Welsh Soccer Legend Gareth Bale Retires From The Sport After 2022 Season
Gareth Bale, a forward for LAFC and Welsh Soccer Team, who has played professionally for 18 years, announced his retirement from the sport on Monday.
Gareth Bale, 33, left Real Madrid, one of the most dominant teams in Spain, and joined LAFC in June of last year. With a stunning extra-time header that forced the Black & Gold into the decisive penalty shootout for their ultimate MLS Cup 2022 victory, he delivered one of the most iconic goals in MLS history.
pic.twitter.com/QF7AogJXHE — Gareth Bale (@GarethBale11) January 9, 2023
Bale announnces his retirmement on Twitter
According to a press release from LAFC co-president and general manager John Thorrington, “We want to thank Gareth Bale for everything he provided to our club.” He came to LA with the intention of winning championships, and just as he has done everywhere else in his career, he was successful.
Gareth Bale’s Soccer Legacy
Bale began his career at Southampton and made his debut there at the age of 16. He then spent six years at Tottenham before joining Madrid in 2013 for a then-record £85 million cost. Even as recently as November, he had said he would continue to play at least until Wales’ Euro 2024 qualifying campaign was through. Bale made 111 appearances for his country and scored 41 goals.
“After long and thoughtful contemplation, I announce my immediate retirement from club and international football,” Bale stated in a separate statement posted on social media.
One of the most well-known players in MLS history, Bale, made a total of 13 appearances for LAFC and registered three goals. He additionally assisted them in winning the Supporters’ Shield, making them the eighth MLS team to accomplish that feat in a single season.
Bale won an astounding 21 trophies throughout the course of a club career that began at Southampton. He was once the most expensive player transfer in history while moved from Tottenham to Real Madrid. He has five UEFA Champions League championships in his trophy case.
Bale retires as the Dragons’ all-time leader in appearances (111) and goals after leading Wales to their first FIFA World Cup berth in 64 years this winter (40). After Wales’ Group B exit in Qatar, Bale declared his intention to compete in the 2024 European Championship. However, things changed.
Bale said on his official channels, “I feel tremendously lucky to have accomplished my ambition of playing the sport I love. I can honestly say that it has given me some of the best times in my life. That will be impossible to repeat, no matter what the next chapter has for me. It was the highest of highs spanning 17 seasons.
Looking Forward
With Bale’s departure, LAFC will undoubtedly have a vacant Designated Player spot to fill alongside strikers Carlos Vela and Denis Bouanga for the 2023 campaign. Bale had a guaranteed contract through the summer, but if a contract option was exercised, he supposedly became a DP.