Bale retires at 33 with 5 CL titles, many Wales memories
Bale retires at 33 with 5 CL titles, many Wales memories
FILE - Wales’ Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring his side’s opening goal during the World Cup, group B soccer match between the United States and Wales, at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Monday, Nov. 21, 2022. Gareth Bale is retiring from soccer at age 33 after setting a Wales record with 41 international goals. “My decision to retire from International football has been by far the hardest of my career,” Bale said in a statement Monday, Jan. 9, 2023.(AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)
FILE - Wales’ Gareth Bale takes a shot during the World Cup 2022 playoff soccer match between Wales and Austria at Cardiff City stadium, in Cardiff, Britain, Thursday, March 24, 2022. Gareth Bale is retiring from soccer at age 33 after setting a Wales record with 41 international goals. “My decision to retire from International football has been by far the hardest of my career,” Bale said in a statement Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File)
FILE - Wales’ Gareth Bale runs during the World Cup group B soccer match between England and Wales, at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan , Qatar, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. Gareth Bale is retiring from soccer at age 33 after setting a Wales record with 41 international goals. “My decision to retire from International football has been by far the hardest of my career,” Bale said in a statement Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Fil)
FILE - Southampton’s Gareth Bale, left, gets away from Manchester City Hatem Trabelsi, centre, and Ousmane Dabo, right, during their FA Cup fourth round soccer match at the City of Manchester stadium, Manchester, England, Sunday Jan. 28, 2007. Bale has announced on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, his retirement from soccer at age 33. He scored 53 Premier Leagues goals and 81 in La Liga, finishing last season by helping Los Angeles win the Major League Soccer title. Bale won five Champions League titles, three Spanish league titles, one Copa del Rey and one League Cup. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson, File)
FILE - Tottenham Hotspurs Gareth Bale gestures during their English Premier League soccer match against Stoke City at the Britannia stadium, Stoke, England, Saturday Aug. 21, 2010. Bale has announced on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, his retirement from soccer at age 33. He scored 53 Premier Leagues goals and 81 in La Liga, finishing last season by helping Los Angeles win the Major League Soccer title. Bale won five Champions League titles, three Spanish league titles, one Copa del Rey and one League Cup (AP Photo/Simon Dawson, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Ricardo Carvalho from Portugal, second left, vies for the ball with Tottenham Hotspur’s Gareth Bale of Wales, centre, during their quarter final, 1st leg Champions League soccer match at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Tuesday April 5, 2011. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki, File)
FILE - Tottenham Hotspur’s Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring against Reading during their English Premier League soccer match at the Madjeski stadium, Reading, England, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012. (AP Photo/Tom Hevezil, File)
FILE - Tottenham Hotspur’s Gareth Bale, second right, attempts an overhead kick during the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur at Upton Park stadium in London, Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale from Wales celebrates scoring against Villarreal during their La Liga soccer match at the Madrigal stadium in Villarreal, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz, File)
FILE - Real’s Gareth Bale, left, and Luka Modric celebrate with the trophy at the end of the final of the Copa del Rey between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia, Spain, Wednesday, April 16, 2014. Real defeated Barcelona 2-1. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal in the Champions League final soccer match against Atletico Madrid at the Luz Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, Saturday, May 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)
FILE - Real’s Gareth Bale, right scores his side’s 2nd goal, during the Champions League final soccer match between Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid, at the Luz stadium, in Lisbon, Portugal, Saturday, May 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale celebrates with teammates after scoring his side’s second goal in the Champions League final soccer match against Atletico Madrid at the Luz Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, Saturday, May 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)
FILE - Real’s Gareth Bale, lifts the Champion League trophy on his head, after the Champions League final soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid in Lisbon, Portugal, Saturday, May 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale, centre, lifts the trophy after beating Sevilla 2-0 during the UEFA Super Cup soccer match between Read Madrid and Sevilla at Cardiff City Stadium in Wales Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2014. AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale walks with the trophy after winning the UEFA Super Cup soccer match between Real Madrid and Sevilla in Cardiff City Stadium, in Cardiff, Wales, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2014. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)
FILE - Real Madrid Gareth Bale, reacts during a Spanish Super Cup soccer match against Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid, Spain, Friday, Aug. 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale heads the ball to score the opening goal against Real Betis during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Real Betis at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale celebrates with teammates at the end of a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Malaga and Real Madrid in Malaga, Spain, Sunday, May 21, 2017. Real Madrid wins the Spanish league for the first time in five years, avoiding its biggest title drought since the 1980s. (AP Photo/Daniel Tejedor, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale kisses the trophy after the Champions League final soccer match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Saturday, May 28, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale heads the ball during the Champions League Final soccer match between Real Madrid and Liverpool at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday, May 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring his side’s third goal during the Champions League Final soccer match between Real Madrid and Liverpool at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday, May 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale, left, scores his side’s 2nd goal during the Champions League Final soccer match between Real Madrid and Liverpool at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday, May 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale celebrates with the trophy after winning the Champions League Final soccer match between Real Madrid and Liverpool at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday, May 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale celebrates with the trophy after winning the Champions League Final soccer match between Real Madrid and Liverpool at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday, May 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring his side’s 3rd goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale attends a training session ahead of the Champions League final soccer match against Liverpool, at the Stade de France in Saint Denis near Paris, Friday, May 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)
FILE - Los Angeles FC forward Gareth Bale (11) celebrates after defeating the Philadelphia Union in penalties to win the MLS Cup soccer match Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, in Los Angeles. Bale has announced on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, his retirement from soccer at age 33. He scored 53 Premier Leagues goals and 81 in La Liga, finishing last season by helping Los Angeles win the Major League Soccer title. Bale won five Champions League titles, three Spanish league titles, one Copa del Rey and one League Cup. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)
FILE - Wales’ Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring his side’s opening goal during the World Cup, group B soccer match between the United States and Wales, at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Monday, Nov. 21, 2022. Gareth Bale is retiring from soccer at age 33 after setting a Wales record with 41 international goals. “My decision to retire from International football has been by far the hardest of my career,” Bale said in a statement Monday, Jan. 9, 2023.(AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)
FILE - Wales’ Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring his side’s opening goal during the World Cup, group B soccer match between the United States and Wales, at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Monday, Nov. 21, 2022. Gareth Bale is retiring from soccer at age 33 after setting a Wales record with 41 international goals. “My decision to retire from International football has been by far the hardest of my career,” Bale said in a statement Monday, Jan. 9, 2023.(AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)
FILE - Wales’ Gareth Bale takes a shot during the World Cup 2022 playoff soccer match between Wales and Austria at Cardiff City stadium, in Cardiff, Britain, Thursday, March 24, 2022. Gareth Bale is retiring from soccer at age 33 after setting a Wales record with 41 international goals. “My decision to retire from International football has been by far the hardest of my career,” Bale said in a statement Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File)
FILE - Wales’ Gareth Bale takes a shot during the World Cup 2022 playoff soccer match between Wales and Austria at Cardiff City stadium, in Cardiff, Britain, Thursday, March 24, 2022. Gareth Bale is retiring from soccer at age 33 after setting a Wales record with 41 international goals. “My decision to retire from International football has been by far the hardest of my career,” Bale said in a statement Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File)
FILE - Wales’ Gareth Bale runs during the World Cup group B soccer match between England and Wales, at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan , Qatar, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. Gareth Bale is retiring from soccer at age 33 after setting a Wales record with 41 international goals. “My decision to retire from International football has been by far the hardest of my career,” Bale said in a statement Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Fil)
FILE - Wales’ Gareth Bale runs during the World Cup group B soccer match between England and Wales, at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan , Qatar, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. Gareth Bale is retiring from soccer at age 33 after setting a Wales record with 41 international goals. “My decision to retire from International football has been by far the hardest of my career,” Bale said in a statement Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Fil)
FILE - Southampton’s Gareth Bale, left, gets away from Manchester City Hatem Trabelsi, centre, and Ousmane Dabo, right, during their FA Cup fourth round soccer match at the City of Manchester stadium, Manchester, England, Sunday Jan. 28, 2007. Bale has announced on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, his retirement from soccer at age 33. He scored 53 Premier Leagues goals and 81 in La Liga, finishing last season by helping Los Angeles win the Major League Soccer title. Bale won five Champions League titles, three Spanish league titles, one Copa del Rey and one League Cup. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson, File)
FILE - Southampton’s Gareth Bale, left, gets away from Manchester City Hatem Trabelsi, centre, and Ousmane Dabo, right, during their FA Cup fourth round soccer match at the City of Manchester stadium, Manchester, England, Sunday Jan. 28, 2007. Bale has announced on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, his retirement from soccer at age 33. He scored 53 Premier Leagues goals and 81 in La Liga, finishing last season by helping Los Angeles win the Major League Soccer title. Bale won five Champions League titles, three Spanish league titles, one Copa del Rey and one League Cup. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson, File)
FILE - Tottenham Hotspurs Gareth Bale gestures during their English Premier League soccer match against Stoke City at the Britannia stadium, Stoke, England, Saturday Aug. 21, 2010. Bale has announced on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, his retirement from soccer at age 33. He scored 53 Premier Leagues goals and 81 in La Liga, finishing last season by helping Los Angeles win the Major League Soccer title. Bale won five Champions League titles, three Spanish league titles, one Copa del Rey and one League Cup (AP Photo/Simon Dawson, File)
FILE - Tottenham Hotspurs Gareth Bale gestures during their English Premier League soccer match against Stoke City at the Britannia stadium, Stoke, England, Saturday Aug. 21, 2010. Bale has announced on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, his retirement from soccer at age 33. He scored 53 Premier Leagues goals and 81 in La Liga, finishing last season by helping Los Angeles win the Major League Soccer title. Bale won five Champions League titles, three Spanish league titles, one Copa del Rey and one League Cup (AP Photo/Simon Dawson, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Ricardo Carvalho from Portugal, second left, vies for the ball with Tottenham Hotspur’s Gareth Bale of Wales, centre, during their quarter final, 1st leg Champions League soccer match at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Tuesday April 5, 2011. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Ricardo Carvalho from Portugal, second left, vies for the ball with Tottenham Hotspur’s Gareth Bale of Wales, centre, during their quarter final, 1st leg Champions League soccer match at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Tuesday April 5, 2011. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki, File)
FILE - Tottenham Hotspur’s Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring against Reading during their English Premier League soccer match at the Madjeski stadium, Reading, England, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012. (AP Photo/Tom Hevezil, File)
FILE - Tottenham Hotspur’s Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring against Reading during their English Premier League soccer match at the Madjeski stadium, Reading, England, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012. (AP Photo/Tom Hevezil, File)
FILE - Tottenham Hotspur’s Gareth Bale, second right, attempts an overhead kick during the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur at Upton Park stadium in London, Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File)
FILE - Tottenham Hotspur’s Gareth Bale, second right, attempts an overhead kick during the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur at Upton Park stadium in London, Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale from Wales celebrates scoring against Villarreal during their La Liga soccer match at the Madrigal stadium in Villarreal, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale from Wales celebrates scoring against Villarreal during their La Liga soccer match at the Madrigal stadium in Villarreal, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz, File)
FILE - Real’s Gareth Bale, left, and Luka Modric celebrate with the trophy at the end of the final of the Copa del Rey between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia, Spain, Wednesday, April 16, 2014. Real defeated Barcelona 2-1. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)
FILE - Real’s Gareth Bale, left, and Luka Modric celebrate with the trophy at the end of the final of the Copa del Rey between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia, Spain, Wednesday, April 16, 2014. Real defeated Barcelona 2-1. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal in the Champions League final soccer match against Atletico Madrid at the Luz Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, Saturday, May 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal in the Champions League final soccer match against Atletico Madrid at the Luz Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, Saturday, May 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)
FILE - Real’s Gareth Bale, right scores his side’s 2nd goal, during the Champions League final soccer match between Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid, at the Luz stadium, in Lisbon, Portugal, Saturday, May 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza, File)
FILE - Real’s Gareth Bale, right scores his side’s 2nd goal, during the Champions League final soccer match between Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid, at the Luz stadium, in Lisbon, Portugal, Saturday, May 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale celebrates with teammates after scoring his side’s second goal in the Champions League final soccer match against Atletico Madrid at the Luz Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, Saturday, May 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale celebrates with teammates after scoring his side’s second goal in the Champions League final soccer match against Atletico Madrid at the Luz Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, Saturday, May 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)
FILE - Real’s Gareth Bale, lifts the Champion League trophy on his head, after the Champions League final soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid in Lisbon, Portugal, Saturday, May 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki, File)
FILE - Real’s Gareth Bale, lifts the Champion League trophy on his head, after the Champions League final soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid in Lisbon, Portugal, Saturday, May 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale, centre, lifts the trophy after beating Sevilla 2-0 during the UEFA Super Cup soccer match between Read Madrid and Sevilla at Cardiff City Stadium in Wales Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2014. AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale, centre, lifts the trophy after beating Sevilla 2-0 during the UEFA Super Cup soccer match between Read Madrid and Sevilla at Cardiff City Stadium in Wales Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2014. AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale walks with the trophy after winning the UEFA Super Cup soccer match between Real Madrid and Sevilla in Cardiff City Stadium, in Cardiff, Wales, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2014. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale walks with the trophy after winning the UEFA Super Cup soccer match between Real Madrid and Sevilla in Cardiff City Stadium, in Cardiff, Wales, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2014. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)
FILE - Real Madrid Gareth Bale, reacts during a Spanish Super Cup soccer match against Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid, Spain, Friday, Aug. 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza, File)
FILE - Real Madrid Gareth Bale, reacts during a Spanish Super Cup soccer match against Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid, Spain, Friday, Aug. 22, 2014. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale heads the ball to score the opening goal against Real Betis during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Real Betis at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale heads the ball to score the opening goal against Real Betis during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Real Betis at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale celebrates with teammates at the end of a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Malaga and Real Madrid in Malaga, Spain, Sunday, May 21, 2017. Real Madrid wins the Spanish league for the first time in five years, avoiding its biggest title drought since the 1980s. (AP Photo/Daniel Tejedor, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale celebrates with teammates at the end of a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Malaga and Real Madrid in Malaga, Spain, Sunday, May 21, 2017. Real Madrid wins the Spanish league for the first time in five years, avoiding its biggest title drought since the 1980s. (AP Photo/Daniel Tejedor, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale kisses the trophy after the Champions League final soccer match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Saturday, May 28, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale kisses the trophy after the Champions League final soccer match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Saturday, May 28, 2016. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale heads the ball during the Champions League Final soccer match between Real Madrid and Liverpool at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday, May 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale heads the ball during the Champions League Final soccer match between Real Madrid and Liverpool at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday, May 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring his side’s third goal during the Champions League Final soccer match between Real Madrid and Liverpool at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday, May 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring his side’s third goal during the Champions League Final soccer match between Real Madrid and Liverpool at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday, May 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale, left, scores his side’s 2nd goal during the Champions League Final soccer match between Real Madrid and Liverpool at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday, May 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale, left, scores his side’s 2nd goal during the Champions League Final soccer match between Real Madrid and Liverpool at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday, May 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale celebrates with the trophy after winning the Champions League Final soccer match between Real Madrid and Liverpool at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday, May 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale celebrates with the trophy after winning the Champions League Final soccer match between Real Madrid and Liverpool at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday, May 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale celebrates with the trophy after winning the Champions League Final soccer match between Real Madrid and Liverpool at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday, May 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale celebrates with the trophy after winning the Champions League Final soccer match between Real Madrid and Liverpool at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday, May 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring his side’s 3rd goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring his side’s 3rd goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale attends a training session ahead of the Champions League final soccer match against Liverpool, at the Stade de France in Saint Denis near Paris, Friday, May 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)
FILE - Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale attends a training session ahead of the Champions League final soccer match against Liverpool, at the Stade de France in Saint Denis near Paris, Friday, May 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)
FILE - Los Angeles FC forward Gareth Bale (11) celebrates after defeating the Philadelphia Union in penalties to win the MLS Cup soccer match Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, in Los Angeles. Bale has announced on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, his retirement from soccer at age 33. He scored 53 Premier Leagues goals and 81 in La Liga, finishing last season by helping Los Angeles win the Major League Soccer title. Bale won five Champions League titles, three Spanish league titles, one Copa del Rey and one League Cup. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)
FILE - Los Angeles FC forward Gareth Bale (11) celebrates after defeating the Philadelphia Union in penalties to win the MLS Cup soccer match Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, in Los Angeles. Bale has announced on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, his retirement from soccer at age 33. He scored 53 Premier Leagues goals and 81 in La Liga, finishing last season by helping Los Angeles win the Major League Soccer title. Bale won five Champions League titles, three Spanish league titles, one Copa del Rey and one League Cup. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)
Gareth Bale announced his retirement from soccer on Monday at the age of 33, ending the career of one of Britain’s greatest players after winning five Champions League titles and finally getting to play in a World Cup for Wales.
Bale was once the world’s most expensive player when he joined Real Madrid for $132 million in 2013 and, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, was a devastating forward capable of surging runs and brilliant goals with his powerful left foot.
He was a European champion with Madrid in 2014, ‘16, ’17, ’18 and last year, before finishing his club career by helping Los Angeles FC win the Major League Soccer title.
Affected by injuries in recent years, he ended his career saving the best performances for his country, for whom he played a record 111 matches and scored a record 41 times.
Key to qualifying Wales for its first World Cup in 64 years, Bale scored in the group stage in Qatar — a penalty against the United States — and his last match was a 3-0 loss to England on Nov. 29.
Bale said his decision to retire from international soccer was “by far the hardest of my career.”
“My journey on the international stage is one that has changed not only my life but who I am,” Bale said in a statement. “The fortune of being Welsh and being selected to play for and captain Wales, has given me something incomparable to anything else I’ve experienced.
“I am honored and humbled to have been able to play a part in the history of this incredible country, to have felt the support and passion of the red wall, and together have been to unexpected and amazing places.”
Bale started out as a left back for Southampton, moved to Tottenham in 2007 for a six-year spell, and had another year at Spurs in the 2020-21 season on loan from Madrid.
He scored 53 Premier League goals and 81 in La Liga. He won three Spanish league titles, one Copa del Rey and one English League Cup title.
Only one player — former Real Madrid star Paco Gento — won more European Cup/Champions League titles than Bale.
“I move on with anticipation to the next step in my life,” Bale said. “An opportunity for a new adventure.”
Madrid called Bale a “legend of our club and world football.”
“Gareth Bale has been part of our team in one of the most successful stages in our history and forever represents many of the brightest moments of the last decade,” the Spanish club said. Madrid referred specifically to his go-ahead goals in the 2014 and ‘18 Champions League finals and his solo goal against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final in 2014 when he sprinted down the left wing, even outside the field through the coaches’ technical areas.
However, there is a slight sense that his career is unfulfilled given the way his time at Madrid petered out after scoring twice — including a flying volley — in the win over Liverpool in the Champions League final in 2018.
Injuries and a breakdown in his relationship with former Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane led to Bale becoming a peripheral figure in the Spanish capital. He appeared to lack the motivation to play for Madrid but was always ready to go to great lengths to play for his beloved Wales.
While celebrating a win that qualified his country for the 2020 European Championship, Bale held up a Welsh flag with the words “Wales. Golf. Madrid. In That Order” written on it.
He was at his best for Wales when helping the team reach the Euro 2016 semifinals unexpectedly, memorably beating fancied Belgium in the quarterfinals before losing to Portugal.
Bale, who made his Wales debut in May 2006 in a friendly against Trinidad and Tobago, broke the previous Wales record of 28 goals set by Ian Rush. He has won Wales’ player of the year award six times.
“How do I describe what being a part of this country and team means to me? How do I articulate the impact it has had on my life? How do I put in to words the way I felt, every single time I put on that Welsh shirt?” Bale said. “My answer is that I couldn’t possibly do any of those things justice, simply with words.
“But I know that every person involved in Welsh football, feels the magic, and is impacted in such a powerful and unique way, so I know you feel what I feel, without using any words at all.”
Praising Bale’s impact, Wales said: “The term ‘legend’ is overused in the modern game, but there are few players as deserving of that accolade than Bale for the crucial part he has played in revolutionizing the image of the national team off the field and delivering success on it.”
He joined Los Angeles from Madrid in June, when his contract at Madrid expired, and helped his new team win the MLS championship, scoring a 128th-minute equalizer in the final. LA went on to beat Philadelphia on penalty kicks.
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