seasons. [announcing his retirement](https://twitter.com/GarethBale11/status/1612466979373461504) at the age of 33.

Wales is a country that often feels sidelined, but he became an ambassador that couldn't be ignored.

For a few years he was one of the best players in the world, [the Copa del Rey final of 2014](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/apr/16/barcelona-real-madrid-copa-del-rey-match-report-gareth-bale) where it was easier for him to run off the pitch and round the Barcelona player trailing in his wake was a carbon copy of [something he’d done for Wales against Iceland](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/mar/05/wales-iceland-international-friendly-match-report) a few months before. He has done far more to put Wales on the map than any individual in my lifetime. [It had to be him](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/jun/11/gareth-bale-wales-slovakia-european-championship-group-b-football). His blend of sporting ingenuity and craving to win could prompt the unorthodox; the goal he scored in Failure to qualify for a major tournament had been a festering wound in Wales for 58 years and bordered on a national obsession, but Bale seemed to thrive on the responsibility. [in the first game of Euro 2016](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/jun/11/wales-slovakia-euro-2016-match-report) by scoring after 10 minutes and when the euphoria in the stands died down the 24,000 Wales fans who’d made the trip to Bordeaux looked at each other and wondered which celestial being to thank. [Wales](https://www.theguardian.com/football/wales) shirt who was capable of the miraculous, with a passion for representing his country that crackled like electricity. Someone who could succeed for his country where the superstars of the past had failed. Playing at left-back for his club, a folly met with utter disbelief by Toshack and the Wales intermediate team manager Brian Flynn, the visionaries instrumental in playing him further up the pitch, Bale’s progress was initially gradual. One hundred and eleven caps and 41 goals ago, a 16-year-old Gareth Bale made his debut for Wales at a time when the landscape around the team was very different. There seemed to be a conveyor belt of teenagers, but we worried none would make the grade.

The Wales, Tottenham, Real Madrid and LAFC forward has abruptly retired, though it is a choice befitting a player capable of shining so bright.

However, he was a shadow of his best in Qatar, scoring his country's only goal from the penalty spot against the U.S., and after an ineffectual display against Iran, Bale was substituted with an injury at half-time in defeat to England. He sought a balanced life, joy away from the club game on the golf course or in the unusually close camaraderie of his Wales teammates. Bale's decline had begun, and he had no interest in raging against the dying of the light. Wales successfully reached the delayed Euro 2020 finals, but it was in reaching the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the country's first in 64 years, that Bale took his homeland to places they could only dream of. What shone through brightest in the latter part of his career, however, was a genuine love and affection for Wales, something that had always been there in his early years. Euro 2016 marked Wales' first finals appearance in 58 years, and they reached the semifinals with Bale at the heart of everything, scoring three times. His second-half hat trick was no fluke; rather, it was the product of his fearsome pace and direct style. It came as a shock only because he insisted in the immediate aftermath of Wales' World Cup group stage exit in Qatar that he would continue. Bale's overhead kick in the 2018 Champions League final against Liverpool was a goal so stunning it is seared into the memory banks forever. Tottenham would end up losing 4-3 to Inter Milan, but Bale's hat trick demonstrated a mixture of devastation and defiance that would come to encapsulate his career. The sad truth is that recently his body has shown signs of wear not because of the miles travelled but from the scorching speeds he reached. In the end, Gareth Bale decided it was better to burn out than fade away.