Gareth Bale

Welsh affiliation football player

Gareth Frank Bale ( wear 16 July 1989 ) is a Welsh professional football player who plays as a winger for La Liga golf club Real Madrid and the Wales national team. Bale began his professional career at Southampton, playing at left-back and earning applaud as a exempt kick specialist. Bale moved to Tottenham Hotspur in 2007, for an eventual £7 million fee. During his meter at Tottenham, managerial and tactical shifts saw him transform into a more attack actor. From the 2009–10 season, under the guidance of Harry Redknapp, Bale became an integral part of the team, rising to external attention during the 2010–11 UEFA Champions League. In 2011 and 2013 he was named PFA Players ‘ Player of the Year, and was named in the UEFA Team of the year. In 2013, he was besides named PFA Young Player of the year, the FWA Footballer of the year and the Premier League Player of the Season. He was nominated to the PFA Team of the Year three times in a row between 2011 and 2013.

Reading: Gareth Bale

On 1 September 2013, Bale was transferred to Real Madrid for an undisclosed tip. press at the time reported the transportation value at figures between €91 million and €100 million. In January 2016, documents pertaining to the transfer were leaked which confirmed a then- world record transportation fee of €100.8 million, exceeding the previous commemorate fee of £80 million ( €94 million ) the club paid for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009. Bale played an built-in character in his first season at Real Madrid, helping the club to win the 2013–14 Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League, scoring in both finals. The following season, he won the UEFA Super Cup and scored in a third base major final examination to help the club win the FIFA Club World Cup. Two years by and by, he was a cardinal actor in another Champions League run, winning the 2015–16 entitle and being elected to the UEFA Squad of the Season. He was besides a finalist in the UEFA Men ‘s Player of the Year Award, and was named man of the equal having scored with an viewgraph kick in the 2018 UEFA Champions League Final. Bale made his aged international introduction for Wales in May 2006, becoming the youngest player at that point to represent Wales. He has since earned over 90 caps and scored 36 external goals, making him Wales ‘ highest scorer of all time. He was the top scorer for Wales in their successful passing crusade for UEFA Euro 2016, scoring seven goals ; he subsequently represented Wales in the final tournament as they reached the semi-finals, scoring three goals. He besides subsequently featured for the side at UEFA Euro 2020. He has been named Welsh Footballer of the year a record six times. In 2016, ESPN ranked Bale twelfth on its list of the world ‘s most celebrated athletes. [ 4 ]

early life and career

Bale was born in Cardiff, Wales, to parents Frank, a educate caretaker, and Debbie Bale, an operations director. He is the nephew of former Cardiff City football player Chris Pike. [ 5 ] He attended Eglwys Newydd Primary School in Whitchurch. [ 6 ] It was while at this school that he first came to the attention of Southampton at historic period nine, when he was playing in a six-a-side tournament with his first club, Cardiff Civil Service. [ 7 ] Growing up, his footballing hero was chap Welshman and Manchester United player Ryan Giggs. [ 8 ] Bale attended Whitchurch High School in Cardiff. [ 9 ] He was a lament athlete ; he played football alongside future Wales rugby captain Sam Warburton, [ 10 ] rugby, field hockey and excelled at athletics. [ 11 ] As a 14-year-old he says that he ran the 100-metre sprint in 11.4 seconds. [ 8 ] Because of his superior footballing skill, the school ‘s PE teacher, Gwyn Morris, had to write particular rules which restricted Bale to playing one-touch football and not using his entrust foot. [ 10 ] Despite being only 16 at the time, he helped the school ‘s under-18 team win the Cardiff & Vale Senior Cup. He left school in the summer of 2005 with a Grade A in PE amongst his other GCSE results. In his final class at school, he was awarded the PE department ‘s loot for services to sport. In the presentation, Morris commented :

“ Gareth has a fierce decision to succeed and has the character and qualities to achieve his personal goals. He is one of the most unselfish individuals that I have had the pleasure to help educate. ” [ 12 ]

Club career

Southampton

On 17 April 2006, at the senesce of 16 years and 275 days, Bale became the irregular youngest actor ever to play for Southampton ( after Theo Walcott, who was 132 days younger ) when he made his debut in the Saints ‘ 2–0 victory against Millwall. On 6 August, Bale scored his beginning league goal, a unblock kick, to level the mark at 1–1 against Derby County. The concluding mark at Pride Park was 2–2. [ 13 ] He scored again, at St Mary ‘s, against Coventry City in the team ‘s second bet on of the 2006–07 season with another free complain. [ 14 ] Bale further developed his reputation as a free kick specialist when he struck the post from one against West Bromwich Albion. [ 15 ] By 16 December 2006, Bale ‘s goal reckon had risen to five, thanks to a late counterweight against Sunderland [ 16 ] and free kicks away to Hull City [ 17 ] and at family to Norwich City. [ 18 ] In December 2006, he won the Carwyn James Award for the BBC Wales Young Sports Personality of the Year, [ 19 ] and was named the Football League Young Player of the year on 4 March 2007. [ 20 ] This capped what was described in the local press as an “ incredible ” first base full temper as a master football player in which he was one of the Saints ‘ “ most creative players flush ( though operate ) from the left-back position whilst his defending improved boundlessly as the season progressed. ” [ 21 ] His concluding game for Southampton was in the beginning branch of the Championship play-off semi-final against Derby County on 12 May 2007. Bale suffered an injury during the second half, preventing him from appearing in the second peg. [ 22 ] [ 23 ] In total, he made 45 appearances for Southampton, scoring five goals. [ 24 ]

Tottenham Hotspur

On 25 May 2007, Bale signed a four-year deal with Tottenham Hotspur with the club paying an initial £5 million for the actor, potentially rising to £10 million based on appearances and success. [ 25 ]

2007–2009

Bale in Spurs ‘ line-up before a Premier League match against Chelsea in August 2008 Bale played his foremost game for Spurs in a friendly against St. Patrick ‘s Athletic on 12 July 2007, but was substituted on the eightieth minute with a minor dead leg. He made his competitive introduction for Tottenham Hotspur on 26 August away against Manchester United. [ 26 ] On 1 September 2007, in his second Spurs appearance, he scored his first finish for the club in a 3–3 draw with Fulham. [ 27 ] Bale went on to score against Arsenal in the North London bowler hat from a barren kick. [ 28 ] He then scored in the League Cup home tie against Middlesbrough. [ 29 ] On 2 December 2007, Bale was substituted after sustaining an wound resulting from a tackle from Fabrice Muamba in the league fixture against Birmingham City. A scan revealed that Bale had suffered ligament damage to his correctly ankle, consigning him to an extend period on the sidelines. Bale had exploratory operation on 11 December. [ 30 ] By February 2008, it became clear that Bale was to miss the rest of the season through wound. [ 31 ] Sporting Director of Tottenham, Damien Comolli said, “ flush if the examination reveals that Gareth ‘s foot is stable, the decision has been taken to bring him back slowly to ensure he does not get a repeat of the injury or suffer any further damage. Gareth is obviously disappoint to be sidelined for this length of time but he is still young and we have to do what is best for him in the long tend. ” [ 30 ] Bale returned to fitness in August 2008, the same month he signed a newly four-year deal with the clubhouse, [ 32 ] and went on to make 30 appearances for Tottenham in all competitions that season. [ 33 ] He picked up his first career loss menu in a 2–1 frustration at Stoke City in October 2008. [ 34 ] That season he took character in the League Cup final against Manchester United. Bale came off the workbench in the 98th minute in supernumerary time with the concluding result deadlocked at 0–0 resulting in a penalty shoot-out that ended 4–1 to Manchester United. [ 35 ]

2009–2011

In June 2009, Bale undergo operation for a stifle injury, ruling him out for over two months. He missed pre-season matches and it was projected that he would miss the first base few weeks of the 2009–10 season. [ 36 ] On 26 September, he made his comeback as an 85th-minute substitute in Tottenham ‘s 5–0 winnings over Burnley. This was Bale ‘s foremost always involvement in a Premier League winnings, after not being on the winning side since the Southampton motion. [ 37 ] however, he struggled to break into the beginning team, in contribution thanks to Benoit Assou-Ekotto ‘s good imprint. When Assou-Ekotto was sidelined with an injury, director Harry Redknapp decided to give Bale a prospect and he impressed in Spurs ‘ FA Cup third-round 4–0 winnings over Peterborough United. [ 38 ] His first gear victory as a starter in a league game came in the 2–0 succeed over London rivals Fulham on 26 January 2010. [ 39 ] Bale ‘s full form continued and he was named Player of the Round after helping Spurs to a 3–1 win in the sixth round play back of the FA Cup against Fulham. [ 40 ] In April 2010, Bale scored the winning finish in a 2–1 North London bowler hat gain against Arsenal, tapping past Manuel Almunia, after a pass from Jermain Defoe. [ 41 ] Three days later, Bale scored Tottenham ‘s winning goal with his faint right foot in a 2–1 victory over league leaders and eventual champions Chelsea and was named serviceman of the match. [ 42 ] He was named Premier League Player of the Month for April 2010. [ 43 ] He signed a newly four-year abridge at White Hart Lane on 7 May 2010, as a reward for helping the clubhouse reaching a 2010–11 UEFA Champions League qualification place. [ 44 ]
On 21 August 2010, Bale scored twice in a 2–1 win at Stoke City, the second of which was a head-high volley into the top veracious hand corner of the goal. [ 45 ] This was late awarded the BBC Goal of the Month for August 2010. On 25 August, Bale set up all four goals to help Spurs overcome Young Boys 4–0 ( 6–3 agg. ) in a Champions League play-off at White Hart Lane. [ 46 ] Although Assou-Ekotto had already returned from injury, Bale continued his good form and cemented his invest in the start eleven, with his coach opting him to move to left wing to accommodate Assou-Ekotto at left-back. [ 47 ] On 29 September, Bale scored his first Champions League goal for Tottenham in a 4–1 family winnings against Dutch champions Twente in their second bet on of the group stages. [ 48 ] For his performances, he was named Welsh Player of the year by the Football Association of Wales ( FAW ). [ 49 ] On 20 October, Bale scored his first senior hat-trick against european champions Inter Milan at the San Siro in the Champions League. Tottenham lost the match 4–3, having been 4–0 down inwardly the first 35 minutes and playing with ten men for over 80 minutes of the match after goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes had been sent off in the eighth hour for a professional foul on Inter ‘s Jonathan Biabiany. [ 50 ] In the return match at White Hart Lane on 2 November, Bale provided a man-of-the-match operation, setting up goals for Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko to earn Spurs a memorable 3–1 win. [ 51 ] On 4 November, Bale stated that he intended to remain at Tottenham for the remainder of his recently signed four-year contract, despite reported interest from early clubs, [ 47 ] then, in December, he was awarded the BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year trophy. [ 52 ] On 19 March 2011, it was announced he would then extended his arrest at the club until 2015. [ 53 ] On 17 April, Bale was honoured with the PFA Players ‘ Player of the Year prize, as voted for by his peers. [ 54 ] With Spurs, he rose to external attention during the 2010–11 UEFA Champions League with Tottenham. [ 55 ] [ 56 ] [ 57 ]

2011–2013

Bale play for Tottenham Hotspur in 2011 Bale scored his first goal of the 2011–12 season on 24 September 2011, in an away game against Wigan Athletic. The bet on ended in a 2–1 victory for Tottenham. [ 58 ] He added his second gear and third base goals of the season on 30 October with two goals against Queens Park Rangers in a 3–1 home gain. [ 59 ] He continued his estimable form with the first finish in a 3–1 victory over Fulham the follow workweek, whilst besides setting up Aaron Lennon who made it 2–0 on the stroke of half clock time. [ 60 ] The foremost goal against Fulham was late ruled by the “ doubtful goals committee ” to be an own goal by Chris Baird. [ 61 ] On 3 December, Bale scored the first goal in Tottenham ‘s 3–0 victory over Bolton Wanderers. He marked the goal with a tribute to Gary Speed by holding up his left boot, with “ R.I.P Gary Speed ” stitched on it, in front of the Bolton fans. [ 62 ] On 27 December, Bale scored doubly to give Tottenham a 2–0 winnings against Norwich City. [ 63 ] On 5 January 2012, Bale was one of the players voted into the 2011 UEFA Team of the year. He scored his third brace of the season as he scored twice against Wigan, on 31 January to take his count to ten goals for the season. [ 64 ] In January 2012, he was named Premier League Player of the Month for the second time in his career, after three goals and two assists in the Premier League for the month. [ 65 ] On 27 June, Bale signed a new four-year contract, committing his future to the club until 2016. [ 66 ] For the 2012–13 temper, Bale changed his team number from 3 to 11 as he was “ not a left-back anymore ” and had asked the club for a “ higher number ”. [ 67 ] [ 68 ] On 16 September 2012, Bale scored his first finish of the 2012–13 season against Reading in a 3–1 away victory. [ 69 ] On 29 September, Bale scored the irregular finish in Tottenham ‘s 3–2 away victory over Manchester United, their first acquire at Old Trafford since 1989. [ 70 ] He scored his first Premier League hat-trick in a 4–0 away win on Boxing Day against Aston Villa. [ 71 ] On 5 January 2013, Bale scored in the FA Cup third base attack regular against Coventry City ampere well as assisting Clint Dempsey on both of his goals in a 3–0 winnings. [ 72 ] On 30 January, Bale scored a brilliant solo attempt in the 1–1 draw with Norwich City. [ 73 ] Bale then scored against West Bromwich Albion in a 1–0 away win on 3 February. [ 74 ] Bale then took his goal tally of the season to 15 goals with a brace against Newcastle United in a match which Spurs won 2–1. This took Spurs into third station, and strengthened their Champions League ambitions. [ 75 ] In Bale ‘s next game, he scored directly from two free kicks, one from 35 yards out just before one-half time and another from 25 yards out in the dying seconds of injury meter, to give Tottenham a 2–1 victory over Lyon in the first base leg of their Europa League round of 32 tie on 14 February. This took Bale to a count of ten goals in his former ten-spot appearances. [ 76 ] In Tottenham ‘s Premier League match against West Ham on 25 February, Bale scored the first base and one-third in a 3–2 gain for Tottenham. His second, a long range dipping strike from over 30 yards, in the dying stages of the plot, capped a populace classify performance. This was his eighth goal in six games. [ 77 ] On 3 March, Bale scored against Arsenal in a North London bowler hat that Tottenham won 2–1. [ 78 ] On 7 March, Tottenham faced Inter Milan in the Europa League, with Bale scoring the open goal and Tottenham winning 3–0. [ 79 ] Bale ‘s range of good kind in the early months of 2013 saw him win Premier League Player of the Month for February [ 80 ] a well as the BBC Goal of the Month in both January and February for his strikes against Norwich City and West Ham United respectively. [ 81 ] On 4 April, Bale injured his justly ankle in the first gear leg of the Europa League quarter-final against Basel. [ 82 ] On his return from injury, Bale scored a goal and assisted Clint Dempsey as Tottenham beat Manchester City at White Hart Lane. [ 83 ] On 28 April, Bale won both the PFA Players ‘ Player of the Year and Young Player of the class after his excellent show in the 2012–13 season. [ 84 ] A week late, on 2 May 2013, he added the FWA Footballer of the Year Award from the Football Writers ‘ Association, making Bale one of only two players who have won all three in the same season – the other being Cristiano Ronaldo, who won them in 2007. [ 85 ] Bale scored the winning goal against his former clubhouse Southampton on 4 May. The finish gave Spurs a 1–0 gain arsenic well as being Bale ‘s 20th in the Premier League in his two-hundredth appearance for Spurs. On 19 May, Bale scored a 90th-minute goal from 25 yards out. This finish gave Spurs a 1–0 succeed over Sunderland, but was not enough to give them Champions League football for the follow season. [ 86 ]

real number Madrid

basel at his real Madrid uncover in September 2013 On 1 September 2013, spanish cabaret Real Madrid announced that they had reached an agreement for the transfer of Bale, [ 87 ] signing a six-year manage in a then universe record manage. [ 88 ] The spanish iron ( and Real Madrid television ) reported that Bale had cost £77 million ( €91 million ), while the british urge reported a worldly concern record remove tip of £85.3 million ( €100 million ), which would be above Cristiano Ronaldo ‘s transfer record fee of £80 million ( €94 million ). [ 89 ] [ 90 ] [ 91 ] however, in January 2016, documents pertaining to the transfer were leaked by Football Leaks which confirmed a universe record transfer fee of €100.8 million ( £85.1 million ). [ 92 ] Bale ‘s record was surpassed in August 2016 by Paul Pogba ‘s record fee of €105 million ( £89.2 million ). [ 93 ] Bale was assigned the number 11 shirt at Madrid. [ 94 ]

2013–14

The first base half of Bale ‘s temper was plagued by injuries ; of Real ‘s foremost 16 games after his sign, Bale missed five and was substituted on or off in six others, playing only five full games. [ 95 ] [ 96 ] Bale scored on his actual Madrid debut, a finish coming in the 38th minute against Villarreal, before being substituted subsequently in the game for Ángel Di María. [ 97 ] Bale ‘s second appearance for Madrid came in a 6–1 victory over Galatasaray in the Champions League. Although Bale lone played the final 26 minutes, his free kick led to Cristiano Ronaldo ‘s second base goal of the plot. [ 98 ] On 28 September 2013, Bale made his home debut as a second-half utility in a 1–0 personnel casualty to local rivals Atlético Madrid. [ 99 ] Following a brief appearance against Juventus in the Champions League, [ 100 ] Bale made his El Clásico debut on 26 October, but was substituted in the 61st minute. Barcelona won the bet on 2–1, and Bale ‘s operation drew some media criticism. [ 101 ] Four days late, he scored two goals and assisted two in a 7–3 victory against Sevilla. Following his impressive performance the spanish compress nicknamed Bale “ The Cannon ”. [ 102 ]
Atlético Madrid ‘s Arda Turan ( left ) chasing down Bale in September 2013 In November, he assisted a farther two goals in Madrid ‘s 3–2 victory over Rayo Vallecano, [ 103 ] before scoring in a 2–2 draw with Juventus in the Champions League. [ 104 ] He then scored a 25-yard free kick against Galatasaray in the Champions League, a match which Madrid won 4–1 despite being a man down. [ 105 ] On 30 November, Bale rounded off the month with his first hat-trick for Real Madrid, a well as assisting Karim Benzema, in a 4–0 victory over Real Valladolid. It was a “ arrant hat-trick ” : one goal with a header and one with each foot. [ 106 ] On 26 February 2014, he scored twice in Real Madrid ‘s 6–1 acquire against Schalke 04 in the Champions League round of 16 first peg. [ 107 ] He then scored one of the team ‘s three goals in a 3–0 quarter-final win over Borussia Dortmund on 2 April, taking him to five Champions League goals for the season. [ 108 ] In La Liga, he scored four goals in three matches between gameweeks 31 and 33, as real Madrid defeated Rayo Vallecano ( 5–0 ), [ 109 ] Real Sociedad ( 4–0 ) [ 110 ] and Almería ( 4–0 ). [ 111 ]

“ It is difficult to see a player sprint like that at that stage of the game. ”

—Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino on Bale ‘s 85th hour achiever for Madrid in the Copa del Rey final. [ 112 ]
On 16 April, Bale scored the acquire goal for real Madrid with five minutes remaining in the 2014 Copa del Rey Final against rivals Barcelona. [ 113 ] Considered one of the best goals of his career, Bale outsprinted Barcelona defender Marc Bartra from the center line ( with Bale running off the sphere at one point ) before converting past goalkeeper José Manuel Pinto. [ 113 ] In the post meet interview Bale stated, “ I had to get round the player and go off the flip to do it ”, while his very Madrid teammate Xabi Alonso commented, “ It was incredible, I have never seen anything like it ”. [ 112 ] The goal was Bale ‘s 20th of the season and his first in a Clásico repair. [ 112 ] On 24 May, Bale scored in the hundred-and-tenth minute of the excess clock time menstruation to put Real Madrid 2–1 up against city rivals Atlético Madrid in the 2014 UEFA Champions League Final, as Los Blancos won their tenth european Cup. [ 114 ] The goal made Bale the first Welshman to score a goal in a european Cup/Champions League final. [ 115 ] Bale finished his debut season with 22 goals and 16 assists in all competitions. [ 116 ] Real Madrid ‘s attacking three of Bale, Benzema and Cristiano, dubbed the BBC, finished the season with 97 goals. [ 117 ]

2014–15

Bale playing for Real Madrid in 2015 Bale started the 2014–15 season in good form, playing the full 90 minutes and assisting Cristiano Ronaldo ‘s foremost goal in a 2–0 win at the Cardiff City Stadium against Sevilla to win the 2014 UEFA Super Cup. [ 118 ] After the match, his performance was described as “ amazing ” by Ronaldo. [ 119 ] Six days late, Bale scored his first gear goal of the temper in a 4–2 aside loss to Real Sociedad. [ 120 ] Bale scored doubly in Real ‘s 8–2 succeed over Deportivo La Coruña on 20 September 2014. [ 121 ] [ 122 ] In December 2014, Bale scored in a third base major final, the second goal in a 2–0 win over San Lorenzo, to help the club win the FIFA Club World Cup. [ 123 ] In a match against Espanyol on 10 January 2015, Bale was booed by a incision of Madrid fans who adjudged him as being selfish in shooting for goal and not passing to Ronaldo. [ 124 ] Bale was defended by Carlo Ancelotti over this asset difficulties at the end of the season. [ 125 ] On 18 April, Bale sustained a calf injury against Málaga. [ 126 ]

2015–2019

Bale during the 2015–16 UEFA Champions League campaign Bale scored doubly in Real ‘s gain over real number Betis in September 2015. [ 117 ] His two goals took the sum number of goals of Madrid ‘s attacking trio of Bale, Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo to 200 goals since they first gear played together in 2013. [ 117 ]

2019–20

In July 2019, he was close to leaving the club, according to director Zinedine Zidane, [ 158 ] but late that calendar month a proposed transfer to chinese club Jiangsu Suning was called off by Real Madrid. [ 159 ] In October 2019, Bale was said to be “ angry ” at Real Madrid and wanted to leave, [ 160 ] but by and by that calendar month Zidane said Bale had never asked to leave. [ 161 ] Ex-Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon besides said that Bale should return to Tottenham. [ 162 ] He made 16 appearances during the league season, as real Madrid won the 2019–20 La Liga. [ 163 ]

2020–21 : loanword to Tottenham Hotspur

On 19 September 2020, Bale returned to Tottenham Hotspur on a season-long loanword. [ 164 ] He came off the bench to score the winner in Tottenham ‘s 2–1 home win over Brighton & Hove Albion on 1 November, his first finish since returning to the club. [ 165 ] On 3 December, Bale scored his two-hundredth career goal in a 3–3 draw against LASK in the Europa League. [ 166 ] He scored a brace and got an aid in a 4–0 win over Burnley on 28 February 2021. [ 167 ] Bale once again grade twice in Tottenham ‘s 4–1 victory against Crystal Palace on 7 March, bringing his total to six goals in six games. [ 168 ] On 2 May, Bale scored a hat-trick in a 4–0 succeed against Sheffield United. The hat-trick was only his second base in the Premier League and his foremost since his return to Tottenham. [ 169 ] On 23 May 2021, Bale came off the workbench to score two goals against Leicester City in a 4–2 away victory which led Tottenham to a 7th-place finish, ensuring qualification to the Europa Conference League. [ 170 ]

International career

Wales

Bale play for Wales in a qualify match against Austria in October 2016 Bale was selected by Wales at the end of the 2005–06 temper for a friendly against Trinidad and Tobago on 27 May 2006. [ 171 ] In the match in Graz, Austria, he replaced David Vaughan after 55 minutes and assisted Robert Earnshaw ‘s winning goal in a 2–1 victory. [ 172 ] At 16 years and 315 days erstwhile, Bale became the youngest player to play for Wales, breaking a record held by Lewin Nyatanga who set that three months earlier ; this record was itself superseded by Harry Wilson in October 2013. [ 173 ] Wales youth guru Brian Flynn commented that Bale was potentially a future asterisk of the bet on, comparing his technical foul ability to that of Ryan Giggs. [ 174 ] On 7 October 2006, Bale became the youngest always goalscorer for the aged national team, scoring a free gripe in a Euro 2008 qualification match against Slovakia. [ 175 ] After a retentive wound lay-off, he returned and started in the World Cup modifier against Finland on 10 October 2009. [ 176 ] On 14 October, he played a part in Wales ‘ final World Cup qualifier by setting up David Vaughan to score the open goal against Liechtenstein and won the free recoil that led to the irregular, Aaron Ramsey ‘s first gear at aged flat. [ 177 ] In December 2010, Bale was awarded the BBC Cymru Sports Personality of the Year trophy. [ 178 ] On 12 October 2012, Bale scored both goals for Wales in a 2–1 victory over Scotland in a 2014 World Cup modifier. [ 179 ] He won his hundredth Wales Cap during a World Cup Qualifying Match on 13 November 2021 against Belarus at the Cardiff City Stadium where he played 45 Minutes being substituted at half clock. [ 180 ]

euro 2016 political campaign

[181] Bale with Ashley Williams ( left ) at the July 2016 homecoming event in Cardiff. With thousands of supporters observing, Bale described the consequence as “ very limited ” in a BBC interview . Bale mural in Whitchurch, Cardiff in 2016 On 9 September 2014, Bale scored two goals, one with a header and another with a absolve kick, as Wales beat Andorra 2–1 in their inaugural match of the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying political campaign. [ 182 ] In doing so, he became Wales ‘ joint 10th all-time top-scorer with 14 goals, aboard John Hartson. [ 183 ] Bale scored two goals on 28 March 2015, in a 3–0 winnings aside in Israel. [ 184 ] On 12 June, his fiftieth detonator, he scored the only goal to defeat Belgium in a home modifier, taking Wales above the Belgians to the circus tent of Group B. [ 185 ] He headed Jazz Richards ‘ traverse on 3 September in a 1–0 away win over Cyprus, putting Wales three points off from qualification. [ 186 ] With qualification to UEFA Euro 2016 achieved ( the state ‘s beginning major finals since the 1958 FIFA World Cup ), on 13 October 2015, Bale scored his seventh finish of the qualifying campaign in Wales ‘ final qualifier against Andorra at the Cardiff City Stadium. [ 187 ] On 11 June, Bale scored the first goal in Wales ‘ clang with Slovakia in their opening plot of UEFA Euro 2016 from a free kick, helping his nation secure a 2–1 succeed and, in the summons, lead them to their first win in a tournament in 58 years. [ 188 ] His goal saw him become the first Welsh musician to score at a major international tournament since Terry Medwin ‘s goal against Hungary at the 1958 FIFA World Cup. [ 189 ] He then followed this up by scoring another opening absolve bang finish against England in the second group game, though Wales went on to lose the game 2–1 ; this made Bale the beginning actor to score two free kicks at a european Championship since Germany ‘s Thomas Häßler in 1992. [ 190 ] Bale scored his third goal of the tournament in a 3–0 gain over Russia, making him their all-time top scorer in major tournaments, ahead of Ivor Allchurch who scored doubly in the 1958 World Cup ; he besides helped to create the second goal of the match, which was scored by Neil Taylor. [ 191 ] In the final 16 against Northern Ireland at the Parc des Princes, Bale sent in the traverse from which Gareth McAuley scored an own goal to give the Welsh victory. [ 192 ] Wales were eliminated following a 2–0 defeat to eventual champions Portugal in the semi-final of the tournament on 6 July. [ 193 ] On 5 September 2016, Bale scored twice in a 4–0 gain over Moldova in a 2018 FIFA World Cup reservation game. This brought him to 24 external goals, surpassing both Ivor Allchurch and Trevor Ford, and behind entirely Ian Rush ‘s 28. [ 194 ] On 22 March 2018, with 29 goals, Bale became Wales ‘ all-time top-scorer surpassing Ian Rush ‘s 28, thanks to his first hat-trick in his external career in a 2018 China Cup match against China. [ 195 ] [ 196 ]

euro 2020 campaign

In May 2021, he was selected as captain of the Wales police squad for the check UEFA Euro 2020 tournament. [ 197 ] At the finals, he provided the assists for Aaron Ramsey and Connor Roberts ‘s goals in Wales ‘s second group couple on 16 June, a 2–0 winnings over Turkey ; [ 198 ] he helped his nation qualify for the round of 16, in which they were beaten 4–0 by Denmark. [ 199 ]

Great Britain

Bale, who met the age standard to play in the 2012 London Olympics, said in May 2011 “ I want to play in the Olympics ” for the Great Britain Olympic football team, in defiance of the FAW. [ 200 ] On 28 October 2011, Bale became the first actor to be photographed modelling the british 2012 London Olympics football supporters ‘ shirt. In response, FAW foreman executive Jonathan Ford said : “ Our position remains unchanged. We are not for Team GB. Gareth can make his own choices and make his own decisions. But we are not going to stop anyone play. ” On behalf of Bale a spokesman said “ while he is 100 % Welsh, he is besides british ”. [ 201 ] At the end of June 2012, Bale pulled out of the tournament with a back injury. On 29 June, he advised the Team GB football coach, Stuart Pearce, that he would not be available for excerpt as he had aggravated an previous back and hip injury during a training run. In horizon of the unretentive recovery time between the end of the Olympics and the get down of the Premier League temper, Bale had decided to withdraw rather than exacerbate the problem. [ 202 ] [ 203 ] Bale recovered from his injury in good fourth dimension to be included on Spurs ‘ pre-season tour of the United States, scoring against LA Galaxy on 24 July [ 204 ] [ 205 ] and against New York Red Bulls a workweek former. [ 206 ] Between these matches, Bale besides played against Liverpool when he was injured in a harness by Charlie Adam. [ 207 ] Bale ‘s appearances in Spurs ‘ pre-season tour coincided with Team GB ‘s Olympic matches, where they drew with Senegal before victories over the United Arab Emirates and Uruguay took them through to the hard stages, where they lost to South Korea following a penalty shoot-out. Bale ‘s coitus interruptus from the Team GB team attracted calls for sanctions against him [ 204 ] including a ban from the rest of Spurs ‘ pre-season tour [ 208 ] but, in the absence of an official complaint by Team GB, these were not carried out. Spurs ‘ coach, André Villas-Boas, defended the actor insisting that Bale “ had recovered agile than expected ”. [ 209 ] The club ‘s position was supported by British Olympic Association president Lord Moynihan. [ 210 ] Tottenham released a statement in relation back to Bale ‘s non-selection for Team GB, they stated that “ Gareth sustained an injury as he built up his fitness ahead of joining up with Stuart Pearce ‘s side. magnetic resonance imaging scan reports were sent to the FA checkup team on 29 June 2012. He was subsequently not selected on the basis of this injury and the inability to predict convalescence time. This decision was not taken lightly and made entirely after consultation with Team GB ‘s medical team, who were in agreement after seeing the checkup reports ”. [ 211 ]

Player profile

style of play

Bale ( pictured in 2015 ) is best known for his pace, athleticism and bending strikes from distance ( much using the “ knuckleball “ proficiency ) One of the fastest footballers in the earth at his top out, [ 212 ] Bale started out as an nauseating left-back or wing-back at the beginning of his career. [ 213 ] It was at Tottenham Hotspur that his coach Harry Redknapp decided to utilise Bale ‘s pace and played him as a leave winger, where he developed into a world class actor. [ 214 ] He is predominantly known for his focal ratio, potency, stamina, and heading ability, but besides possesses good proficiency and ball control. His skills, combined with his acceleration and animalism, allow him to get past defenders regularly and make runs into space, where he is able to score or create. [ 214 ] [ 215 ] [ 216 ] [ 217 ] Bale is besides a free kick back specialist, and is known for employing the “ knuckleball “ technique ( popularised by Juninho Pernambucano ) when taking free kicks. [ 218 ] [ 219 ] As he moved far forward onto the flank, he began to score goals on a regular basis with powerful strikes from outside the penalty box. [ 220 ] In addition to his athletic and offensive capabilities, Bale has besides drawn praise in the media for his work-rate and defensive contribution off the ball. [ 221 ] As Bale has developed into one of the most dangerous left wingers in the world, his style of play has won wonder from managers, current and past players such as Luís Figo, [ 222 ] José Mourinho, Igor Štimac, [ 224 ] and Dani Alves. [ 225 ] Bale has been described as a football player with “ frightful speed, big crossing ability, a great impart foot and exceeding forcible qualities ”. [ 226 ] Former Liverpool musician and BBC Sport football initiate Mark Lawrenson said in 2011 : “ What makes Gareth Bale so special ? simple. He is one of the quickest players I ‘ve always seen, but he has another gear and the ability to find that extra pace within the following stride. He has the ability to perform and use his technique at great pace. ” [ 227 ] During the 2011–12 season, Harry Redknapp experimented with using Bale in a free function, as an attacking midfielder, or as a moment striker. [ 213 ] [ 228 ] [ 229 ] The follow season, André Villas-Boas, deployed Bale in this character on a more permanent footing. [ 230 ] Since joining Real Madrid, Bale has normally been deployed as a winger, but by and large on the right flank, due to the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo on the leftover, a position which enables him to cut into the concentrate and hit on finish with his potent left foot ; [ 231 ] [ 232 ] he has besides been used in a more attack role on occasion, as a striker or centre forward, [ 233 ] [ 234 ] courtesy of his goalscoring, bowel movement off the testis, and ability to make attack runs, [ 221 ] [ 235 ] while his elevation, potency, and heading accuracy have seen him excel in the air in this function. [ 236 ] [ 237 ] [ 238 ] however, in cattiness of his playing ability, his play time during his later seasons with real Madrid was largely limited by recurring injury struggles. [ 216 ] [ 239 ]

reception

The Welsh public are so grateful to have a Gareth Bale that they do n’t put that press on him, they ‘re equitable so happy we have a player of that timbre that they build him up but not in a way to knock him down. evening if Gareth had the worst crippled of his life, scored a couple of own goals and got sent off, Welsh fans would never lambast him. They appreciate that we are fortunate, as a modest country, to have a ace .

— Wayne Hennessey [ 240 ]
On 2 November 2010, after a Champions League group stage equal against Inter Milan, teammate Rafael van five hundred Vaart said, “ Everyone is scared of him [ Bale ]. Maicon is one of the best defenders in the world, and he ‘s killed him. ” [ 241 ] [ 242 ] El Mundo praising Bale for his performance wrote, “ Bale combines the stature and build of an 800-metre runner like Steve Ovett with the acceleration and candor of a rugby winger like Bryan Habana. And, when he gets to the byline, he delivers curling crosses like a brazilian ”. [ 243 ] According to his Wales teammates, Bale is a pivotal, inspirational, and elate figure for the team. Welsh external Neil Taylor speak of Bale ‘s cocksure influence on the team ‘s psyche and performance said, “ There ‘s a belief about the team when he ‘s in it. He makes everyone around him play better. ” [ 240 ] With the spotlight increasing on Bale following his performances, in October 2012 his Spurs director Harry Redknapp put him in the like class as both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. He said : “ He ‘s an amaze, amazing talent and he ‘s after the Ronaldos and Messis of this earth and he ‘s getting better and better. He ‘s about unplayable when he ‘s on his game. He is a genuine first player. There ‘s cipher he could n’t play for. He ‘d improve any team. ” [ 244 ] Bale has been accused of diving by sections of the british media. [ 245 ] [ 246 ] however, this has been denied by Bale, [ 247 ] Harry Redknapp, [ 248 ] and Wales coach Chris Coleman. [ 249 ] On 29 December 2012, Bale picked up his one-third scandalmongering circuit board for simulation for the 2012–13 season. It was his fifth for simulation since the begin of the 2011–12 season, and no other Premier League player had more than two cautions for model in that time. [ 250 ] Between August 2008 and his passing from the Premier League, he was booked eight times for simulation. The next most-booked players were shown three yellow cards each. [ 251 ] Bale was ranked twelfth on ESPN ‘s list of the global ‘s most celebrated athletes in 2016, [ 4 ] while The Guardian listed him as the seventh-best football player on the satellite in the like class. [ 252 ]

personal life

Bale lives in Madrid with his fiancée Emma Rhys-Jones, his high-school smasher. [ 253 ] [ 254 ] Their first child was born in Cardiff on 21 October 2012, [ 255 ] and their second daughter was born in the lapp city on 22 March 2016. [ 256 ] On 17 July 2016, Bale announced that he and Rhys-Jones had got engaged. [ 257 ] On 9 March 2018, Bale announced that he and his fiancée were expecting their third child. [ 258 ] Later that year, on 8 May, the couple announced the birth of their son. [ 259 ] Bale is teetotal. [ 260 ] [ 261 ]

Endorsements

Bale play for Madrid On 26 March 2013, Bale filed an application with the Intellectual Property Office to register a logo based on his center shaped goal celebration along with his squad number ( football team ) to be used on a stove of trade such as clothe and footwear. [ 262 ] Bale is featured in EA Sports ‘ FIFA video game series, and he has appeared on the british, irish and center Eastern covers of FIFA 14, aboard ball-shaped cover headliner Lionel Messi. [ 263 ] His ‘heart ‘ goal celebration is featured in FIFA 14. [ 264 ] Active on social media, Bale has over 35 million Instagram followers, and earns $ 185,000 per sponsored post, the second highest-paid Briton after David Beckham. [ 265 ]

philanthropy

In November 2014, Bale appeared in FIFA ‘s “ 11 against Ebola “ campaign with a survival of top football players from around the universe, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Xavi and African star Didier Drogba. [ 266 ] Under the motto “ together, we can beat Ebola ”, FIFA ‘s political campaign was done in junction with the Confederation of African Football and health experts, with the players holding up eleven messages to raise awareness of the disease and ways to combat it. [ 266 ] In April 2020, he and his wife Emma donated £1 million to health boards in Wales & Spain to help in the contend against the Coronavirus pandemic. [ 267 ] In October 2020, Bale gave £15,000 for Christmas hampers in Swansea, Wales. [ 268 ]

golf

Bale is a huge golf sports fan and has a replica of the seventeenth hole – the island Green – at TPC at Sawgrass in his back garden. [ 269 ] His sleep together of golf was blamed by the spanish media as the cause why he has spent therefore much time out injured for real Madrid. [ 269 ] Bale was interviewed in Episode 179 of The Erik Anders Lang Show podcast where he said his golf handicap was “ between a three and a four. ” [ 270 ]

career statistics

clubhouse

As of match played 28 August 2021

International

As of match played 13 November 2021[288]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team
Year
Apps
Goals

Wales

2006
4
1

2007
7
1

2008
5
0

2009
7
0

2010
4
1

2011
6
3

2012
5
3

2013
5
2

2014
5
3

2015
6
5

2016
11
7

2017
3
0

2018
6
5

2019
9
2

2020
4
0

2021
13
3

Total
100
36

Honours

Tottenham Hotspur
Real Madrid
Individual

Gareth Bale

early life and career

Club career

Southampton

Tottenham Hotspur

2007–2009

2009–2011

2011–2013

real number Madrid

2013–14

2014–15

2015–2019

2019–20

2020–21 : loanword to Tottenham Hotspur

International career

Wales

euro 2016 political campaign

euro 2020 campaign

Great Britain

Player profile

style of play

reception

personal life

Endorsements

philanthropy

golf

career statistics

clubhouse

International

Honours

See besides

References