Gareth Bale Announces Retirement From Football At The Age Of 33

Gareth Bale has announced his retirement from both club and international football at the age of 33.

The Welshman leaves behind a legacy of five Champions League titles, three La Liga trophies and three Fifa Club World Cups with Real Madrid, and a total of 23 pieces of silverware across his career. His move to Los Blancos from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013 was a then-record £80 million, surpassing that paid by the Spanish giants for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009.

On the international stage, Bale established himself as the greatest Welsh players of all time, helping the Dragons reach their first European Championship finals in 2016, where they reached the semi-finals, before leading them to the 2020 tournament. He also played a starring role in getting Wales into their first World Cup finals since 1958 in Qatar last year.

He leaves Wales as their all-time leading goalscorer (41) and their most-capped player with 111 appearances to his name.

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In a career spanning over 12 years, Bale made over 550 appearances at club level for Southampton, Spurs, Real Madrid and Los Angeles FC.

Starting out his career as a left-back it quickly became clear that his attributes were better suited to playing a more advanced role and this version was unleashed at Spurs. His pace and skill terrorised defences and that is what earned him his record-breaking move to Real Madrid.

In an emotional statement posted on Twitter, Bale wrote: “I feel incredibly fortunate to have realised my dream of playing the sport I love. It has truly given me some of the best moments of my life. The highest of highs over 17 seasons, that will be impossible to replicate, no matter what the next chapter has in store for me.

“From my very first touch at Southampton to my last with LAFC and everything in between shaped a club career that I have an immense pride and gratitude for. Playing for and captaining my country 111 times has truly been a dream come true.”