After winning over 20 trophies over the span of 17 seasons, Welsh football legend Gareth Bale has announced that he will be retiring from his football career.
Gareth Bale is one of the most popular and respected football players in the world.
Ever since he made his debut for Southampton in 2006, he has been an indomitable force at all his clubs, including Real Madrid, Tottenham Hotspur, and Los Angeles FC.
Now, 17 years after his first season in the Premier League, the legend has announced his retirement from football.
“After careful and thoughtful consideration, I announce my immediate retirement from club and international football,” Bale said in a statement.
“I feel incredibly fortunate to have realized my dream of playing the sport I love.”
A club legend
On the club level, Gareth Bale’s record is nothing short of stellar.
He has amassed over 20 trophies over the course of his career. Most notably, he has five Champions League titles and three La Liga trophies from his time at Real Madrid.
On top of this, he has also won trophies with his other clubs including Tottenham Hotspur and LAFC. In fact, he was an instrumental figure for Los Angeles, his most recent team, leading the club to the MLS Championship last year.
But apart from his club career, he is also a beloved figure for Welsh football.
Best of Wales
On the international stage, Gareth Bale recorded 41 goals from 111 appearances for Wales. This marks the most for both records in the nation’s history.
In addition, he also led Wales to the most recent World Cup, which was their first appearance in the tournament since 1958.
Many consider him to be Wales’ best player of all time. With this, Bale also released a separate statement addressing his Welsh fans.
“My journey on the international stage is one that has changed not only my life but who I am. The fortune of being Welsh and being selected to play for and captain Wales has given something incomparable to anything else I’ve experienced,” he wrote.
As he now closes the book of his football career, there are many iconic moments to look back on.
Banner image from Gareth Bale on Instagram.
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