Gareth Bale to End his Professional Career

Gareth Bale is one of Wales’ most popular and beloved players. Often considered the greatest Welsh player of all time, the winger has competed in some of the most prestigious tournaments in the world, including the UEFA Champions’ League, the UEFA Euro, and the UEFA Super Cup. Analysists, experts, and fans have placed him next to Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Lionel Messi as the greatest player of the generation.

He has won numerous honors and accolades, most notably the Player of the Year award and the Footballer of the Year Award. Most of the top betting sites list him as one of the best wingers of all time, and certainly the greatest of his generation. So, to a lot of fans from Wales, and worldwide, the recent news of his retirement came as quite the shock. 

Gareth Bale is Stepping Down

Just yesterday, on January 9, 2023, Gareth Bale’s official Twitter account released a statement, in which the player gives a rather heart-felt message, thanking his fans, friends, and family for their continued support. In the statement, Mr. Bale also announced his retirement from the professional football scene. It seems he will no longer be playing in club nor in international matches. 

The post on the social media website came as quite the shock, especially for his new club, Los Angeles F.C. The player signed with them in the summer of 2022, during which time he declared that he will remain in the game for many years. During the announcement at the official player unveiling, Gareth Bale said: “I would not be here if I wasn’t ready to give everything.” 

He went on to say that at 32, he is still young and vibrant enough to play for as long as possible. So, understandably, yesterday’s announcement shocked LAFC, the American audience, as well as the Welsh fans of the player. 

Why is Gareth Bale Retiring?

The reasons behind his retirement have not been disclosed to the public. It seems this announcement came out of the blue, and many are left reeling. Mr. Bale’s last appearance in any sort of professional scene came in late November and early December, during the Qatar World Cup, where he captained the Welsh national team.

Perhaps Mr. Bale will deign to disclose the reason behind his retirement in the near future. Or we may never know why he decided to go down this road. Whatever the case may be, we wish him well in any future endeavors. 

Gareth Bale is widely considered one of the best players of his generation, and certainly the best winger. Considered a prolific goal scorer, Bale does not enter this list, but anyway, he is the undisputed number one scorer in Welsh’s football history. On top of that, he has been named the Footballer of the Year in Wales six times, a record that he holds. 

The Clubs Gareth Bale Played for

Throughout his career, Gareth played for two of England’s Premier League clubs: Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur. With them he honed his skills, and showed his potential. In 2013, he was scooped up by Real Madrid, with whom he played all the way until 2021, when he was loaned back to the Spurs. As many of you already know, in 2022 he moved to Los Angeles F.C., with whom he declared he would stay for as long as possible. It is precisely because of this declaration that his retirement came as such a massive shock. 

Conclusion

Regardless of his reasons, Gareth Bale will forever be considered one of Wales’ best players, and one of the shining stars of his generation. His name is said in the same breath as Ronaldo, Messi, Benzema, and Neymar, and his accolades speak for themselves.