Gareth Bale was one of the driving forces that helped the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) win the MLS Cup. Now he’s done. After a stellar and well-decorated 18-year career, Bale announced his retirement from professional football in early January. It is too young for Bale to retire at 33.
In a released statement, Bale talked about wanting to move on to another chapter of his life.
“After careful and thoughtful consideration, I announce my immediate retirement from club and international football.”
He continued, “I feel incredibly fortunate to have realized my dream of playing the sport I love. It has truly given me some of the best moments of my life. The highest of highs over 17 seasons, that will be impossible to replicate, no matter what the next chapter has in store for me.”
Bale only got to play for one season with LAFC. He made the most of that short window that he had with the ballclub. Bale joined LAFC on June 27, 2022. Months later, Bale and LAFC were celebrating winning the championship.
“We want to thank Gareth for everything he brought to our Club,” LAFC Co-President & General Manager John Thorrington said. “He arrived here with a goal to win championships in L.A., and, like he has done everywhere else in his career – he succeeded. It was an honor to have one of the most talented, dynamic and exciting players of his generation finish his career with a title for LAFC, and we wish Gareth, his wife Emma, and their family nothing but the best in their future endeavors.”
Fans expected Bale to play for a couple of seasons. Bale is an international soccer star, known for playing with the Wales national football team. He helped Wales qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar for the first time in 64 years.
Hailed as one of the greatest Welsh players of all time, the 2022 FIFA World Cup was the first and last World Cup Bale will ever play in.
With the Wales national team, Bales made 111 appearances with 40 goals. He started his debut with Wales in 2006. His last international game was playing against England. He also helped Wales reach the Round of 16 of the UEFA 2020 European Championship.
In 2006, Bale started his first professional debut with the English Championship club Southampton at age 16. Bale became the second youngest player to play for Southampton. He only got to play there for one season.
After he played with Southampton for one season, Bale joined Totemham in May 2007. He played Left-back when he joined Totemham. Bale got to win an EFL Cup in 2008 with Totemham.
With Real Madrid, Bale won three La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey and five Champions League (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022). For one season in 2020-21 season Bale was loaned to Spurs. Then he came back with Real Madrid the next season.
In his entire career with Southamton, Tottenham, Real Madrid and LAFC, he has a total of 394 appearances and 141 goals. Bale will miss out on the CONCACAF Champions League. It could be his first time playing at the CONCACAF Champions League. Bale joined LAFC on June 27, 2022, after a nine-year career with Real Madrid. He got to win 19 trophies with Real Madrid.
During his time with LAFC, Bale made 13 appearances and scored three goals. He also scored an epic goal in the MLS Cup final in the 128th minute with an equalizer to take them to a penalty shootout. That’s where LAFC won their first MLS Cup.
Bale also scored a goal in two Champions League finals in 2014 and 2018 and end up winning a Champions League. He also scored a goal in the Spanish Cup Finals against FC Barcelona on the 85th minute. Bale got to win the MLS Cup and Supporters Shield even though he didn’t get much playing time. Bale has a total of 22 trophies in his whole career.
My favorite sport to write about is soccer. I am very passionate about soccer. I also write stories and cover college football. I cover and write about college or professional sports in and around Los Angeles. I enjoy watching soccer, basketball, baseball, and football.