Gareth Bale: Difference between revisions
GiantSnowman (talk | contribs) m clean up |
→Honours: not sure why this was removed |
||
Line 451: | Line 451: | ||
*[[Supercopa de España]]: [[2017 Supercopa de España|2017]]<ref name="2017 Supercopa"/> |
*[[Supercopa de España]]: [[2017 Supercopa de España|2017]]<ref name="2017 Supercopa"/> |
||
*[[UEFA Champions League]]: [[2013–14 UEFA Champions League|2013–14]], [[2015–16 UEFA Champions League|2015–16]], [[2016–17 UEFA Champions League|2016–17]], [[2017–18 UEFA Champions League|2017–18]] <ref name="ec1314" /><ref name="UEFA CL 2015–16" /> |
*[[UEFA Champions League]]: [[2013–14 UEFA Champions League|2013–14]], [[2015–16 UEFA Champions League|2015–16]], [[2016–17 UEFA Champions League|2016–17]], [[2017–18 UEFA Champions League|2017–18]] <ref name="ec1314" /><ref name="UEFA CL 2015–16" /> |
||
*[[UEFA Super Cup]]: [[2014 UEFA Super Cup|2014]], [[2017 UEFA Super Cup|2017]]<ref name="super14" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Real Madrid CF – Squad |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefasupercup/season=2016/clubs/club=50051/squad/index.html |website=uefa.com |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |accessdate=7 June 2017 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170607180248/http://www.uefa.com/uefasupercup/season%3D2016/clubs/club%3D50051/squad/index.html |archivedate=7 June 2017 |deadurl=yes}}</ref><ref name="auto"/> |
*[[UEFA Super Cup]]: [[2014 UEFA Super Cup|2014]], [[2016 UEFA Super Cup|2016]], [[2017 UEFA Super Cup|2017]]<ref name="super14" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Real Madrid CF – Squad |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefasupercup/season=2016/clubs/club=50051/squad/index.html |website=uefa.com |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |accessdate=7 June 2017 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170607180248/http://www.uefa.com/uefasupercup/season%3D2016/clubs/club%3D50051/squad/index.html |archivedate=7 June 2017 |deadurl=yes}}</ref><ref name="auto"/> |
||
*[[FIFA Club World Cup]]: [[2014 FIFA Club World Cup|2014]],<ref name="fifac14" /> [[2017 FIFA Club World Cup|2017]],<ref name="2017 FIFA"/> [[2018 FIFA Club World Cup|2018]] |
*[[FIFA Club World Cup]]: [[2014 FIFA Club World Cup|2014]],<ref name="fifac14" /> [[2017 FIFA Club World Cup|2017]],<ref name="2017 FIFA"/> [[2018 FIFA Club World Cup|2018]] |
||
Revision as of 19:44, 24 January 2019
![]() Bale with Wales in 2016 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Gareth Frank Bale[1] | ||
Date of birth | [1] | 16 July 1989||
Place of birth | Cardiff, Wales | ||
Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2] | ||
Position(s) | Winger | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Real Madrid | ||
Number | 11 | ||
Youth career | |||
Cardiff Civil Service | |||
1999–2006 | Southampton | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2006–2007 | Southampton | 40 | (5) |
2007–2013 | Tottenham Hotspur | 146 | (42) |
2013– | Real Madrid | 141 | (74) |
International career‡ | |||
2005–2006 | Wales U17 | 7 | (1) |
2006 | Wales U19 | 1 | (1) |
2006–2008 | Wales U21 | 4 | (2) |
2006– | Wales | 74 | (31) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:23, 3 January 2019 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20 November 2018 |
Gareth Frank Bale (born 16 July 1989) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a winger for Spanish club Real Madrid and the Wales national team. Renowned for his ball striking from distance, swerving free kicks, and his ability to get past defenders with pace, Bale has received plaudits from his peers, who have described him as a footballer with "tremendous speed, great crossing ability, a great left foot and exceptional physical qualities".
He began his professional career at Southampton, playing at left-back and earning acclaim as a free kick specialist. Bale moved to Tottenham Hotspur in 2007, for an eventual £7 million fee. During his time at Tottenham, managerial and tactical shifts saw him transform into a more attacking player. From the 2009–10 season, under the guidance of Harry Redknapp, Bale became an integral part of the team, rising to international attention during the 2010–11 UEFA Champions League. In 2011 and 2013 he was named PFA Players' Player of the Year, and was named in the UEFA Team of the Year. In 2013, he was also named PFA Young Player of the Year, the FWA Footballer of the Year and the Premier League Player of the Season. He was nominated to the PFA Team of the Year three times in a row between 2011 and 2013.
On 1 September 2013, Bale was transferred to Real Madrid for an undisclosed fee. Press at the time reported the transfer value at figures between €91 million and €100 million. In January 2016, documents pertaining to the transfer were leaked which confirmed a then-world record transfer fee of €100.8 million, eclipsing the previous record fee of £80 million (€94 million) the club paid for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009. Bale played an integral role in his first season at Real Madrid, helping the club to win the 2013–14 Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League, scoring in both finals. The following season, he won the UEFA Super Cup and scored in a third major final to help the club win the FIFA Club World Cup. Two years later, he was a key player in another Champions League run, winning the 2015–16 title and being elected to the UEFA Squad of the Season. He was also a finalist in the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award. In 2016, ESPN ranked Bale twelfth on its list of the world's most famous athletes.
Bale made his senior international debut for Wales in May 2006, becoming the youngest player at that point to represent the nation. He has since earned over 70 caps and scored 31 international goals, making him Wales' highest scorer of all time. He was the top goalscorer for Wales in their successful qualifying campaign for UEFA Euro 2016, scoring seven goals; he subsequently represented his nation in the final tournament as they reached the semi-finals, scoring three goals. He has been named Welsh Footballer of the Year a record six times.
Early life and career
Bale was born in Cardiff, Wales, to parents Frank, a school caretaker, and Debbie Bale, an operations manager and the nephew of former Cardiff City footballer Chris Pike.[3] He attended Eglwys Newydd Primary School in Whitchurch.[4] It was while at this school he first came to the attention of Southampton at age nine, when he was playing in a six-a-side tournament with his first club, Cardiff Civil Service.[5] Growing up, his footballing hero was fellow Welshman and Manchester United player Ryan Giggs.[6]
Bale attended Whitchurch High School in Cardiff.[7] He was a keen athlete; he played football alongside future Wales rugby captain Sam Warburton,[8] rugby, hockey and excelled at athletics.[9] As a 14-year-old he says that he ran the 100-metre sprint in 11.4 seconds.[6] Because of his superior footballing skill, the school's PE teacher, Gwyn Morris, had to write special rules which restricted Bale to playing one-touch football and not using his left foot.[8] Whilst at Whitchurch, Bale trained at Southampton's satellite academy in Bath, although there was initially some doubt if Southampton would give him a scholarship due to his height.[citation needed]
Despite being only 16 at the time, he helped the school's under-18 side win the Cardiff & Vale Senior Cup. He left school in the summer of 2005 with a Grade A in PE amongst his other GCSE results. In his final year at school, he was awarded the PE department's prize for services to sport. In the presentation, Morris commented:
"Gareth has a fierce determination to succeed and has the character and qualities to achieve his personal goals. He is one of the most unselfish individuals that I have had the pleasure to help educate."[10]
Club career
Southampton
On 17 April 2006, at the age of 16 years and 275 days, Bale became the second youngest player ever to play for Southampton (after Theo Walcott, who was 132 days younger) when he made his debut in the Saints' 2–0 victory against Millwall. On 6 August, Bale scored his first league goal, a free kick, to level the score at 1–1 against Derby County. The final score at Pride Park was 2–2.[11]
He scored again, at St. Mary's, against Coventry City in the team's second game of the 2006–07 season with another free kick.[12] Bale further developed his reputation as a free kick specialist when he struck the post from one against West Bromwich Albion.[13] By 16 December 2006, Bale's goal count had risen to five, thanks to a late equaliser against Sunderland[14] and free kicks away to Hull City[15] and at home to Norwich City.[16]
In December 2006, he won the Carwyn James Award for the BBC Wales Young Sports Personality of the Year,[17] and was named the Football League Young Player of the Year on 4 March 2007.[18] This capped what was described in the local press as an "incredible" first full season as a professional footballer in which he was one of the Saints' "most creative players even (though operating) from the left-back position whilst his defending improved immeasurably as the season progressed."[19]
His final game for Southampton was in the first leg of the Championship play-off semi-final against Derby County on 12 May 2007. Bale suffered an injury during the second half, preventing him from appearing in the second leg.[20][21] In total, he made 45 appearances for Southampton, scoring five goals.[22]
Tottenham Hotspur
On 25 May 2007, Bale signed a four-year deal with Tottenham Hotspur with the club paying an initial £5 million for the player, potentially rising to £10 million based on appearances and success.[23] However, in 2008, Southampton agreed an early settlement payment of £2 million reducing the final fee to £7 million in exchange for immediate cash needed in light of their financial difficulties.[24]
2007–09
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/35/Gareth_Bale.jpg)
Bale played his first game for Spurs in a friendly against St. Patrick's Athletic on 12 July 2007, but was substituted on the 80th minute with a minor dead leg. He made his competitive debut for Tottenham Hotspur on 26 August away against Manchester United.[25] On 1 September 2007, in his second Spurs appearance, he scored his first goal for the club in a 3–3 draw with Fulham.[26] Bale went on to score against Arsenal in the North London derby from a free kick.[27] He then scored in the League Cup home tie against Middlesbrough,[28] to make it three goals in four starts for the then 18-year-old.
On 2 December 2007, Bale was substituted after sustaining an injury resulting from a tackle from Fabrice Muamba in the league fixture against Birmingham City. A scan revealed that Bale had suffered ligament damage to his right ankle, consigning him to an extended period on the sidelines. Bale had exploratory surgery on 11 December.[29] By February 2008, it became clear that Bale was to miss the rest of the season through injury.[30] Sporting Director of Tottenham, Damien Comolli said, "Even if the examination reveals that Gareth's foot is stable, the decision has been taken to bring him back slowly to ensure he does not get a repeat of the injury or suffer any further damage. Gareth is obviously disappointed to be sidelined for this length of time but he is still young and we have to do what is best for him in the long run."[29] Bale did return towards the end of the 2008–09 season and even took part in the League Cup final against Manchester United. Bale came off the bench in the 98th minute in extra time with the final result deadlocked at 0–0 resulting in a penalty shoot-out that ended 4–1 to Manchester United.[31]
Bale signed a new four-year deal with the club in August 2008.[32] After a series of injuries, Bale was dropped in favour of Benoît Assou-Ekotto and the latter remained first-choice for most of the season.[33]
2009–10
In June 2009, Bale underwent surgery for a knee injury, ruling him out for over two months. He missed pre-season matches and it was projected that he would miss the first few weeks of the 2009–10 season.[34] On 26 September, he made his comeback as an 85th-minute substitute in Tottenham's 5–0 win over Burnley. This was Bale's first ever involvement in a Premier League win, after not being on the winning side since the Southampton move.[35] However, he struggled to break into the first team, in part thanks to Assou-Ekotto's good form. When Assou-Ekotto was sidelined with an injury, manager Harry Redknapp decided to give Bale a chance and he impressed in Spurs' FA Cup third-round 4–0 win over Peterborough United.[36] His first victory as a starter in a league game came in the 2–0 win over London rivals Fulham on 26 January 2010.[37]
Bale's good form continued and he was named Player of the Round after helping Spurs to a 3–1 win in the sixth round replay of the FA Cup against Fulham.[38] In April 2010, Bale scored the winning goal in a 2–1 North London derby win against Arsenal, tapping past Manuel Almunia, after a pass from Jermain Defoe.[39] Three days later, Bale scored Tottenham's winning goal with his weaker right foot in a 2–1 victory over league leaders and eventual champions Chelsea and was named Man of the Match.[40] He was named Premier League Player of the Month for April 2010.[41] He signed a new four-year contract at White Hart Lane on 7 May 2010, as a reward for helping the club reaching a Champions League qualification place.[42]
2010–11
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Gareth_Bale_%2B_Auturo_Alvarez.jpg/220px-Gareth_Bale_%2B_Auturo_Alvarez.jpg)
On 21 August 2010, Bale scored twice in a 2–1 win at Stoke City, the second of which was a head-high volley into the top right hand corner of the goal.[43] This was later awarded Goal of the Month for August 2010 by the BBC. On 25 August, Bale set up all four goals to help Spurs overcome Young Boys 4–0 (6–3 agg.) in a Champions League play-off at White Hart Lane.[44] Although Assou-Ekotto had already returned from injury, Bale continued his good form and cemented his place in the starting eleven, with his manager opting him to move to left wing to accommodate Assou-Ekotto at left-back.[45] On 29 September, Bale scored his first Champions League goal for Tottenham in a 4–1 home win against Dutch champions Twente in their second game of the group stages.[46] For his performances, he was named Welsh Player of the Year by the Football Association of Wales (FAW).[47]
On 20 October, Bale scored his first senior hat-trick against European champions Inter Milan at San Siro in the Champions League. Tottenham lost the match 4–3, having been 4–0 down inside the first 35 minutes and playing with ten men for over 80 minutes of the match after goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes had been sent off in the eighth minute for a professional foul on Inter's Jonathan Biabiany.[48] In the return match at White Hart Lane on 2 November, Bale provided a man of the match performance, setting up goals for Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko to earn Spurs a memorable 3–1 win.[49]
On 4 November, Bale stated that he intended to remain at Tottenham for the remainder of his recently signed four-year contract, despite reported interest from other clubs,[45] then, in December, he was awarded the BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year trophy.[50] On 19 March 2011, it was announced he would then extended his stay at the club until 2015.[51] On 17 April, Bale was honoured with the PFA Players' Player of the Year award, as voted for by his peers.[52]
With Spurs, he rose to international attention during the 2010–11 UEFA Champions League with Tottenham.[53][54][55]
2011–12
Bale scored his first goal of the season on 24 September 2011, in an away game against Wigan Athletic. The game ended in a 2–1 victory for Tottenham.[56] He added his second and third goals of the season on 30 October with two goals against Queens Park Rangers in a 3–1 home win.[57] He continued his good form with the first goal in a 3–1 victory over Fulham the following week, whilst also setting up Aaron Lennon who made it 2–0 on the stroke of half time.[58] The first goal against Fulham was later ruled by the "dubious goals committee" to be an own goal by Chris Baird.[59]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b0/Gareth_Bale_Tottenham.jpg/220px-Gareth_Bale_Tottenham.jpg)
On 3 December, Bale scored the first goal in Tottenham's 3–0 victory over Bolton Wanderers. He marked the goal with a tribute to Gary Speed by holding up his left boot, with "R.I.P Gary Speed" stitched on it, in front of the Bolton fans.[60] On 27 December, Bale scored twice to give Tottenham a 2–0 win against Norwich City.[61] On 5 January 2012, Bale was one of the players voted into the 2011 UEFA Team of the Year. He scored his third brace of the season as he scored twice against Wigan, on 31 January to take his tally to ten goals for the season.[62] In January 2012, he was named Premier League Player of the Month for the second time in his career, after three goals and two assists in the Premier League for the month.[63]
On 27 June, Bale signed a new four-year contract, committing his future to the club until 2016.[64]
2012–13
For the 2012–13 season, Bale changed his squad number from 3 to 11 as he was "not a left-back anymore" and had asked the club for a "higher number".[65][66] On 16 September 2012, Bale scored his first goal of the season against Reading in a 3–1 away victory.[67] On 29 September, Bale scored the second goal in Tottenham's 3–2 away victory over Manchester United, their first win at Old Trafford since 1989.[68]
He scored his first Premier League hat-trick in a 4–0 away win on Boxing Day against Aston Villa.[69] On 5 January 2013, Bale scored in the FA Cup third round fixture against Coventry City as well as assisting Clint Dempsey on both of his goals in a 3–0 win.[70] On 30 January, Bale scored a magnificent solo effort in the 1–1 draw with Norwich City.[71] Bale then scored against West Bromwich Albion in a 1–0 away win on 3 February.[72] Bale then took his goal tally of the season to 15 goals with a brace against Newcastle United in a match which Spurs won 2–1. This took Spurs into third place, and strengthened their Champions League ambitions.[73]
In Bale's next game, he scored directly from two free kicks, one from 35 yards out just before half time and another from 25 yards out in the dying seconds of injury time, to give Tottenham a 2–1 victory over Olympique Lyonnais in the first leg of their Europa League round of 32 tie on 14 February. This took Bale to a tally of ten goals in his previous ten appearances.[74] In Tottenham's Premier League match against West Ham on 25 February, Bale scored the first and third in a 3–2 win for Tottenham. His second, a long range dipping strike from over 30 yards, in the dying stages of the game, capped a world class performance. This was his eighth goal in six games.[75]
On 3 March, Bale scored against Arsenal in a North London derby that Tottenham won 2–1.[76] On 7 March, Tottenham faced Inter Milan in the Europa League, with Bale scoring the opening goal and Tottenham winning 3–0.[77] Bale's run of good form in the early months of 2013 saw him win Premier League Player of the Month for February[78] as well as the BBC's Goal of the Month in both January and February for his strikes against Norwich City and West Ham United respectively.[79] On 4 April, Bale injured his right ankle in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final against Basel.[80] On his return from injury, Bale scored a goal and assisted Clint Dempsey as Tottenham beat Manchester City at White Hart Lane.[81]
On 28 April, Bale won both the PFA Players' Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year after his excellent showing in the 2012–13 season.[82] A week later, on 2 May 2013, he added the FWA Footballer of the Year Award from the Football Writers' Association, making Bale one of only two players who have won all three in the same season – the other being Cristiano Ronaldo, who won them in 2007.[83] Bale scored the winning goal against his former club Southampton on 4 May. The goal gave Spurs a 1–0 win as well as being Bale's 20th in the Premier League in his 200th appearance for Spurs. On 19 May, Bale scored a 90th-minute goal from 25 yards out. This goal gave Spurs a 1–0 win over Sunderland, but was not enough to give them Champions League football for the following season.[84]
Real Madrid
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/Gareth_Bale_RM.jpg/200px-Gareth_Bale_RM.jpg)
On 1 September 2013, Spanish club Real Madrid announced that they had reached an agreement for the transfer of Bale,[85] signing a six-year deal in a then world record deal.[86] The Spanish press (and Real Madrid TV) reported that Bale had cost £77 million (€91 million), while the British press reported a world record transfer fee of £85.3 million (€100 million), which would be above Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer record fee of £80 million (€94 million).[87][88][89] However, in January 2016, documents pertaining to the transfer were leaked by Football Leaks which confirmed a world record transfer fee of €100.8 million (£85.1 million).[90] Bale's record was surpassed in August 2016 by Paul Pogba's record fee of €105 million (£89.2 million).[91] Bale was assigned the number 11 shirt at Madrid.[92]
2013–14
The first half of Bale's season was plagued by injuries; of Real's first 16 games after his signing, Bale missed five and was substituted on or off in six others, playing only five full games.[93][94] Bale scored on his Real Madrid debut, a goal coming in the 38th minute against Villarreal, before being substituted later in the game for Ángel Di María.[95] Bale's second appearance for Madrid came in a 6–1 victory over Galatasaray in the Champions League. Although Bale only played the final 26 minutes, his free kick led to Cristiano Ronaldo's second goal of the game.[96] On 28 September 2013, Bale made his home debut as a second-half substitute in a 1–0 loss to local rivals Atlético Madrid.[97]
Following a brief appearance against Juventus in the Champions League,[98] Bale made his El Clásico debut on 26 October, but was substituted in the 61st minute. Barcelona won the game 2–1, and Bale's performance drew some media criticism.[99] Four days later, he scored two goals and assisted two in a 7–3 victory against Sevilla. Following his impressive performance the Spanish press nicknamed Bale "The Cannon".[100]
In November, he assisted a further two goals in Madrid's 3–2 victory over Rayo Vallecano,[101] before scoring in a 2–2 draw with Juventus in the Champions League.[102] He then scored a 25-yard free kick against Galatasaray in the Champions League, a match which Madrid won 4–1 despite being a man down.[103] On 30 November, Bale rounded off the month with his first hat-trick for Real Madrid, as well as assisting Karim Benzema, in a 4–0 victory over Real Valladolid. It was a "perfect hat-trick": one goal with a header and one with each foot.[104]
On 26 February 2014, he scored twice in Real Madrid's 6–1 win against Schalke 04 in the Champions League round of 16 first leg.[105] He then scored one of the team's three goals in a 3–0 quarter-final defeat of Borussia Dortmund on 2 April, taking him to five Champions League goals for the season.[106] In La Liga, he scored four goals in three matches between gameweeks 31 and 33, as Real Madrid defeated Rayo Vallecano (5–0),[107] Real Sociedad (4–0)[108] and Almería (4–0).[109]
"It is difficult to see a player sprint like that at that stage of the game."
—Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino on Bale's 85th minute winner for Madrid in the Copa del Rey final.[110]
On 16 April, Bale scored the winning goal for Real Madrid with five minutes remaining in the 2014 Copa del Rey Final against rivals Barcelona.[111] Considered one of the best goals of his career, Bale outsprinted Barcelona defender Marc Bartra from the halfway line (with Bale running off the field at one point) before converting past goalkeeper José Manuel Pinto.[111] In the post match interview Bale stated, "I had to get round the player and go off the pitch to do it", while his Real Madrid teammate Xabi Alonso commented, "It was incredible, I have never seen anything like it".[110] The goal was Bale's 20th of the season and his first in a Clásico fixture.[110]
On 24 May, Bale scored in the 110th minute of the extra time period to put Real Madrid 2–1 up against city rivals Atlético Madrid in the 2014 UEFA Champions League Final, as Los Blancos won their tenth European Cup.[112] The goal made Bale the first Welshman to score a goal in a European Cup/Champions League final.[113] Bale finished his debut season with 22 goals and 16 assists in all competitions.[114] Real Madrid's attacking trio of Bale, Benzema and Cristiano, dubbed the BBC, finished the season with 97 goals.[115]
2014–15
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/Gareth_Bale_-_CdR_-_RM_v_ATL.jpg/220px-Gareth_Bale_-_CdR_-_RM_v_ATL.jpg)
Bale started the 2014–15 season in good form, playing the full 90 minutes and assisting Cristiano Ronaldo's first goal in a 2–0 win at the Cardiff City Stadium against Sevilla to win the 2014 UEFA Super Cup.[116] After the match, his performance was described as "amazing" by Ronaldo.[117] Six days later, Bale scored his first goal of the season in a 4–2 away loss to Real Sociedad.[118] Bale scored twice in Real's 8–2 win over Deportivo La Coruña on 20 September 2014.[119][120]
In December 2014, Bale scored in a third major final, the second goal in a 2–0 win over San Lorenzo, to help the club win the FIFA Club World Cup.[121] In a match against Espanyol on 10 January 2015, Bale was booed by a section of Madrid fans who adjudged him as being selfish in shooting for goal and not passing to Ronaldo.[122] Bale was defended by Carlo Ancelotti over this plus difficulties at the end of the season.[123] On 18 April, Bale sustained a calf injury against Málaga.[124]
2015–16
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Gareth_Bale_2015_%289%29.jpg/165px-Gareth_Bale_2015_%289%29.jpg)
Bale scored twice in Real's win over Real Betis in September 2015.[115] His two goals took the total number of goals of Madrid's attacking trio of Bale, Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo to 200 goals since they first played together in 2013.[115]
On 20 December 2015, he scored four goals in a 10–2 victory over Rayo Vallecano.[125] On 9 January 2016, Bale scored his second hat-trick of the season in Madrid's 5–0 defeat of Deportivo La Coruña in Zinedine Zidane's first match as head coach of Los Blancos.[126] After being sidelined since 19 January, due to a calf injury he sustained in a 5–1 league victory at home against Sporting Gijón, during which he had also scored the opening goal of the match,[127][128] Bale returned to the pitch on 5 March; he made a substitute appearance in Real Madrid's 7–1 home win over Celta de Vigo, scoring Real Madrid's final goal of the match.[129]
On 20 March 2016, Bale scored his 43rd La Liga goal in a 4–0 defeat of Sevilla to surpass Gary Lineker as the highest scoring British player in the competition's history.[130] On 23 April, Bale scored twice as Real Madrid came from 0–2 down to win 3–2 at Rayo Vallecano.[131] Bale was a regular starter when the team won the 2015–16 UEFA Champions League. He assisted the team's only goal and went on to score in the penalty shoot-out win over Atlético Madrid in the final.[132]
2016–17
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/24/Wikinews-logo.svg/40px-Wikinews-logo.svg.png)
On 30 October 2016, Bale signed a new contract with Madrid until 2022.[133] On 22 November 2016, Bale damaged his ankle tendons during the 2–1 victory at Sporting CP that would rule him out for up to four months.[134] On 23 April, Bale made his 100th appearance in La Liga in a 3–2 home defeat to Barcelona, but was forced off after sustaining an injury.[135]
Despite suffering several injuries during the season, he managed to feature 19 times for Madrid as they won their 33rd La Liga title.[136][137] After missing more than a month, he returned to action for the 2017 UEFA Champions League Final, which Madrid won.[138]
2017–18
The 2017–18 season saw some improvement in the Bale's goalscoring record across the league, cup competitions and in the Champions League. He featured in Real Madrid's victories in both the 2017 UEFA Super Cup[139] and the 2017 Supercopa de España,[140] and he also featured in the club's victorious 2017 FIFA Club World Cup campaign, winning a third trophy before 2018 had even begun.[141] In La Liga, he made 26 appearances and scoring 16 goals but Real Madrid were unable to reclaim the title, finishing in third.[142]
The 2017–18 UEFA Champions League competition saw Bale scoring once prior to the final. This goal came from the match against Borussia Dortmund in the group stages, when he opened the scoring in a 3–1 victory in Germany.[143] In the 2018 UEFA Champions League Final, Bale scored two goals, first an overhead kick and then a long distance strike, resulting in a 3–1 victory over Liverpool, to help Real Madrid win their thirteenth Champions League trophy.[144] He became the first substitute to score twice in a Champions League final and was named man of the match.[145][146]
2018–19
Following the break-up of the BBC trifecta with Ronaldo's transfer to Juventus, and the replacement of Zidane by new manager Julen Lopetegui,[147] Bale was ever-present during August 2018, and was awarded Cinco Estrellas Mahou for the Real Madrid Player of the Month, scoring against Getafe and Girona along the way.[148]
On 19 December 2018, Bale scored a hat-trick in a 3–1 win over Kashima Antlers in the semi-finals of the 2018 FIFA Club World Cup.[149] He became the third player to score a hat-trick in a FIFA Club World Cup match after Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suárez.[150] He also became the third player to score in three editions of the competition after Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.[151] He was awarded the Golden Ball[152] after Real Madrid won the competition by beating Al Ain FC 4–1 in the final.[153]
International career
Wales
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/26/Gareth_Bale_playing_for_Wales_vs_Austria_01.jpg/170px-Gareth_Bale_playing_for_Wales_vs_Austria_01.jpg)
Bale was selected by Wales at the end of the 2005–06 season for a friendly against Trinidad and Tobago on 27 May 2006.[154] In the match in Graz, Austria, he replaced David Vaughan after 55 minutes and assisted Robert Earnshaw's winning goal in a 2–1 victory.[155] At 16 years and 315 days, Bale became the youngest player to play for Wales, breaking a record held by Lewin Nyatanga who set that three months earlier; this record was itself superseded by Harry Wilson in November 2012.[156]
Wales youth guru Brian Flynn commented that Bale was potentially a future star of the game, comparing his technical ability to that of Ryan Giggs.[157] On 7 October 2006, Bale became the youngest player ever to score a goal for the senior national team in the Euro 2008 qualification match against Slovakia with a free kick.[158] Bale was eligible to play for England through his grandmother, but he stated in 2016: "I wouldn't care if I never qualified – I would never play for England."[159]
After a long injury lay-off, he returned and started in the World Cup qualifier against Finland on 10 October 2009.[160] On 14 October, he played a part in Wales' final World Cup qualifier by setting up David Vaughan to score the opening goal against Liechtenstein and won the free kick that led to the second, Aaron Ramsey's first at senior level.[161]
In December 2010, Bale was awarded the BBC Cymru Sports Personality of the Year trophy.[162] On 12 October 2012, Bale scored both goals for Wales in a 2–1 victory over Scotland in a 2014 World Cup qualifier.[163]
Euro 2016 campaign
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/Ashley_Williams%2C_Gareth_Bale.jpg/220px-Ashley_Williams%2C_Gareth_Bale.jpg)
On 9 September 2014, Bale scored two goals, one with a header and another with a free kick, as Wales beat Andorra 2–1 in their first match of the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.[165] In doing so, he became Wales' joint 10th all-time top-scorer with 14 goals, alongside John Hartson.[166] Bale scored two goals on 28 March 2015, in a 3–0 win away in Israel.[167] On 12 June, his 50th cap, he scored the only goal to defeat Belgium in a home qualifier, taking Wales above the Belgians to the top of Group B.[168] He headed Jazz Richards' cross on 3 September in a 1–0 away win over Cyprus, putting Wales three points away from qualification.[169] With qualification to UEFA Euro 2016 achieved (the country's first major finals since the 1958 FIFA World Cup), on 13 October 2015, Bale scored his seventh goal of the qualifying campaign in Wales' final qualifier against Andorra at the Cardiff City Stadium.[170]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/88/Tim_P%C3%AAl-droed_Cymru_Bws_Agored_Caerdydd.jpg/220px-Tim_P%C3%AAl-droed_Cymru_Bws_Agored_Caerdydd.jpg)
On 11 June, Bale scored the first goal in Wales' clash with Slovakia in their opening game of UEFA Euro 2016 from a free kick, helping his country secure a 2–1 win and, in the process, lead them to their first win in a tournament in 58 years.[171] His goal saw him become the first Welsh player to score at a major international tournament since Terry Medwin's goal against Hungary at the 1958 FIFA World Cup.[172] He then followed this up by scoring another opening free kick goal against England in the second group game, though Wales went on to lose the game 2–1; this made Bale the first player to score two free kicks at a European Championship since Germany's Thomas Häßler in 1992.[173] Bale scored his third goal of the tournament in a 3–0 win over Russia, making him their all-time top goalscorer in major tournaments, ahead of Ivor Allchurch who scored twice in the 1958 World Cup; he also helped to create the second goal of the match, which was scored by Neil Taylor.[174] In the last 16 against Northern Ireland at the Parc des Princes, Bale sent in the cross from which Gareth McAuley scored an own goal to give the Welsh victory.[175] Wales were eliminated following a 2–0 defeat to eventual champions Portugal in the semi-final of the tournament on 6 July.[176]
On 5 September 2016, Bale scored twice in a 4–0 win over Moldova in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification game. This brought him to 24 international goals, surpassing both Ivor Allchurch and Trevor Ford, and behind only Ian Rush's 28.[177] On 22 March 2018, with 29 goals, Bale became Wales' all-time top-scorer surpassing Ian Rush's 28, thanks to his first hat-trick in his international career in a 2018 China Cup match against China.[178][179]
Great Britain
Bale, who met the age criteria to play in the 2012 London Olympics, said in May 2011 "I want to play in the Olympics" for the Great Britain Olympic football team, in defiance of the FAW.[180] On 28 October 2011, Bale became the first player to be photographed modelling the British 2012 London Olympics football supporters' shirt. In response, FAW chief executive Jonathan Ford said: "Our position remains unchanged. We are not for Team GB. Gareth can make his own choices and make his own decisions. But we are not going to stop anyone playing." On behalf of Bale a spokesman said "while he is 100% Welsh, he is also British".[181]
At the end of June 2012, Bale pulled out of the tournament with a back injury. On 29 June, he advised the Team GB football manager, Stuart Pearce, that he would not be available for selection as he had aggravated an old back and hip injury during a training run. In view of the short recovery time between the end of the Olympics and the start of the Premier League season, Bale had decided to withdraw rather than exacerbate the problem.[182][183] Bale recovered from his injury in good time to be included on Spurs' pre-season tour of the United States, scoring against LA Galaxy on 24 July[184][185] and against New York Red Bulls a week later.[186] Between these matches, Bale also played against Liverpool when he was injured in a tackle by Charlie Adam.[187]
Bale's appearances in Spurs' pre-season tour coincided with Team GB's Olympic matches, where they drew with Senegal before victories over the United Arab Emirates and Uruguay took them through to the knockout stages, where they lost to South Korea following a penalty shoot-out. Bale's withdrawal from the Team GB squad attracted calls for sanctions against him[184] including a ban from the rest of Spurs' pre-season tour[188] but, in the absence of an official complaint by Team GB, these were not carried out. Spurs' manager, André Villas-Boas, defended the player insisting that Bale "had recovered quicker than expected".[189] The club's stance was supported by British Olympic Association chairman Lord Moynihan.[190]
Tottenham released a statement in relation to Bale's non-selection for Team GB, they stated that "Gareth sustained an injury as he built up his fitness ahead of joining up with Stuart Pearce's side. MRI scan reports were sent to the FA medical team on 29 June 2012. He was subsequently not selected on the basis of this injury and the inability to predict recovery time. This decision was not taken lightly and made only after consultation with Team GB's medical team, who were in agreement after seeing the medical reports".[191]
Style of play
One of the fastest footballers in the world,[192] Bale started out as an offensive left-back or wing-back at the beginning of his career.[193] It was at Tottenham Hotspur that his manager Harry Redknapp decided to utilise Bale's pace and played him as a left-winger, where he developed into a world class player.[194] He is known for his physical fitness, pace, strength, stamina, skill, heading ability, and agility, with a capacity to regularly get past defenders due to his acceleration, physicality, and athleticism.[194][195][196][197][198][199] Possessing good technique and ball control, Bale is also a free kick specialist, as evidenced with his two bending free kicks against Olympique Lyonnais.[200] He is known for employing the "knuckle ball" technique when taking free kicks.[201] As he moved further forward onto the wing, he began to score goals on a regular basis with powerful strikes from outside the penalty box.[202] In addition to his athletic and offensive capabilities, Bale has also drawn praise in the media for his work-rate and defensive contribution off the ball.[203]
As Bale has developed into one of the most dangerous left-wingers in the world, his style of play has won admiration from managers, current and past players such as Luís Figo,[204] José Mourinho,[205] Igor Štimac,[206] and Dani Alves.[207] Bale has been described as a footballer with "tremendous speed, great crossing ability, a great left foot and exceptional physical qualities".[208] Former Liverpool player and BBC football pundit Mark Lawrenson said in 2011: "What makes Gareth Bale so special? Simple. He is one of the quickest players I've ever seen, but he has another gear and the ability to find that extra pace within the next stride. He has the ability to perform and use his technique at great pace."[209]
During the 2011–12 season, Harry Redknapp experimented with using Bale in a free role, as an attacking midfielder, or as a second striker.[193][210][211] The following season, André Villas-Boas, deployed Bale in this role on a more permanent basis.[212]
Since joining Real Madrid, Bale has usually been deployed as a winger, but mostly on the right flank, due to the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo on the left, a position which enables him to cut into the centre and strike on goal with his stronger left foot;[213][214] he has also been used in a more attacking role on occasion, as a striker or centre forward,[215][216] courtesy of his goalscoring, movement off the ball, and ability to make attacking runs,[203][217] while his elevation, strength, and heading accuracy have seen him excel in the air in this role.[218][219][220][221][222][223] However, in spite of his playing ability, his playing time with Real Madrid in recent seasons has largely been limited by recurring injury struggles.[199][222][224]
Reception
On 2 November 2010, after a Champions League group stage match against Internazionale, teammate Rafael van der Vaart said, "Everyone is scared of him [Bale]. Maicon is one of the best defenders in the world, and he's killed him."[225][226]
In a report of the same match, Spanish newspaper El Mundo said:
Bale combines the height and build of an 800-metre runner like Steve Ovett with the acceleration and directness of a rugby winger like Bryan Habana. And, when he gets to the byline, he delivers curling crosses like a Brazilian. Big words? Yes, but that's what Bale is like – easily the greatest sensation in the opening month and a half of the Champions League. Ask Maicon what he thinks after the two exhibitions Bale turned in against Inter. Yesterday he left Maicon for dead and then a wily old fox like Lúcio was left in his wake like someone trying to follow the vapour trail of an aeroplane. Three goals and two assists – against the European champions. His performances have been stunning.[227]
Following Bale's two goals against Norwich City on 27 December 2011, manager Harry Redknapp said:
If we sell him, we've had it haven't we? It would only be a Barcelona, a Man City or a Real Madrid who would be able to pay for him. He's an amazing player. He's got everything, there's not a weakness in his make-up. He can head the ball, he's as strong as an ox, he can run, dribble and shoot. Most important of all, he's a smashing lad.[55][228]
Speaking at an interview in 2013, Manchester City fullback Micah Richards revealed that Bale was one of his toughest opponents he had ever faced, saying that:
"Normally I'm stronger or as fast as my opponent at least. But he was faster or the same speed, as strong as me and he was fitter than me. He gave me a torrid afternoon and I didn't know how to defend against him."[229]
Redknapp made even more positive comments regarding Bale in October 2012, stating that he is in the same class as both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. He said:
"He's an amazing, amazing talent and he's after the Ronaldos and Messis of this world and he's getting better and better. He's almost unplayable when he's on his game. He is a genuine world-class player. There's nobody he couldn't play for. He'd improve any team."[230]
Bale has been accused of diving by sections of the British media.[231][232] However, this has been denied by Bale,[233] Redknapp[234] and Wales coach Chris Coleman.[235] On 29 December 2012, Bale picked up his third yellow card for simulation for the 2012–13 season. It was his fifth for simulation since the start of the 2011–12 season, and no other Premier League player had more than two cautions for simulation in that time.[236] Between August 2008 and his departure from the Premier League, he was booked eight times for simulation. The next most-booked players were shown three yellow cards each.[237] Bale was ranked twelfth on ESPN's list of the world's most famous athletes in 2016,[238] while The Guardian listed him as the seventh-best footballer on the planet in the same year.[239]
Outside football
Personal life
Bale lives in Madrid with his fiancée Emma Rhys-Jones, his high school sweetheart.[240][241] Their first child, Alba Violet,[242] was born in Cardiff on 21 October 2012, and their second daughter, Nava Valentina, was born in the same city on 22 March 2016.[243] On 17 July 2016, a day after his 27th birthday, Bale announced that he and Rhys-Jones had got engaged.[244] On 9 March 2018, Bale announced that he and his fiancée were expecting their third child.[citation needed] Bale is teetotal.[245][246]
Trademark application, media, endorsements and wealth
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Gareth_Bale_2015_%286%29.jpg/170px-Gareth_Bale_2015_%286%29.jpg)
On 26 March 2013, Bale filed an application with the Intellectual Property Office to register a logo based on his heart shaped goal celebration along with his squad number (eleven) to be used on a range of merchandise such as clothing and footwear.[247] Bale is featured in EA Sports' FIFA video game series, and he has appeared on the British, Irish and Middle Eastern covers of FIFA 14, alongside global cover star Lionel Messi.[248] His 'heart' goal celebration is featured in FIFA 14.[249]
Bale has endorsed several companies in his career and has current deals with Adidas, EA Sports, Lucozade and BT Sport.[250][251] In 2014 he received a yearly salary of £15 million with Real Madrid, while his endorsements earned him an estimated £10 million per year.[252][253][better source needed] In March 2014, Bale was the first player to wear the Adidas F50 crazylight football boots.[254] In 2015 he unveiled the Adidas X15 football boots.[255]
Active on social media, Bale has over 35 million Instagram followers, and earns $185,000 per sponsored post, the second highest-paid Briton after David Beckham.[256]
Philanthropy
In November 2014, Bale appeared in FIFA's "11 against Ebola" campaign with a selection of top football players from around the world, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Xavi and African star Didier Drogba.[257] Under the slogan "Together, we can beat Ebola", FIFA's campaign was done in conjunction with the Confederation of African Football and health experts, with the players holding up eleven messages to raise awareness of the disease and ways to combat it.[257]
Golf
Bale is a huge golf fan and has a replica of the 17th hole – the island Green – at TPC at Sawgrass in his back garden.[258] His love of golf was blamed by the Spanish media as the reason why he has spent so much time out injured for Real Madrid.[258]
Career statistics
Club
- As of 3 January 2019[259]
Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other1 | Total | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Southampton | 2005–06 | Championship | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
2006–07 | 38 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 5 | ||
Total | 40 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 5 | ||
Tottenham Hotspur | 2007–08 | Premier League | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 3 |
2008–09 | 16 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 0 | ||
2009–10 | 23 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 3 | ||
2010–11 | 30 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 11 | ||
2011–122 | 36 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 12 | ||
2012–13 | 33 | 21 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 26 | ||
Total | 146 | 42 | 16 | 3 | 10 | 2 | 31 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 203 | 55 | ||
Real Madrid | 2013–14 | La Liga | 27 | 15 | 5 | 1 | — | 12 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 22 | |
2014–15 | 31 | 13 | 2 | 0 | — | 10 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 48 | 17 | |||
2015–16 | 23 | 19 | 0 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | — | 31 | 19 | ||||
2016–17 | 19 | 7 | 0 | 0 | — | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 9 | |||
2017–18 | 26 | 16 | 2 | 1 | — | 7 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 39 | 21 | |||
2018–19 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 23 | 10 | |||
Total | 141 | 74 | 9 | 2 | — | 50 | 16 | 12 | 6 | 212 | 98 | |||
Career total | 327 | 121 | 26 | 5 | 13 | 2 | 81 | 24 | 13 | 6 | 460 | 158 |
1 Includes Football League Championship play-offs, Supercopa de España, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.
2 The Spurs goal tally excludes the goal scored against Fulham on 6 November 2011, later ruled as an own goal[59]
International
- As of match played 20 November 2018[260]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Gareth_Bale_-_Wales_-_2015_%281%29.jpg/220px-Gareth_Bale_-_Wales_-_2015_%281%29.jpg)
National team | Year | Apps | Goals | Ratio |
---|---|---|---|---|
Wales | ||||
2006 | 4 | 1 | 0.25 | |
2007 | 7 | 1 | 0.14 | |
2008 | 5 | 0 | 0.00 | |
2009 | 7 | 0 | 0.00 | |
2010 | 4 | 1 | 0.25 | |
2011 | 6 | 3 | 0.50 | |
2012 | 5 | 3 | 0.60 | |
2013 | 5 | 2 | 0.40 | |
2014 | 5 | 3 | 0.60 | |
2015 | 6 | 5 | 0.83 | |
2016 | 11 | 7 | 0.64 | |
2017 | 3 | 0 | 0.00 | |
2018 | 6 | 5 | 0.83 | |
Total | 74 | 31 | 0.42 |
International goals
- As of match played 20 November 2018. Wales score listed first, score column indicates score after each Bale goal.[260]
No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 7 October 2006 | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales | 3 | ![]() |
1–2 | 1–5 | UEFA Euro 2008 qualification |
2 | 28 March 2007 | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales | 6 | ![]() |
2–0 | 3–0 | |
3 | 12 October 2010 | St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland | 27 | ![]() |
1–1 | 1–4 | UEFA Euro 2012 qualification |
4 | 7 October 2011 | Liberty Stadium, Swansea, Wales | 31 | ![]() |
2–0 | 2–0 | |
5 | 11 October 2011 | Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria | 32 | ![]() |
1–0 | 1–0 | |
6 | 12 November 2011 | Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales | 33 | ![]() |
1–0 | 4–1 | Friendly |
7 | 11 September 2012 | Karađorđe Stadium, Novi Sad, Serbia | 36 | ![]() |
1–2 | 1–6 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
8 | 12 October 2012 | Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales | 37 | ![]() |
1–1 | 2–1 | |
9 | 2–1 | ||||||
10 | 6 February 2013 | Liberty Stadium, Swansea, Wales | 39 | ![]() |
1–0 | 2–1 | Friendly |
11 | 26 March 2013 | 41 | ![]() |
1–0 | 1–2 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
12 | 5 March 2014 | Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales | 44 | ![]() |
3–1 | 3–1 | Friendly |
13 | 9 September 2014 | Estadi Nacional, Andorra la Vella, Andorra | 45 | ![]() |
1–1 | 2–1 | UEFA Euro 2016 qualification |
14 | 2–1 | ||||||
15 | 28 March 2015 | Sammy Ofer Stadium, Haifa, Israel | 49 | ![]() |
2–0 | 3–0 | |
16 | 3–0 | ||||||
17 | 12 June 2015 | Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales | 50 | ![]() |
1–0 | 1–0 | |
18 | 3 September 2015 | GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus | 51 | ![]() |
1–0 | 1–0 | |
19 | 13 October 2015 | Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales | 54 | ![]() |
2–0 | 2–0 | |
20 | 11 June 2016 | Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France | 56 | ![]() |
1–0 | 2–1 | UEFA Euro 2016 |
21 | 16 June 2016 | Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens, France | 57 | ![]() |
1–0 | 1–2 | |
22 | 20 June 2016 | Stadium Municipal, Toulouse, France | 58 | ![]() |
3–0 | 3–0 | |
23 | 5 September 2016 | Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales | 62 | ![]() |
3–0 | 4–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
24 | 4–0 | ||||||
25 | 9 October 2016 | 64 | ![]() |
1–0 | 1–1 | ||
26 | 12 November 2016 | 65 | ![]() |
1–0 | 1–1 | ||
27 | 22 March 2018 | Guangxi Sports Center, Nanning, China | 69 | ![]() |
1–0 | 6–0 | 2018 China Cup |
28 | 2–0 | ||||||
29 | 6–0 | ||||||
30 | 6 September 2018 | Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales | 71 | ![]() |
2–0 | 4–1 | 2018–19 UEFA Nations League B |
31 | 16 November 2018 | 73 | ![]() |
1–2 | 1–2 |
Honours
Real Madrid
- La Liga: 2016–17[261]
- Copa del Rey: 2013–14[110]
- Supercopa de España: 2017[140]
- UEFA Champions League: 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18 [112][132]
- UEFA Super Cup: 2014, 2016, 2017[116][262][139]
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2014,[121] 2017,[141] 2018
Individual
- Tottenham Hotspur Young Player of the Year: 2009–10,[263] 2010–11[264]
- Tottenham Hotspur Player of the Year: 2012–13
- UEFA Best Player in Europe Award: 2016 (3rd place)[265]
- UEFA Team of the Year: 2011,[266] 2013[267]
- UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season: 2015–16[268]
- Welsh Footballer of the Year: 2010,[47] 2011,[269] 2013,[270] 2014,[271] 2015,[272] 2016[273]
- ESM Team of the Year: 2012–13[274]
- The Football Manager Team of the Decade: 2015[275]
- Premier League Player of the Month: April 2010, January 2012, February 2013[276]
- PFA Team of the Year: 2006–07 Championship,[277] 2010–11 Premier League,[52] 2011–12 Premier League,[278] 2012–13 Premier League[82]
- PFA Players' Player of the Year: 2010–11,[52] 2012–13[82]
- PFA Young Player of the Year: 2012–13[82]
- FWA Footballer of the Year: 2012–13[279]
- Premier League Player of the Season: 2012–13[276]
- FIFA FIFPro World XI 2nd team: 2013[280]
- FIFA FIFPro World XI 3rd team: 2014, 2016[281][282]
- FIFA FIFPro World XI 4th team: 2015[283]
- FIFA FIFPro World XI 5th team: 2017[284]
- FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball: 2018[285]
- FIFA Club World Cup top goalscorer: 2014, 2018
- BBC Wales Carwyn James Junior Sportsman of the Year: 2006[17]
- FAW Young Player of the Year: 2007[286]
- BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year: 2010[287]
References
- ^ a b Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. p. 31. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
- ^ "Real Madrid C.F. – Official website – Gareth Bale". Realmadrid.com. 16 July 1989. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ^ Holt, Gerry (8 December 2008). "Bluebirds of a feather are flocking together". Wales Online. Media Wales. Archived from the original on 9 October 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2008.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Hall of Fame". Eglwys Newydd Primary School. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Abbandonato, Paul (22 October 2010). "Mentor's advice to Gareth could come to fruition as foreign legion close in". Wales Online. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
- ^ a b Harvey, Chris (31 January 2011). "Gareth Bale interview: born to run". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
- ^ "Powerleague Official Opening". Whitchurch High School. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ a b James, Stuart (13 October 2011). "Pride at Cardiff school that developed Sam Warburton and Gareth Bale". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ Clutton, Graham (14 October 2011). "Rugby World Cup 2011: Cardiff-born Gareth Bale and Sam Warburton were stars from the start, reflects coach". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ "Young Gareth made own rules". The Daily Echo. 13 January 2007.
- ^ "Derby 2 Southampton 2". Southampton F.C. Archived from the original on 30 September 2006. Retrieved 21 January 2007.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Saints 2 Coventry 0". Southampton F.C. Archived from the original on 17 October 2007. Retrieved 21 January 2007.
- ^ "Saints 0 West Brom 0". Southampton F.C. Archived from the original on 17 October 2007. Retrieved 21 January 2007.
- ^ "Sunderland 1 Saints 1". Southampton FC. Archived from the original on 17 October 2007. Retrieved 21 January 2007.
- ^ "Hull v Saints". Southampton F.C. Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 21 January 2007.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Jeremy Wilson (18 December 2006). "Bale Hailed as Saint's saviour". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
- ^ a b "Calzaghe scoops BBC Wales honour". BBC Sport. 3 December 2006. Retrieved 21 January 2007.
- ^ "Prestige award for Bale". Southampton F.C. Archived from the original on 7 March 2007. Retrieved 5 March 2007.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Leitch, Adam (11 May 2007). "Introducing your Saints heroes…". Daily Echo: 20.
- ^ "Southampton 1–2 Derby". BBC Sport. 12 May 2007. Retrieved 3 June 2007.
- ^ "Bale KO'd for two weeks". Southern Daily Echo. Newsquest. 13 April 2007. Archived from the original on 14 August 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ "Games played by Gareth Bale in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ "Tottenham complete Bale transfer". BBC Sport. 25 May 2007. Retrieved 18 April 2010.
- ^ Wright, Chris (3 September 2013). "D'oh! In 2008, Southampton Cashed in Their 25% Gareth Bale Sell-On Clause For Just £3m". Who Ate all the Pies. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ^ Butler, Jeremy; McKenna, Chris (26 February 2013). "Gareth Bale: From Spurs jinx to 'world-class' performer". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ Mercer, Nathan (1 September 2007). "Fulham 3–3 Tottenham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 September 2007.
- ^ "Tottenham 1–3 Arsenal". BBC Sport. 15 September 2007. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
- ^ "Tottenham 2–0 Middlesbrough". BBC Sport. 26 September 2007. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
- ^ a b Hytner, David (11 December 2007). "Football: Bale out for at least three months". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
- ^ "Injury rules out Bale for season". BBC Sport. 4 February 2008. Retrieved 9 February 2008.
- ^ McNulty, Phil (1 March 2009). "Man Utd 0–0 Tottenham (aet)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
- ^ "Bale signs new Tottenham contract". BBC Sport. 13 August 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2008.
- ^ "Player comparison – Neymar vs Gareth Bale". Footballnews92. 22 March 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ^ "Gareth Bale could miss start of next season after knee surgery". The Guardian. 3 June 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ Jamie Lillywhite (26 September 2009). "Tottenham 5–0 Burnley". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ Hytner, David (13 January 2010). "Tottenham manager challenges Gareth Bale to claim a starting place". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ "Tottenham 2–0 Fulham". BBC Sport. 26 January 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ "Gareth wins award". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 1 March 2010. Archived from the original on 4 March 2010. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|dead-url=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Unforgettable night!". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 14 April 2010. Archived from the original on 17 April 2010. Retrieved 18 April 2010.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|dead-url=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "The dream derby double!". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 17 April 2010. Archived from the original on 20 April 2010. Retrieved 18 April 2010.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|dead-url=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Gareth named Player of the Month". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 30 April 2010. Archived from the original on 3 May 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|dead-url=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Gareth Bale signs new four-year Tottenham contract". BBC Sport. 7 May 2010. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
- ^ Lyon, Sam (21 August 2010). "Stoke 1–2 Tottenham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
- ^ "Tottenham 4–0 Young Boys (agg 6–3)". BBC Sport. 25 August 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
- ^ a b "Hat-trick hero Gareth Bale has "No intention to leave Spurs"". Wales Online. 21 October 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ "Tottenham 4–1 FC Twente". BBC Sport. 29 September 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ a b "Gareth Bale named Wales' player of the year". BBC Sport. 4 October 2010. Retrieved 4 October 2010.
- ^ "Inter Milan 4–3 Tottenham". BBC Sport. 20 October 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
- ^ "Tottenham 3–1 Inter Milan". BBC Sport. 2 November 2010. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
- ^ "Gareth Bale wins BBC Wales Sports Personality award". BBC Sport. 6 December 2010. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
- ^ "New deal for Bale". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Archived from the original on 22 March 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|dead-url=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ a b c "Spurs' Gareth Bale wins PFA player of the year award". BBC Sport. 17 April 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
- ^ "Riise: Bale is world's best left winger". ESPN Soccernet. 10 November 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
- ^ "Fabio – Bale is world's best". Sky Sports. 9 March 2011. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
- ^ a b "Gareth Bale has everything says Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp". BBC Sport. 28 December 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
- ^ "Wigan 1–2 Tottenham". BBC Sport. 24 September 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- ^ "Tottenham 3–1 QPR". BBC Sport. 30 October 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- ^ "Fulham 1–3 Tottenham". BBC Sport. 6 November 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- ^ a b "Twenty-five goals between 12 October to 21 December are ruled on". Premier League. 12 January 2012. Archived from the original on 16 January 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Tottenham 3–0 Bolton". BBC Sport. 3 December 2011. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
- ^ "Norwich 0–2 Tottenham". BBC Sport. 27 December 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
- ^ "Tottenham 3–1 Wigan". BBC Sport. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
- ^ "Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers & Tottenham's Gareth Bale rewarded". BBC Sport. 4 February 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
- ^ "New Contract For Gareth". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 27 June 2012. Archived from the original on 29 June 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|dead-url=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Taylor, Daniel (28 September 2012). "Tottenham's future looks bright ... just give us time, says Gareth Bale". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
- ^ Summerscales, Robert (1 August 2012). "Gareth Bale to change squad number". Sports Mole. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
- ^ "Reading 1–3 Tottenham". BBC Sport. 16 September 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
- ^ Taylor, Daniel (29 September 2012). "Tottenham Hotspur's Gareth Bale banishes Manchester United hoodoo". The Observer. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
- ^ "Aston Villa 0–4 Tottenham". BBC Sport. 26 December 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
- ^ "Tottenham 3–0 Coventry City". BBC Sport. 5 January 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
- ^ Monaghan, Matt (30 January 2013). "Norwich 1–1 Tottenham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
- ^ "West Brom 0–1 Tottenham". BBC Sport. 3 February 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
- ^ "Tottenham 2–1 Newcastle". BBC Sport. 9 February 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
- ^ "Tottenham 2–1 Lyon". BBC Sport. 14 February 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
- ^ "West Ham 2–3 Tottenham". BBC Sport. 25 February 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
- ^ "Gareth Bale, Tottenham Hotspur beat Arsenal". Sports Illustrated. 3 March 2013. Archived from the original on 6 March 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Tottenham 3–0 Inter Milan". BBC Sport. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
- ^ "Spurs double up with Barclays monthly awards". Premier League. 1 March 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Nathans, Dan (23 May 2013). "BBC Match of the Day's Goals of the Season". FTBpro. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Hytner, David (4 April 2013). "Gareth Bale injury is 'hopefully not too bad', says André Villas-Boas". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ Wilson, Jeremy (21 April 2013). "Tottenham Hotspur 3 Manchester City 1". The Telegraph. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Gareth Bale wins PFA Player of Year and Young Player awards". BBC Sport. 28 April 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
- ^ "Gareth Bale named Player of the Year by Football Writers". BBC Sport. 2 May 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ "Tottenham 1–0 Sunderland". BBC Sport. 19 May 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
- ^ "Club announcement". Tottenham Hotspur. 1 September 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
- ^ "Gareth Bale joins Real Madrid from Spurs in £85m world record deal". BBC Sport. 1 September 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
- ^ "Real Madrid Sign Midfielder Gareth Bale For World-Record $132 Million". CBS News New York. 2 September 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- ^ Wilson, Jeremy (2 September 2013). "Gareth Bale joins Real Madrid from Tottenham for a world record fee of £86m". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- ^ Peck, Brooks (1 September 2013). "Gareth Bale finally sold to Real Madrid and it's even FIFA 14 official". Sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
- ^ "Gareth Bale contract leak sparks panic at Real Madrid – and agent's fury". No. 21 January 2016. The Telegraph. 21 January 2016.
- ^ "Official: Pogba signs for Man Utd for €105m". Football Italia. 8 August 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
- ^ Smith, Ben (1 September 2013). "Gareth Bale: Real Madrid star will keep his feet firmly on the ground". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- ^ Percy, John (22 December 2013). "Seventh Match That Misses Bale". Soccerly. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- ^ "Gareth Bale set to be on bench for Real Madrid's clash with Celta Vigo". dnaindia.com. 5 January 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
- ^ Murray, Scott (14 September 2013). "Villarreal v Real Madrid – live!". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ "Galatasaray 1–6 R Madrid". Sky Sports. 18 September 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ Lowe, Sid (28 September 2013). "Real Madrid 0 Atletico Madrid 1: Atlético Madrid's Diego Costa ruins Gareth Bale's home debut for Real". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ "R Madrid 2–1 Juventus". Sky Sports. 23 October 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ Lowe, Sid (27 October 2013). "Gareth Bale gets lost in the middle as Real Madrid falter at Barcelona". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
- ^ "Real Madrid 7–3 Sevilla". BBC Sport. 31 October 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ Cryer, Pete (2 November 2013). "Rayo Vallecano 2–3 Real Madrid". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ "Juventus 2–2 Real Madrid". BBC Sport. 5 November 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ "Real Madrid 4–1 Galatasaray". BBC Sport. 27 November 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ Lowe, Sid (30 November 2013). "Real Madrid's Gareth Bale nets hat-trick against Real Valladolid". The Observer. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
- ^ "Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale tear Schalke apart". The Guardian. 27 February 2014. Archived from the original on 27 February 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ^ "Real Madrid 3–0 Borussia Dortmund". BBC. 2 April 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ^ "Real Madrid 5–0 Rayo Vallecano". BBC Sport. 29 March 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ^ "Real Sociedad 0–4 Real Madrid". BBC Sport. 5 April 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ^ "Real Madrid 4–0 Almería". BBC Sport. 12 April 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ^ a b c d "Gareth Bale: Copa del Rey winner incredible, says Xabi Alonso". BBC. 16 April 2014.
- ^ a b Jurejko, Jonathan (16 April 2014). "Gareth Bale helps Real Madrid beat Barcelona in Copa del Rey". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ^ a b Collett, Mike (24 May 2014). "Ronaldo first to score for two different European Cup winners". Reuters. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
- ^ "Wales's biggest European success stories". uefa.com. 29 March 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ "Player profile – Gareth Bale". ESPN. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
- ^ a b c "200 goals for the BBC". RealMadrid.com. 24 October 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ a b Lovejoy, Joe (12 August 2014). "Cristiano Ronaldo flaunts Real Madrid pedigree in defeat of Sevilla". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
- ^ Winter, Henry (13 August 2014). "Gareth Bale hails Real Madrid's statement of intent to scoop six trophies after Uefa Super Cup success". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
- ^ "Real Sociedad 4–2 Real Madrid". BBC Sport. 31 August 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
- ^ Fenn, Alec (20 September 2014). "Deportivo 2–8 Real Madrid: Ronaldo hits hat-trick in devastating Blancos display". goal.com. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- ^ "Deportivo 2 Real Madrid 8". BBC Sport. 20 September 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- ^ a b "Real Madrid 2–0 San Lorenzo". BBC Sport. 20 December 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
- ^ "Gareth Bale booed by Real Madrid fans for not passing to Cristiano Ronaldo". The Independent. 11 January 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
- ^ "Gareth Bale defended by Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti". The Guardian. 16 May 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ Association, Press (20 April 2015). "Real Madrid's Gareth Bale set to miss Champions League tie with Atlético Madrid". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
- ^ "Real Madrid 10–2 Rayo Vallecano". BBC Sport. 20 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
- ^ Lowe, Sid (9 January 2016). "Real Madrid and Gareth Bale give Zinedine Zidane the perfect start". The Guardian.
- ^ "Gareth Bale damaged calf muscle in Real Madrid's win over Sporting Gijón". The Guardian. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
- ^ Simeon Gholam (4 March 2016). "Gareth Bale set to return from injury for Real Madrid". Sky Sports. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
- ^ "Real Madrid 7–1 Celta de Vigo". BBC Sport. 5 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
- ^ Jurejko, Jonathan (20 March 2016). "Real Madrid 4–0 Sevilla". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ "Real Madrid's Gareth Bale scores late winner against Rayo Vallecano". The Guardian. 23 April 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ a b "Spot-on Real Madrid defeat Atlético in final again". uefa.com. 28 May 2016. Archived from the original on 1 June 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ "Official Announcement: Bale". realmadrid.com. 30 October 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ Cooper, George (2 December 2016). "Real Madrid's Gareth Bale facing four months out after ankle injury revealed to be worse than expected". The Independent. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ "Leo Messi revives La Liga title race with dramatic Clasico win over Real Madrid". ESPN FC. 23 April 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
- ^ "El Real Madrid, campeón de LaLiga Santander 2016/17". laliga.es. 21 May 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ "Real Madrid win La Liga title with victory at Malaga". bbc.com. 21 May 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ "Majestic Real Madrid win Champions League in Cardiff". uefa.com. 3 June 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ a b "Real Madrid CF – Squad". uefa.com. Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
- ^ a b "Real Madrid 2–0 Barcelona (5–1 agg): Spanish Super Cup success for Zidane's side". BBC Sport. 17 August 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ a b "Real Madrid 1–0 Gremio". BBC Sport. 16 December 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ "Villareal 2–2 Real Madrid". BBC Sport. 19 May 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
- ^ "Borussia Dortmund 1–3 Real Madrid". BBC Sport. 26 September 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
- ^ Gonzalez, Roger (26 May 2018). "Real Madrid vs. Liverpool: Gareth Bale scored one of the greatest goals in Champions League history in the final". CBS Sports. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
- ^ "Bale named Champions League final man of the match". uefa.com. Union of European Football Associations. 26 May 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
- ^ "Real Madrid v Liverpool – Story of the match". BT Sport. Press Association. 26 May 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
- ^ Dunne, Robbie (4 September 2018). "Luka Modric and Gareth Bale lead for Real Madrid; Keylor Navas still key". ESPN FC. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
- ^ "Bale voted Real Madrid's best player of August". Diario AS. Agencia EFE. 13 September 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
- ^ "Kashima Antlers 1–3 Real Madrid". BBC. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
- ^ "Bale becomes the third player to score a hat-trick after Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suárez in the FIFA Club World Cup and third player to score in three editions of the FIFA Club World Cup after Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi". www.timesnownews.com. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
- ^ "Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo record equalled by Gareth Bale with Club World Cup hat-trick". timesnownews.com. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
- ^ "Gareth Bale named FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball winner". www.marca.com. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
- ^ "Real Madrid lift the 2018 FIFA Club World Cup by beating Al Ain 4–1". BBC. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
- ^ "Bale savours record Wales debut". BBC Sport. 28 May 2006. Retrieved 21 January 2007.
- ^ "Wales 2–1 Trinidad & Tobago". BBC Sport. 27 May 2006. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
- ^ "Injured Bale out for three months". BBC Sport. 10 December 2007. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
- ^ "The £10 million man". Wales Online. 18 January 2007. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
- ^ Davies, Sean (7 October 2006). "Wales 1–5 Slovakia". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 January 2007.
- ^ Wilson, Jeremy (10 June 2016). "Euro 2016: Gareth Bale says he would never have played for England as tight-knit Wales group nears opening game". The Telegraph. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ "Wales whimper in Helsinki". Sky Sports. 10 October 2009. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
- ^ "Liechtenstein 0–2 Wales". BBC Sport. 14 October 2009. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
- ^ "Gareth Bale wins BBC Wales Sports Personality award". BBC Sport. 6 December 2010. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
- ^ Pope, Bruce (12 October 2012). "World Cup qualifying: Wales 2–1 Scotland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ "Euro 2016: Wales homecoming 'very special', says Gareth Bale". BBC Sport. 8 July 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
- ^ Pritchard, Dafydd (9 September 2014). "Andorra 1–2 Wales". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ ""Worst pitch I've played on" says Bale". ITV News. 10 September 2014. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
- ^ Pritchard, Dafydd (28 March 2015). "Israel 0–3 Wales". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ Pritchard, Dafydd (12 June 2015). "Wales 1–0 Belgium". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ Pritchard, Dafydd (3 September 2015). "Cyprus 0–1 Wales". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ Pritchard, Dafydd (13 October 2015). "Euro 2016 qualifying: Wales 2–0 Andorra". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ Voakes, Kris (11 June 2016). "Kanu Believe It? Wales & Bale make history after 58 years of pain". Goal. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
- ^ Penman, Andrew (11 June 2016). "Euro 2016: Wales 2 Slovakia 1". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ McNulty, Phil (16 June 2016). "England 2–1 Wales". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ Sid Lowe (20 June 2016). "Gareth Bale clocks on and clicks into gear to lead Wales' charge against Russia". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ^ Long, Sam (25 June 2016). "Wales beat Northern Ireland to reach Euro 2016 quarter-finals as Gareth Bale forces Gareth McAuley own goal". Evening Standard. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
- ^ "Euro 2016: Gareth Bale & Joe Allen react to Wales's semi-final defeat". BBC Sport. 6 July 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ^ James, Stuart (5 September 2016). "Gareth Bale will break Ian Rush's Wales record this campaign, says Coleman". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
- ^ "China 0–6 Wales: Gareth Bale breaks scoring record in Ryan Giggs' first match as manager". Sky Sports. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
- ^ "Gareth Bale says becoming Wales' record scorer is career highlight". BBC Sport. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
- ^ Draper, Rob (30 June 2012). "London 2012: Gareth Bale to miss Olympics with injury". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ Pearce, James (28 October 2011). "London 2012: Gareth Bale wears Olympic football shirt". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
- ^ Kelso, Paul (29 June 2012). "London 2012 Olympics: Gareth Bale pulls out of Stuart Pearce's Great Britain squad with injury". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ "London 2012: Gareth Bale ruled out of Team GB action, say reports". guardian.co.uk. Guardian News and Media. 30 June 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ a b "Olympic absentee Gareth Bale scores for Spurs in friendly". BBC Sport. 25 July 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ "LA Galaxy 1–1 Spurs: All Square in LA". Tottenham Hotspur. 25 July 2012. Archived from the original on 28 July 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|dead-url=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Red Bulls 1–2 Spurs: Gylfi Strikes Goal-D in New York!". Tottenham Hotspur. 31 July 2012. Archived from the original on 4 August 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|dead-url=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Gareth Bale calls Charlie Adam a coward for bad tackle". BBC Sport. 30 July 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ "Gareth Bale faces Spurs ban during Olympics for making club return after withdrawing from Team GB squad". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. 25 July 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ Johnson, Simon (25 July 2012). "Andre Villas-Boas defiant as Gareth Bale plays for Spurs after Olympics snub". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ "London 2012 absentee Gareth Bale 'should not be banned'". BBC Sport. 26 July 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ "Club Statement – Gareth Bale". Tottenham Hotspur FC. 26 July 2012. Archived from the original on 28 July 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|dead-url=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Liga – Gareth Bale crowned world's fastest player". Eurosport. 31 March 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2015.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b "Gareth Bale, l'uomo da 100 milioni di euro" [Gareth Bale, the 100 million Euro man] (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 28 July 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
- ^ a b Fleming, Mark (4 November 2010). "Strength, skill, stamina, speed. How do you stop Gareth Bale?". The Independent. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
- ^ "Gareth Bale far from done at Madrid". Football España. 7 October 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
- ^ David Cartlidge (2 December 2016). "FourFourTwo's Best 100 Football Players in the World 2016: No.6 – Gareth Bale". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
- ^ Matt Hughes (3 November 2010). "An anatomy of Gareth Bale". The Times. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
- ^ "Gareth Bale is a better player than Cristiano Ronaldo, says Jeff Stelling". Sky Sports. 7 February 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
- ^ a b Graham Hunter (7 November 2017). "Gareth Bale is the solution to, not the cause of, Real Madrid's struggles". ESPN FC. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
- ^ "Tottenham 2–1 Lyon". BBC Sport. 14 February 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ Pedro P. San Martín (14 September 2013). "Set-piece dilemma: CR7 Tomahawk vs Bale Knuckleball". as.com. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
- ^ "Gareth Bale produced another moment of magic to keep Tottenham on course for next season's Champions League and leave his former club Southampton still uncertain of Premier League survival". bbc.co.uk. BBC Sport. 4 May 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
- ^ a b Guillem Balagué (28 September 2017). "Gareth Bale will be back at his blistering best in no time". AS.com. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
- ^ "Gareth Bale kills Internazionale again in Champions League". guardian.co.uk. Guardian News and Media. 3 November 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2010.
- ^ "Mourinho: Spurs fullback Bale better than Chelsea's Cole". Tribalfootball. 7 March 2009. Retrieved 7 March 2009.
- ^ "Croatia coach: Bale better than Giggs ever was". GiveMeFootball. GMF Media. 18 October 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
- ^ "Bale would be Barca's left-back – Alves". ESPN. 17 April 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ "Gareth Bale – Tottenham Hotspur's Speed King". Nasty Tackle. 2011. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ^ "Gareth Bale: why Inter are going to bid £40m for Tottenham star". The Guardian. 27 January 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
- ^ Winter, Henry (29 December 2011). "Tottenham Hotspur's Gareth Bale flourishing in inside role as club chase Premier League glory". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ "Bale relishing new role". BSkyB. 28 December 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ "Bale savouring free role at Tottenham". FOX. 13 March 2013. Archived from the original on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|dead-url=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Dermot Corrigan (18 May 2016). "Carlo Ancelotti: I was asked to change Gareth Bale role at Real Madrid". ESPN FC. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
- ^ Juan I. García-Ochoa (14 August 2013). "Chris Coleman: "Bale is a super-player"". Marca.com. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
- ^ Michael Cox (23 May 2014). "How moving back helped Gareth Bale move forward at Real Madrid". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
- ^ Guillem Balague (6 May 2015). "Carlo Ancelotti tactics rather than Gareth Bale to blame for Real Madrid's defeat at Juventus, says Guillem Balague". Sky Sports. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
- ^ Martin Laurence (6 August 2015). "What is Gareth Bale's best position for Real Madrid?". Sky Sports. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
- ^ "Redknapp: Gareth Bale is the best player in the world". Marca.com. 11 September 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
- ^ "Cristiano Ronaldo and the top 20 heading heroes of European football". The Telegraph. 23 February 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
- ^ "Bale bags header against Almería". Marca.com. 12 December 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
- ^ Ian Carbis (15 January 2016). "Why Gareth Bale is officially head and shoulders above Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney". Wales Online. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
- ^ a b Fabrizio Salvio (4 May 2016). "Bale, quattro gol in 10 giorni: è tornato grande. E il Real se lo tiene stretto" [Bale, four goals in 10 days: he's become great again. And Real are keeping him close] (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
- ^ "Teams with a head for goals". La Liga. 9 March 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
- ^ Dermot Corrigan (13 November 2017). "Breaking down Bale's injury-plagued Real Madrid career season by season". ESPN FC. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
- ^ Burt, Jason (3 November 2010). "Harry Redknapp pours praise on 'fantastic' Gareth Bale and insists he is not for sale". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ "Van der Vaart: Bale 'killed' Maicon in Spurs win". Soccernet. ESPN. 2 November 2010. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
- ^ Christenson, Marcus (3 November 2010). "Gareth Bale hailed by European press for 'destroying' Maicon". guardian.co.uk. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
- ^ Winter, Henry (29 December 2011). "Tottenham Hotspur's Gareth Bale flourishing in inside role as club chase Premier League glory". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
- ^ Wilson, Jeremy (7 September 2013). "Manchester City and England defender Micah Richards takes a moment to answer 20 questions about himself". The Telegraph. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ "Gareth Bale in Ronaldo and Messi's class, says Redknapp". BBC Sport. 16 October 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
- ^ "Liverpool top the diving league, but Gareth Bale is worst offender". The Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. 20 April 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
- ^ "How can football solve a problem like diving?". guardian.co.uk. Guardian News and Media. 8 October 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
- ^ "Tottenham's Gareth Bale hits back at 'annoying' diving allegations". The Guardian. 8 March 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ "Gareth Bale is not a diver, insists Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp". guardian.co.uk. Guardian News and Media. 2 March 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
- ^ "Wales v Scotland: Gareth Bale is not a diver, insists manager Chris Coleman, after 2–1 World Cup qualifying win". The Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. 12 October 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
- ^ "I'm no diver, says Tottenham star Gareth Bale". news.com.au. 30 December 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
- ^ "Everton manager Roberto Martinez wants end to diving". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
- ^ "ESPN World Fame 100". ESPN. 3 June 2016.
- ^ "The 100 best footballers in the world 2016 – interactive". The Guardian. 20 December 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
- ^ "Gareth Bale withdraws from Tottenham match as partner goes into labour". Wales Online. 20 October 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ Parrish, Charlie (21 November 2014). "Gareth Bale: 'Without Real Madrid, it would have been very, very difficult to have ever left Spurs'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
- ^ Joel, Don (29 June 2016). "Gareth Bale reveals the emotion of being reunited with his daughter in pictures that endeared him to the world". Wales Online. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
- ^ "Wales footballer Gareth Bale welcomes second daughter". BBC News. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
- ^ "Gareth Bale: Wales and Real Madrid star gets engaged". BBC News. 17 July 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
- ^ Malone, Sam (27 March 2013). "Gareth: 'I can't stand the booze'". Wales Online. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
- ^ Fifield, Dominic (11 June 2016). "Danny Rose's insight on Gareth Bale sends shivers down England spines". The Observer. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
- ^ Trotman, Andrew (7 May 2013). "Gareth Bale plans to put 'heart' goal celebration on clothing after filing trademark". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
- ^ "Gareth Bale Stars With Lionel Messi on the FIFA 14 Cover". EA Sports. 11 July 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
- ^ "Fifa 14 celebrations: How to do Gareth Bale, Ronaldo, and Lionel Messi's signature moves". Daily Mirror. 27 September 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
- ^ "Real Madrid superstar Gareth Bale shows off the lightest football boot ever made". Daily Mirror. 17 March 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
- ^ "Gareth Bale in BT Sport channel deal". The Scotsman. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ "Gareth Bale signs £300,000 A WEEK six-year deal with Real Madrid". Daily Mirror. September 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
- ^ "Gareth Bale could earn £25 MILLION a year in total as Madrid falls in love with Wales star". Daily Mirror. 2 September 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
- ^ "Gareth Bale Reveals Adidas' Adizero F50 Crazylight Boots (Pictures)". Huffington Post. 17 March 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ "Adidas unveil brand new ACE15 and X15 boots as worn by Gareth Bale and Mesut Ozil". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
- ^ "Kylie Jenner and David Beckham make Instagram rich list". BBC. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
- ^ a b "Top players, FIFA, CAF and health experts unite against Ebola". FIFA.com. 17 November 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
- ^ a b Inglis, Martin (11 October 2017). "Golf blamed for Gareth Bale's injury woes". bunkered. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ "Gareth Bale All time playing career". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
- ^ a b Gareth Bale at Soccerway. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ^ "Malaga 0–2 Real Madrid". BBC Sport. 21 May 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ "Real Madrid CF – Squad". uefa.com. Union of European Football Associations. Archived from the original on 7 June 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Gareth, Daws scoop awards". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 3 May 2010. Archived from the original on 6 May 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|dead-url=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Gareth Bale | Tottenham Hotspur News and Supporters Forum". Tottenhamhotspurs.tv. 16 July 1989. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Cristiano Ronaldo named Best Player in Europe". UEFA. 25 August 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
- ^ "uefa.com users' Team of the Year 2011 revealed". uefa.com. UEFA. 18 January 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ^ "uefa.com users' Team of the Year 2013 revealed". uefa.com. 15 January 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
- ^ "UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season". uefa.com. 30 May 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ "Gareth Bale retains FA of Wales player of the year award". BBC Sport. 4 October 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
- ^ "Bale wins Welsh player award". The Daily Express. 7 October 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
- ^ "Gareth Bale wins Welsh player award for record fourth time". BBC Sport. 6 October 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
- ^ "Gareth Bale: Real Madrid forward named Welsh player of the year". BBC Sport. 5 October 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
- ^ "Gareth Bale and Joe Allen lead Wales award winners". BBC Sport. 8 November 2015. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
- ^ "ESM-Top-11: Nur Torres und Ivanovic durchbrechen Bundesliga-Phalanx". Kicker (in German). 12 June 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
- ^ "Winners announced for The Football League Awards 2015". The Football League. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- ^ a b "Gareth Bale: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
- ^ "Ronaldo secures PFA awards double". BBC Sport. 22 April 2007. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
- ^ "Arsenal striker Robin van Persie named PFA Player of the Year". BBC Sport. 22 April 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
- ^ "Bale named FWA Footballer of the Year". Football Writers' Association. 2 May 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
- ^ "FifPro announces reserve Teams of the Year – but Luis Suarez and Arjen Robben won't be laughing while Iker Casillas is somehow named the second best goalkeeper of 2013". Independent.co.uk. 15 January 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
- ^ "FIFA FIFPro World XI: the reserve teams – FIFPro World Players' Union". FIFPro.org. 15 January 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
- ^ "2016 World 11: the reserve teams – FIFPro World Players' Union". FIFPro.org. 9 January 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
- ^ "2015 World XI: the Reserve Teams – FIFPro World Players' Union". FIFPro.org. 11 January 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
- ^ "2016–2017 World 11: the Reserve Teams – FIFPro World Players' Union". FIFPro.org. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
- ^ "Bale, Caio and Borre sweep awards". FIFA.com. 22 December 2018.
- ^ "17th Football Presentation Awards Evening". Football Association of Wales. 13 November 2007. Archived from the original on 13 May 2008.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|dead-url=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Gareth Bale wins BBC Wales Sports Personality award". BBC Sport. 6 December 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/24/Wikinews-logo.svg/40px-Wikinews-logo.svg.png)
- Real Madrid profile
- Gareth Bale at Soccerway
- Gareth Bale – UEFA competition record (archive)
- Gareth Bale – FIFA competition record (archived)
- Premier League profile
- Gareth Bale at ESPN FC
- Gareth Bale at Soccerbase
- Gareth Bale at National-Football-Teams.com
- 1989 births
- Living people
- Footballers from Cardiff
- Welsh footballers
- Welsh expatriate footballers
- Wales youth international footballers
- Wales under-21 international footballers
- Wales international footballers
- Association football defenders
- Association football wingers
- Association football utility players
- Southampton F.C. players
- Tottenham Hotspur F.C. players
- Real Madrid CF players
- Expatriate footballers in Spain
- Welsh expatriate sportspeople in Spain
- Premier League players
- English Football League players
- La Liga players
- People educated at Whitchurch High School
- UEFA Euro 2016 players
- UEFA Champions League winning players