Gareth Bale

The 33-year-old Wales captain thanked his fans and said that the sport had given him "the highest of highs" over his 17 season career.

Los Angeles also congratulated the Welshman, describing him as "Forever a champion. Leaving the door open for potential future involvement with the Welsh national side, he added: "So for now I am stepping back, but not away from the team that lives in me and runs through my veins. He added: "My journey on the international stage is one that has changed not only my life but who I am. The highest of highs over 17 seasons, that will be impossible to replicate, no matter what the next chapter has in store for me." It has truly given me some of the best moments of my life. Wales, Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton pay tribute to the star.

Gareth Bale has announced his retirement from football after a glittering career with clubs including Real Madrid and more than 100 appearances for Wales.

“It’s a nice getaway from the hectic life of a professional footballer.” [stinging criticism in Spain](https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2019/nov/20/gareth-bale-and-that-wales-golf-madrid-flag-real-are-not-amused) for celebrating Wales’s qualification for Euro 2020 by cavorting with a flag that read: “Wales. “A time of change and transition, an opportunity for a new adventure.” “I am stepping back, but not away from the team that lives in me and runs through my veins,” Bale said. [Champions League final in 2018](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/may/26/real-madrid-liverpool-champions-league-final-match-report), the first of his two goals in Kyiv, influential in recording victory. His match-winning goal against Barcelona in the [2014 Copa del Rey final](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/apr/16/real-madrid-v-barcelona-copa-del-rey-final-live) brought similar acclaim. “After all, the dragon on my shirt is all I need.” “I don’t think it will be the last time you see Gareth in a Wales jersey,” Page said. In November 2021 Bale won his 100th Wales cap at home against Belarus, three years after eclipsing Ian Rush’s goalscoring record by scoring a hat-trick in China. “My journey on the international stage is one that has changed not only my life but who I am.” “I feel incredibly fortunate to have achieved my dream of playing the sport I love. Afterwards Rob Page, the Wales manager, was confident Bale would stay true to his word.

Bale won five Champions Leagues with Madrid · Wales' top scorer and most-capped player · Announced retirement from football on Monday.

The Welshman rose to prominence as a full-back with Tottenham - where he made a brief return in 2020-21 - and celebrated a League Cup victory in 2008 alongside 42 goals in 146 appearances. The now former Wales captain recently represented his nation at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he took his total to 41 goals in 111 caps for his country, ahead of second-placed Ian Rush (28 goals) and Christ Gunter (109 caps), respectively. At 33 years old, Bale announced in a set of tweets that he would be hanging up his boots, both at club and international level.

Gareth Bale announced his retirement from club and international football on Monday, bringing to an end one of the most decorated careers in British ...

"We want to thank Gareth for everything he brought to our club," LAFC co-president and general manager John Thorrington said. That will be impossible to replicate, no matter what the next chapter has in store for me." "It was an honour to have one of the most talented, dynamic and exciting players of his generation finish his career with a title for LAFC." "He will forever be united to the history and legend of our club," the club said. "I am honoured 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." The Wales talisman, whose 41 goals make him the top goalscorer in the country's history, issued a separate statement to his "Welsh family", saying his decision to retire from international football had been "by far the hardest of my career".

Five-time Champions League winner and Welsh football icon Gareth Bale has retired at the age of 33.

How do I put into words the way I felt, every single time I put on that Welsh shirt? “So, I move on with anticipation to the next stage of my life. How do I articulate the impact it has had on my life? “It was an honor to have one of the most talented, dynamic and exciting players of his generation finish his career with a title for LAFC, and we wish Gareth, his wife Emma, and their family nothing but the best in their future endeavors,” LAFC Co-President & General Manager John Thorrington said in a statement. “My decision to retire from International football has been, by far the hardest of my career,” he said in a separate “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.

Gareth Bale has taken the decision to retire from both club and international football at the age of 33. The Welshman is much younger than the average ...

"Playing for and captaining my country 111 times has truly been a dream come true. [Bale and his surprising new business deal to celebrate Wales' World Cup return](https://www.marca.com/en/football/mls/2022/10/02/6339b8f722601dfa5d8b457f.html) -

Wales' Gareth Bale on the pitch before their World Cup 2022 Group B match against England. Photo: Carl Recine/Reuters. Published 3h ago. Written by.

"We want to thank Gareth for everything he brought to our club," LAFC co-president and general manager John Thorrington said. He added: "To show my gratitude to all of those that have played their part along this journey, feels like an impossibility. The highest of highs over 17 seasons, that will be impossible to replicate, no matter what the next chapter has in store for me." "It was an honour to have one of the most talented, dynamic and exciting players of his generation finish his career with a title for LAFC." [Real Madrid slip up in La Liga title race with defeat to Villarreal](/sport/soccer/la-liga/real-madrid-slip-up-in-la-liga-title-race-with-defeat-to-villarreal-398ff5ed-4d33-4d42-b550-3ea0a28a8ccc) [From Cristiano Ronaldo to Kevin de Bruyne ... "I am honoured 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."

Forward calls time on decorated career at age 33, says football has given him some of life's 'best moments'.

“My journey on the international stage is one that has changed not only my life but who I am. “I feel incredibly fortunate to have realised my dream of playing the sport I love. As captain and talisman, he led Wales to their first World Cup since 1958 at Qatar 2022.

The Los Angeles FC forward made his final competitive appearance during Wales' World Cup group-stage fixture with England.

"To show my gratitude to all of those that have played their part along this journey, feels like an impossibility. The highest of highs over 17 seasons, that will be impossible to replicate, no matter what the next chapter has in store for me", he added. "It was an honour to have one of the most talented, dynamic and exciting players of his generation finish his career with a title for LAFC", he added.

It is objectively true that Gareth Bale has had a fantastic footballing career, excelling at the very pinnacle of the game. An output of 142 goals and 70 ...

As he bids adieu to the game, one thing is certain: Gareth Bale is a legend of the game. Out of nowhere, Real Madrid was ahead and as always, Gareth Bale delivered on the biggest stage. As arch-rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona fought a competitive game where both teams denied the other a lot of chances, Bale scored arguably the best goal of his career. However, it is during his time in Real Madrid that injuries really started to take a toll, putting Bale out for long durations – Gareth Bale would play over 30 games in only one season at the club (2014-15). However, just two minutes later, he scored what is regarded by many as the greatest goal of a Champions League final. In fact, beyond aggregate output, Gareth Bale will be most remembered for the many moments of pure footballing magic that he provided fans. Wherever Bale played, he always excelled in the biggest moments. Spurs would go on to win the tie in the second leg, with Bale contributing with two more assists. Gareth Bale signed for Real Madrid for a record fee of £85.1 million. Bale ended the season with five goals and eight assists, a great return for a fullback. At Spurs, Bale took a couple of seasons to get settled, with injuries affecting his playing time as well. While he provided many a moment to cherish and remember, on the whole, one is left wondering what could have been.

The former Tottenham and Real Madrid winger remains a legend of the national team, having guided Wales to two European Championships and its first FIFA ...

It has truly given me some of the best moments of my life. “After careful and thoughtful consideration, I announce my immediate retirement from club and international football,” Bale said on Twitter. Bale played a Wales record of 111 games for his country and was a five-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has thanked Gareth Bale for the “unforgettable” memories he has left behind after heading into retirement.

He will long be remembered for his involvement in some of the most remarkable moments of the past decade, including his unforgettable run in the 2014 Copa del Rey final in Valencia, his crucial goal in the 2014 Champions League final in Lisbon, and his brace in the 2018 Champions League final in Kiev, most notably the bicycle kick which will live forever in the minds of football lovers around the globe. On an individual level, he was named Best Player of the 2018 Champions League final and got his hands on the Golden Ball at the Club World Cup the same year. [European hat-trick for Spurs against Inter](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/watch-tottenham-gareth-bale-tore-maicon-inter-to-shreds-champions-league/bltba5001e53fdf437a) and a Champions League final bicycle kick goal for Real – with Ancelotti looking back fondly on his time spent working with the Welshman at Santiago Bernabeu. [made history during his time in Spain](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/real-madrid-add-bale-to-official-legends-list-despite-criticism-of-welsh-forward-during-his-time-in-spain/blt0d75c2f271e087cf), saying in a statement on the club’s [official website](https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2023/01/09/official-announcement-gareth-bale-farewell?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=organico): “Following Gareth Bale's announcement that he will retire from professional football, Real Madrid C. [hanging up his boots with immediate effect at the age of 33](https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/gareth-bale-announces-retirement-football-aged-33/blt124a5cd9f1b83732). would like to express its gratitude, admiration and affection for a true legend of our club and the world game.

Forward Gareth Bale, who made a name for himself in England's Premier League and Spain's LaLiga, announced his retirement at the age of 33 on Monday.

"So, I move on with anticipation to the next stage of my life. It has truly given me some of the best moments of my life. "My wife and my children, your love and support has carried me through.

Gareth Bale, a five-time Champions League winner at Real Madrid, ended a glittering career on Monday after winning 111 caps and scoring 41 goals for his ...

"There's a mixture of emotions for me," he said. "You've just scored in a World Cup and got everything on your CV, what you've done for this country is unbelievable." [Gareth Bale announces retirement from football](/sport/soccer/gareth-bale-announces-retirement-from-football-00385d9b-35a8-47b1-96c8-854407443c82) [From Cristiano Ronaldo to Kevin de Bruyne ...

Bale - who announced his retirement in an emotional post on Monday - shot to stardom in 2010 after notching a second-half hat-trick against the reigning ...

They were beaten 4-0 in Spain and 1-0 at White Hart Lane. [BBC World Service](https://twitter.com/JohnBennettBBC/status/1612762480203206656?s=20&t=jyhj17HaBbBe77uxgoF75Q), Bassong said: 'He [Bale] just took the game on, on his own. I remember Samuel Eto'o asking me on the pitch: "Who's that?!" At San Siro, he lifted the game up, changed the whole scenario and gave us hope.' It was crazy to see how easy it was for him to do whatever he wanted to do. [who announced his retirement in an emotional post on Monday](/sport/football/article-11615297/Gareth-Bale-retires-football-Wales-Tottenham-Real-Madrid-legend-hangs-boots.html) - shot to stardom in 2010 after notching a second-half hat-trick against the reigning [Champions League](/sport/champions_league/index.html) holders in Spurs' 4-3 defeat.

Wales manager Rob Page reveals details of his conversation with Gareth Bale ahead of his retirement announcement; I told him I think its the right time to ...

He was the first through the building and he's a credit to himself and his family the way he conducts himself in the group. "We appreciate their forthrightness in coming to us when they did. "There's a mixture of emotions for me. When the time is right we'll talk about what capacity we keep him involved." You've just scored in a World Cup and got everything on your CV, what you've done for this country is unbelievable." It's not the news we wanted to start the new year with but we knew it was going to come one day. The roles might have changed slightly. "When you've got someone of Bale's stature and what he's done for Wales, the impact he can have - even being in the changing room and the impact he can have on the players, then I've got to take advantage of that. We just didn't know when it was going to come." He was so proud to put that jersey on. "I've now worked with him for a couple of years and when I was in the U21s, I could see from afar that he was passionate about playing for his country. "He's put Wales on the map globally for what he's done in European football at Real Madrid and what he did at Tottenham in the Premier League and then in the World Cup with Wales.