Gareth Bale has made the decision to retire from both club and international football at the age of 33.
Ex-Real Madrid superstar the shocking announcement on his social media accounts today.
The Welshman is significantly younger than the average retirement age. But, he won five Champions League title, three La Liga crowns, three FIFA Club World Cups, three Super Cups, the Supercopa de Espana and the Copa de Rey during his time in Madrid, making him one of the Most successful British players in history.
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He has been the Welsh national side’s talisman in recent years, helping them reach the quarter-finals of EURO 2016 and helping them to qulalified to their second World Cup appearance at Qatar 2022.
In a statement posted on Twitter About his Retiring from club and international football, Bale said:
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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. To show my gratitude to all of those that have played their part along this journey, feels like an impossibility.
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.
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Bale join Tottenham at the age of 17. He spent six years in North London, made over 200 appearance and was twice named PFA Player of the Year.
In his last season, 2012-2013, he scored 26 goals in all competitions, which earned him a move to Real Madrid, who paid Spurs a world-record fee of over £80m for his services. And despite a love-hate relationship with Madrid fans and board, he’s won an incredible 16 trophies in eight years.
Bale left Sapin capital last summer and enjoyed a brief spell at Los Angeles FC to take preparation for the World Cup.
His defining moment came when he scored a dramatic last-minute equalizer in the MLS Cup final, which his team won on penalties.
