Big surprise this Monday, January 9 with the announcement of the retirement of the Welshman Gareth Bale, former star of Real Madrid.
He was one of the players capable of making a difference at any time during a match. Monday January 9, the Welsh international announced his surprise retirement on social networks, just a few weeks after having played in the 2022 World Cup with his selection of the Wales. In a long text, the former Real Madrid legend explains that this decision is the result of a long reflection. Leaving for the MLS side, he won the American championship in 2022 with Los Angeles FC.
“After careful consideration, I am announcing my immediate retirement from club and international football, wrote Gareth Bale in two publications. I feel incredibly lucky to have realized my dream of playing the sport I love. clearly brought some of the best times of my life.”
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Originally from Wales, Gareth Bale was born on July 16, 1989. He trained at the football academy in Bath, in the south-west of England. He began his club career in 2005 playing for Southampton and played his first match in 2006 when he was only 16 years old. In May 2007, he signed a £10 million contract with Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. Despite a right foot injury in December 2007, he quickly became an indispensable part of the Spurs team. He progressed very quickly and he was considered one of the best players in the Premier League in 2009-2010. On April 17, 2011, he also won the title of Player of the Year. During the 2011-2012 season, Gareth Bale scored ten goals in the championship. He then extended his contract at Tottenham for four years, until 2016.
Gareth Bale joined Real Madrid on September 1, 2013. The club signed a 101 million euro contract to have the player. It was then the most expensive transfer ever made in the history of football. Since then, it has been overtaken in particular by Neymar, for 222 million euros. His first season at Real Madrid was a success: he scored 22 goals and distinguished himself with 16 assists. In March 2016, he was crowned Britain’s top scorer in La Liga history and went on to win the Champions League. During the 2016-2017 season, Gareth Bale was injured several times and a dislocated ankle forced him to stay away from football pitches for 4 months. This did not prevent him from winning the UEFA Super Cup in August 2017. Shortly after, fully recovered, Gareth Bale was then rated as the fastest football player in the world. More in difficulty during his last seasons at Real Madrid, he was gradually pushed aside by Zinedine Zidane, the coach of Real.
On September 19, 2020, the Welsh player was loaned to Tottenham. He then scored a goal against Brighton and thus helped Tottenham to climb to the podium. Gareth Bale is also engaged in charity work and participates in the FIFA 20 Combat Corona tournament on April 5, 2020. This tournament takes place for the benefit of UNICEF and aims to collect donations to fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The Welsh professional football player is also passionate about golf, a passion that is often criticized by his fans, accusing him of abandoning football in favor of golf.
Gareth Bale had his first selection for the Wales team in 2006. The team took part in the Euros in 2016 and the player stood out on several occasions thanks to his goals. He is also the top scorer of the Euro in the group stage. Two years later, he reached a new record: he was the top scorer in the history of Wales. In the spring of 2021, Gareth Bale is again selected to participate in Euro 2020, postponed by one year due to Covid-19.
The Welsh player won only one title with the Tottenham club: the League Cup in 2008. He reached the final in 2021. Gareth Bale also won the Spanish Cup in 2014 with Real Madrid and champion of Spain in 2017 and 2020. In 2017 he also won the Spanish Supercup. The Champions League no longer holds any secrets for Real Madrid, who won first place four times, in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018. The player also achieved victory in the UEFA Super Cup in 2014, 2016 and 2017, and he won the FIFA Club World Cup several times (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018). Gareth Bale has several personal accolades, such as FWA Footballer of the Year (2013) and Best Player in the UEFA Champions League Final (2017-2018 season).
Welsh footballer Gareth Bale now earns 32 million euros a year. He earns 87,671 euros per day, or 613,698 euros per week or 2.6 million euros per month. He is the eighth highest paid football player in the world, after Antoine Griezmann and before Robert Lewandowski. Gareth Bale’s salary has evolved a lot in recent years since he earned 7 million euros in 2013. It was in October 2016 that Gareth Bale’s salary made a real leap forward to gradually reach the current amount, paid by Real Madrid even during his loan to Tottenham in 2021.
Gareth Bale is married to his high school sweetheart: Emma Rhys-Jones. Originally from Cardiff, UK, the footballer’s wife is a hairdresser. They have three children together, Alba Violet, born on October 21, 2012, Nava Valentina, their second daughter born on March 22, 2016 and their son Axel Charles, who arrived on May 8, 2018. The couple got engaged in July 2016, the day of the 27th Gareth Bale’s birthday. They celebrate their wedding in July 2019, discreetly with around sixty guests in Ibiza.