Gareth Bale announced his decision to retire from professional soccer on Monday, posting a statement to his social media channels.
Having started his career at Southampton, Bale’s exceptional performances for the then-English second-tier side earned him a move to Tottenham Hotspur in 2007. Initially a left-back, Bale evolved into a winger during his time at Spurs, establishing himself as one of the best attacking players in world football.
Bale’s rise to superstardom earned him a six-year contract with Real Madrid for a then-world-record transfer fee of €100 million. It was there that he achieved the bulk of his success.
In addition to three La Liga titles and a Copa Del Rey, Bale won five Champions League trophies during his time with the Galacticos, most recently in 2022. While relegated to a bench role during the later stages of his Real Madrid career, Bale is remembered for scoring a stunning overhead kick in Real Madrid’s 3-1 victory over Liverpool in the 2018 Champions League final.
During the 2020-21 season, Bale returned to Spurs on loan before playing one final season with Real Madrid in 2021-22. Bale signed a one-year deal with MLS club LAFC in June 2022, leading the club to an MLC Cup victory that same season—the first title in the club’s history.
