Gareth Bale is a famous Welsh footballer who currently plays as a winger for Spanish club Real Madrid. In addition, he is also part of the Wales national team. He was born on July 16 (according to the horoscope cancer) 1989 in Cardiff (Wales, UK). His height is about 183 centimeters, and his weight reaches 81 kilograms. Full name is Gareth Frank Bale.
Gareth was raised by Frank and Debbie Bale. His father at one time worked at a local school, and his mother worked as a manager. Together they define young Gareth in primary school"Eglwys Newydd". It was this decision that became fateful for Bale, since it was at this school that he was noticed by the football scouts of the local Southampton club. Then Gareth was only nine years old, but, despite such a young age, he was still able to show his talent and prove himself in all its glory.
As Gareth himself says, from the age of three he was in love with football and even then he knew for sure that he would devote his whole life to this matter. He always imagined himself in the place of the most famous football players, and dreamed of someday playing on the same field.
This is followed by his transition to the high school "Whitchurch", where he draws attention to his person through athletic abilities. But football was not the only hobby of the young Bale; during his school years, he also vehemently played rugby and hockey. In addition, these sports were given to him as easily as football.
In 2005, he successfully graduated from high school, leaving behind victories in many sports competitions, as well as the Cardiff Cup and the school award, which he received thanks to his unique abilities.
Such a talent as Gareth Bale, of course, did not go unnoticed, after graduation, all the doors to a successful sports career were undoubtedly open to him and even the English "Manchester United" already had views on young talent.
The beginning of a football career
After leaving school, Gareth Bale was immediately offered a place at the Southampton club and already in 2006 he became part of the football world and scored his debut goal against the Derby County club. Gareth became the youngest player in the history of the club. In fact, Bale spent quite a bit of time at this club, already in 2007 he was intercepted by the professional English club Tottenham Hotspur, who offered the young footballer a deal for five million pounds. In his first four matches, Bale kept no one waiting and scored three matches, including against Arsenal. 
True, such a desire to show everyone his talent eventually turned sideways for the young Bale, since after he gets quite seriously injured during the match against Birmingham City. Due to an ankle injury, he was unable to continue playing for the entire season. But, next he was back in the ranks and had already signed a four-year contract with the club. True, this season was not as fruitful as the previous one.
A year later, he undergoes surgery on his knee, and for a while he stops playing. In the Champions League in 2009, he was able to play well, scoring goals for clubs such as Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs. After that follows whole line awards that were able to glorify Gareth Bale in the world of football. So, many clubs became interested in acquiring Gareth, but in 2013 his choice fell on Real Madrid.
real Madrid
The contract with Real Madrid was drawn up taking into account their six-year cooperation, but nothing was known about the payment on the Internet, since for some reason the price of Gareth Bale remained hidden from the rest. But, already in 2014, the secret was revealed, and it became known that Bale's fee is about 100 million euros, which exceeds the fee of Cristiano Ronaldo himself, who receives 6 million less. 
Gareth Bale was able to impress everyone with his performance against Villarreal, where he scored his debut goal for his new club. True, the injuries did not leave the poor Gareth and for the whole season he was able to play only in five matches out of sixteen. But once he got back into shape, he was once again able to prove his dominance on the field. The most significant goal for that period was the final in 2014, where they had to fight with the main rival - Barcelona. Gareth also scored the winning goal against neighbors Atlético Madrid in the 2014 UEFA Champions League Final. Dalla's strong teamwork, World Cup victory, and his new deal with Real Madrid, which will last until 2022, follow.
Success in the Wales national team
Gareth Bale has been part of the Wales national football team since 2005 when he was just 16 years old. Although he had every right to play for England, he still chose to stick with his native Wales. For all time and before today Bale has lauded many contributions to the Wales national team and was able to prove to everyone that he is a truly talented footballer. In 2016, at the European Championship in France, the Wales team, not without Bale's perseverance, managed to reach the final part of the championship, bypassing teams such as Belgium, Slovakia, England, Russia, Northern Ireland, and only the Portuguese team was able to stop the onslaught of Welsh football players by winning they have a score of 2:0. 
Relationship
Gareth Bale is married to his longtime girlfriend Emma Rhys-Jones. In their marriage were born: daughters Alba Violet in 2012 and Nava Valentina in 2016.
Yesterday at the 42nd Toronto Film Festival, the premiere of the western "Hostiles" with Christian Bale in the title role took place. The actor appeared at the premiere of the film along with his wife Sibi Blazik. The couple, who have been married for 17 years, showed tender feelings for each other, but eyewitnesses were impressed not even so much by them. a passionate kiss on the red carpet, how much is the image of Christian himself, who again noticeably put on weight in the name of art.
Christian Bale with wife Sibi Blazik Earlier, Christian told Variety that he recovered for the new role.
Getting fat is easy - I just eat a lot of pies. I had to gain 20 kilograms for the role of former US Vice President Dick Cheney, - said Christian.
According to Bale, in order to more accurately resemble the character, he also had to lighten his eyebrows. Bale is starring as Cheney in a film directed by Adam McKay, with whom he previously worked in The Big Short. The film's title and release date have yet to be announced.
Christian Bale and Sibi got married in January 2000. They have a 12-year-old daughter, Emmeline, and a 3-year-old son, Joseph.
Note that Christian Bale was never afraid to radically change himself. In 2000, for the role in the film "American Psycho", Christian had a serious task - to turn into a man with a perfect appearance in a year and a half. And he did it - thanks to daily workouts and a strict diet.
In 2003's The Machinist, Bale plays a factory worker going mad who doesn't eat or sleep for a year. For the sake of the role of the machinist, Christian lost 30 kilograms, his weight was 55 kilograms with a height of 1 meter 83 centimeters.
After working on "The Machinist", it turned out that the filming of the film "Batman Begins" began, where Christian plays the role of Batman. In a short time, Bale turned into a superhero - he recovered by 45 kilograms and actively worked in the gym.
In 2010, Christian again had to lose a lot of weight in order to credibly play the cocaine-addicted former boxer in The Fighter. Literally a year later, filming began on The Dark Knight Rises, and Bale again had to turn into a superhero.
Christian Bale in The Machinist
Christian Bale in American Psycho But back to the painting "Enemies", which was presented in Toronto. In the story, the legendary American soldier agrees to accompany a dying officer and his family on their way home. During the journey, the company meets a young widow whose family died during the war. Together they try to overcome the dangerous territory inhabited by the Comanche tribes. In addition to Bale, the film stars Rosamund Pike ("Gone Girl") and Ben Foster ("Train to Yuma"). Directed by Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart, Out of the Ashes, Black Mass). So far, nothing is known about the rolling fate of "Nedrugov" in the world and in Russia. According to film critics, the picture "Hostiles" may well participate in the race for "Oscar" in 2018, notes the publication Variety.
The story of these two lovers can serve as an excellent scenario for a sentimental melodrama. Having met in childhood, they still retain warm and tender feelings for each other.
Emma Rhys-Jones and Gareth Bale remain one of the most closed couples, jealously protecting their incredible happiness from the ubiquitous journalists. Gareth does not allow a single paparazzi to approach him or his family, so there are practically no scandals and gossip in the press related to the name of a famous player and his family.
Emma Rhys-Jones
Emma Rhys-Jones, like the young Gareth, was born and raised in the largest city and capital of Wales, Cardiff. They attended the same school, where they met when Gareth Bale was still a completely unknown young man, but already showing great promise. His football passion was the reason for frequent absences from school, so he used the reliability of the modest Emma and constantly copied her homework.
Even then, their first feelings arose, and young people began to meet. But, when Gareth moved to the London team Tottenham Hotspur, their relationship ended. The novice football talent has a new girlfriend - a London model. Of course, Emma was very worried and, as it turned out, in vain: the next summer, Gareth reappears, as if nothing had happened, and love relationships resume with renewed vigor.
Gareth Bale's wife
Since Gareth Bale's wife Emma Rhys-Jones moved in with him in his London flat, the couple have been inseparable. Emma Rhys-Jones attends all of his games, and the football player dedicates every goal scored to his beloved, sending her "hearts" depicted by hands. Naturally, this relationship led to the birth of a child, and on October 21, 2012, the couple had a baby, who was named Alba Violet.
Emma Rhys-Jones. Photo
They have known each other for many years and live together. Gareth Bale became a famous player with a worldwide reputation and went to play for Real Madrid. He has become the most valuable player in the history of football and receives a quarter of a million euros a week while playing for the Royal Club. However, these factors did not affect the human qualities of the romantic couple at all. They still love each other and are sensitive to their feelings. Emma, despite her lover's super-income, is not fond of shopping at all, she likes to dress simply and comfortably, without spending hundreds of thousands of euros on clothes, like many "football" wives. According to family friends, her husband's popularity did not affect the character of modest Emma in any way, she remains the same modest and ordinary girl who takes care of her husband and daughter. Rarely where else will you see such relationships among famous and popular personalities.
In March 2016, Emma Rhys-Jones gave Gareth Bale another daughter. “Glad to welcome another beautiful baby to our family today. Nava Valentine Bale,” Gareth posted this on Twitter. In the same year, on his twenty-seventh birthday on July 16, 2016, Gareth finally matured and proposed to the mother of his two charming daughters. To hear the cherished word "Yes", the famous football player rented a whole island worth 380 thousand pounds, on which he offered his hand and heart to Emma. In confirmation of this event, the Real Madrid midfielder posted a photo of Emma on Instagram, accompanied by the caption: “She said yes! I won't forget this birthday weekend for a long time." Apparently, it should be expected that this year, fans and fans of the world's fastest soccer player Gareth Bale will finally see his wedding march with Emma Rhys-Jones.
Gareth Frank Bale. Born July 16, 1989 in Cardiff (Wales). Welsh footballer.
Gareth Bale is a player for the Spanish club Real Madrid and the Wales national team.
Plays as a winger.
Differs in high speed and well delivered blow.
He began his football career at Southampton as a left-back and was a free-kick taker. After moving to Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2007, he began to play in more attacking positions.
Bale's transfer from London to Madrid cost Real Madrid €100m, setting a new world transfer record.
Gareth Bale Team Achievements:
Real Madrid:
Spanish Cup Winner: 2013/14
UEFA Champions League winner: 2013/14, 2015/16
UEFA Super Cup Winner: 2014
Club World Cup Winner: 2014
Gareth Bale's personal achievements:
Member of the UEFA Team of the Year: 2011, 2013
Gareth Bale - best goals and highlights
Gareth Bale was born on July 16, 1989 in the capital of Wales, Cardiff. As a child, he decided that he would definitely become a football player.
"I fell in love with football literally from three years. I constantly asked my father to take me to the park to work out. Football has always been in my life. And I seem to have been left-handed from day one," he said.
As a child, he was an avid fan, watched all football matches and admired the strongest football players in the world. He constantly imagined himself in their place and dreamed of becoming the same great player. Being a real football fan, Gareth actively hunted for autographs and T-shirts of stars, in particular, in his collection there are T-shirts of Alessandro Nesta, Ryan Giggs and. Obviously, then he could not even imagine that he would play with Ronaldo in the same team.
“The first World Cup that I clearly remember was in 1998, in France. I was nine years old then. I was delighted with the game of the Brazilians. They played so stylishly,” he shared his childhood impressions.
Gareth was spotted by Southampton scouts at the age of nine, then began training at one of the club's affiliated academies. Training brought only pleasure to the young Welshman, he tried to prove to everyone and to himself that he was able to achieve great success in football.
At the age of 16, Bale played in the school's 18-year-old team and helped it win the school's Cardiff Cup. In the same year he received the Welsh Sports Department Award.
IN Southampton he came at the end of the 2005/06 season, so he played few games in this football year. His first game for the Saints came in a 2-0 win against Millwall. Bale became the youngest player to play for Southampton in an official game since Theo Walcott. Bale started the following season at the base, as a result he played 38 matches and scored 5 goals.
In 2007, Bale moved to "Tottenham Hotspur", where he immediately took a place at the base. The beginning of his career in London was successful - Bale scored 6 goals in his starting 4 matches (one of them in the English League Cup). But a knee injury prevented the player from finally gaining a foothold in the main team - Bale dropped out until the end of the season.
Gradually recovering from his injuries, he began to prove his right to a place in the first team in the 2009/10 season. Head coach Harry Redknapp noticed the progress of the young talent and began to let him into the base. Since January 2010, the player has again been a regular starter for Tottenham.
On May 7, 2010, Gareth Bale extended his contract with the team until 2014. Bale's successful play helped Tottenham take 4th place in the championship at the end of the season, which allowed the team to qualify for the Champions League group stage for the first time in many years.
On August 21, 2010, in the English Championship match against Stoke City, Bale scored his first "double", which brought Tottenham a victory and allowed the team to rise in the standings. On September 29 of the same year, the Welshman scored his first goal in the Champions League - against the Dutch Twente.
During the off-season, Gareth Bale was approached by many of Europe's top clubs, including Inter, Chelsea, Real Madrid and AC Milan.
On October 20, Bale scored the first hat-trick in the Champions League against Inter Milan, but this did not help the Londoners avoid defeat (the match ended with a score of 4:3 in favor of the Italian team). Bale became the first Welshman to score a hat-trick in the Champions League.
In February 2011, he was named England Player of the Year by the PFA.
In 2012, Gareth Bale changes his number 3 to number 11. In the new season, he becomes the real leader of Tottenham. For his performance in the 2012/2013 season, he won the PFA Player of the Year award for the second time in his career, in addition to receiving the PFA Young Player of the Year award. He became only the third to win two awards at once (the first was Andy Gray, the second was Cristiano Ronaldo, they won both awards in 1977 and 2007-2008 respectively). Also in Wales, he received the prize of the best young player.
After a successful season at Tottenham, Bale wanted to see in his ranks "Real Madrid".
Negotiations between the English and Spanish clubs were going on all summer, and therefore the player was forced to miss all pre-season training camps, as well as the start of the season. On September 1, 2013, Real Madrid officially confirmed the transfer of Bale. For the transfer of the Welshman was paid € 100 million, which made Bale the most expensive player in the history of football.
In the first match for the "royal club" Gareth scored a goal, hitting the gates of "Villarreal". However, shortly after that, the midfielder suffered a minor injury, due to which he was forced to miss several matches.
On September 30, 2013, Bale scored a brace and also provided two assists against Sevilla. On November 30, Bale scored his first hat-trick for Real Madrid, scoring three goals against Valladolid.
On April 16, 2014, Gareth scored the winning goal against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final, and a month later, on May 24, the Welshman scored the winning goal in the Champions League final, hitting Atlético Madrid.
Bale began the next season as one of the full leaders of the "creamy". On August 12, 2014, Real Madrid won the match for the UEFA Super Cup by beating Sevilla, Bale spent the entire match on the field and gave two assists.
On December 20, 2014, Gareth scored one of the goals against San Lorenzo in the final, and Real Madrid won another trophy - won the Club World Cup.
In the 2015/16, 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 seasons, he won the Champions League three times in a row with Real Madrid.
Bale became the hero of the final on May 26, 2018 in Kyiv, when Real Madrid beat Liverpool. The Welshman scored twice - in the 64th minute he scored in a fall over himself, and in the 84th minute he set the winning point in the match - Bale shot far from outside the penalty area, the ball flew into the hands of the English goalkeeper Loris Karius, but bounced off in a curious way at the gate.
Gareth Bale for Wales
He went through all the stages of the Wales national team: from junior to 17 years old to an adult, without passing any of the stages.
At the level of the youth team, Bale did not win laurels - the team never qualified for major tournaments.
He made his debut for the national team in a friendly match with Trinidad and Tobago on May 27, 2006, replacing midfielder David Vaughn in the 55th minute with a score of 1: 1. As a result, the Welsh prevailed 2:1, and Bale became the youngest debutant in the history of the national team.
A month later, on October 7, 2006, Bale made his debut in the qualifying tournament for Euro 2008. He started at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff against Slovakia and played the full 90 minutes.
However, before the qualifying tournament for the European Championship 2016 in France, the Wales team did not shine even with Bale.
But under the leadership of Coleman, the Dragons - for the first time since 1958 - managed to reach the final part of a major international tournament. Wales finished second in Group B, just two points behind leaders Belgium. Gareth Bale appeared in all ten qualifying matches and managed to score seven of the eleven goals for the national team in the qualifying round.
In the first match of the group stage of the European Championship, Bale managed to hit the gates of the Slovakian national team from a free kick and open the scoring, which helped his team win with a score of 2: 1. In the next European Championship match against England, Bale again scored from a free kick and repeated the achievement of Michel Platini, scoring 2 goals in the European Championships from free kicks. Nanonets, and in the match against the Russian team, which the Welsh won 3-0, he also scored.
The best goals of Gareth Bale
Gareth Bale Height: 183 centimeters.
Gareth Bale Personal Life:
Married. He met his wife in Cardiff as a teenager. Her name is Emma Rhys-Jones. They started dating when they were in high school. Then they got married.
Bale dedicates his goals to his wife - he patented the so-called "man-made heart", which he demonstrates every time he scores a ball.
Gareth Bale - man-made heart
By the way, for the right to patent a “man-made heart,” the football player argued with Canadian singer Justin Bieber and nevertheless managed to get the heart recognized for him. The case even went to court, which Bale won against Bieber. The Intellectual Property Office has registered Bale's rights to this logo.
In October 2012, the football player and his wife Emma Reese-Jones had a daughter, Alba Violet.
Sports achievements of Gareth Bale:
Tottenham Hotspur:
Football League Cup Winner: 2007/08
Real Madrid:
Champion of Spain: 2016/17
Spanish Cup Winner: 2013/14
Spanish Super Cup Winner: 2017
UEFA Champions League winner: 2013/14, 2015/16, 2016/2017, 2017/2018
UEFA Super Cup winner: 2014, 2016, 2017
Club World Cup Winner: 2014, 2016, 2017
Personal:
English Premier League Player of the Season: 2012/13
PFA Player of the Year in England: 2010/11, 2012/13
PFA Young Player of the Year: 2012/13
AFJ Footballer of the Year in England: 2012/13
English Premier League Player of the Month: April 2010, January 2012, February 2013
Member of the PFA Team of the Year: 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13
Included in the UEFA symbolic team of the year: 2011, 2013
Wales Player of the Year: 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
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I just asked Gareth Bale what he would prefer to order if we came for tapas (in Spain, any snack served with beer or wine - approx. site). "Fine. I think, for starters, we would take jamon (raw-cured pork ham - approx. site). To be honest, I'm a little obsessed with him. He's excellent. I would also like to bring it home someday when I next return to England. In Madrid, there is an excellent restaurant "Txitsu", which is visited by famous people and footballers. I think we would go there."
Have you paid for the entire order many times since winning the Champions League?
"No, not much. Just a few times."
Last May, Bale scored the decisive goal in the Champions League final when Real beat fellow countrymen Atlético Madrid. (“I would like to remember my goal,” says the Welshman. “After it, I looked back at my partners, and a second later, despite the pain in my legs, I rode the lawn in a fit of joy.”) A little earlier, Gareth brought victory to the team in Spanish Cup, when the sworn enemy was beaten - Barcelona. It was then that he scored a goal, running along the entire left edge from the center of the field to the opponent's goal. It was like "Roy of the Rovers" With these balls, Bale somewhat justified his cost and entered the pantheon of the most popular football players of the Galactico era. "That was incredible! - said Xabi Alonso when asked to describe a teammate's goal. “I have never seen anything like it.” Recall that these are the words of a player who played in England, Spain, and now in Germany; which became the triumphant of the World Cup, the European Championship (twice) and the Champions League (twice).
Already in his first season at Real Madrid, Bale achieved a lot. But, of course, Madrid, in principle, expected such a development of events. The club was obliged to pay a huge sum in order for Tottenham to agree to let him go to star friend Cristiano Ronaldo. Gareth's first year in the Spanish capital was certainly successful: victories in the Champions League and Copa del Rey, 22 goals in 44 matches. And he is only 25 years old, and it is felt that the marriage with Real Madrid has just begun.
I met Bale not in the center of Madrid, but near one of the sports centers. I hadn't noticed him yet, when I suddenly heard shouts nearby: “Bale! Bale! Bale! - this is how the people around greeted the footballer, who happily left autographs and smiled to take a selfie. Gareth happily exchanged a few Spanish words with the fans. In the end, we went into the locker room together.
Are you already fluent in a new language? “Free so far only in cursing,” he replied, grinning. - Seriously, of course, I can't communicate easily. I used to take tutoring classes every week and now I understand much more. But to understand the conversations in the team is not a problem for me. True, as long as the coach does not speak too fast.
What was it like being back in school?
“It's not the most pleasant feeling (laughs). I could not finish school for some reason, but they tried to drag me back. But seriously, it's not exactly like that. Learning a new language is something that everyone will enjoy, and I had a personal motive for doing it.”
The conversation with the best football player in the UK is very interesting. He can make fun of himself, which, in my opinion, befits a shy person. He very politely refuses to talk about his personal life, but it's more of a charming story. Bale and his girlfriend Emma Rees-Jones began dating for over a decade while they were students at Witchurch School in Cardiff. His trademark“Heart from Hands” (intellectual property rights were approved in August 2013) is dedicated to his wife and little daughter Alba-Violet, who turned two years old last month.
Gareth has a great environment in Madrid. On any famous football player in our time it turns out great pressure, including the negative. But it seems that this is not about Bale - he skillfully copes with any difficulties, and, despite his salary, he is not subject to star disease. “I don’t think I have changed since I was a child. I can still have fun with family and friends, just like when I was 10 years old. For me, nothing has changed in this regard. Yes, I play football for real high level but at the same time I try to make life easier outside of work. My family and relatives don't let me have my head in the clouds."
Despite the rather quick adaptation in the new team, the first months were not without difficulties. After seven years at Tottenham, the player had to change something. “At first it was difficult for me to get comfortable in a new team and in a new country, but as soon as we settled in a new house with my family, I realized that everything would be much easier.”
home hearth - main reason why Bale settled in so quickly. “It was great when we had a personal chef,” he says. “It was he who controlled the time, frequency and diet.”
Surely there are things that you miss? “Good old English chocolate never hurts,” admits the Welshman. - Now some Dairy Milk or Galaxy... that would be great. Spain also has Milka, but it is not the same as at home.” His eyes light up. “Oh, I thought about Nando (chocolate cake - approx .. It’s so funny that such little goodies can cheer you up. It’s okay, we will soon bring real English tea bags and, of course, chocolate. And without Nando, I can’t move at all (smiles).
What about English football? Do you miss the cold Premier League football? “I am very interested in watching him from the side. You will learn much more about it when you do not live in it. The truth is that you always focus on your team, and there is no time to pay attention to the rest.
Does this mean that you no longer have a piece of English?
"Of course have. For example, I still want Arsenal misfires and Tottenham wins."
Gareth Bale joined Tottenham from Southampton in May 2007. Spurs beat Sir Alex Ferguson and his Manchester United in this regard, and the 17-year-old chose London. “He was very thin and awkward,” recalled a Scottish specialist a few years ago. - But soon, thanks to hard training in the gym, he became like an American welterweight boxer. Then I remember that we were disappointed with the actions of Southampton, but realized that we could never get him.
However, it is worth noting that the beginning of a new period in Gareth's career did not work out. As part of the English Premier League for the team, he made just 24 appearances in more than two years. It took a long time for Bale to break the curse of a loser. “I still think I got off to a pretty good start at Tottenham,” the player began. - I remember that I scored three goals in my first five or six games for the club. But after that, I received a serious injury that put me out of action for eight months.
“I talked about moving to Madrid as a difficult stage in my career, but adapting to Tottenham was the most difficult. I left Southampton at 16 to play with the likes of Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane. It was a completely different level. I did not know any of my future partners. And only at the very end, before the transition, I found out that Luka Modric was playing there. Then, a little later, I got that injury, and the doctors said that it would be difficult to return to my level. My confidence from what I heard suffered a little, and I was forced to close myself. The only thing I wanted was to work harder, the only way I could regain my confidence. However, this certainly takes time. But in the end, I did it, and the rest is history.”
Bale's story - like any sports story - is experienced with the hero when all difficulties and hardships are eventually overcome. Despite the young lad's talent, Southampton's bosses were a little worried about the progress of the still schoolboy. Over the next two years, he became the second youngest debutant in the history of the club (16 years and 275 days).
Then there was Bale's curse. A name coined by English journalists when Tottenham couldn't win in 24 matches with Gareth on the pitch. By that time, the team had already changed three managers. “When Harry Redknapp came to the team, he gave me a real push,” recalls the Welshman. - It was he who made me progress. If it wasn't for him, I probably wouldn't be here right now. This happens to a lot of young players and I was no exception."
That was the end of Bale's troubles, and his story began to take shape in a different way. During that period, Gareth became an integral part of Tottenham, when the club made it to the group stage of the Champions League for the first time in history. Soon, the Welshman in the match against Inter Milan declared himself loudly, when he almost beat the opponent alone. In the aforementioned meeting, the left-back scored a hat-trick, after which he made everyone speak of him in enthusiastic tones.
But it took the Southampton graduate a couple more years to become a truly great performer. Starting point? The moment when the footballer met the new head coach of Spurs Andre Villas-Boas in the summer of 2012: “I was very encouraged by his arrival and felt that I could seriously improve. But at the same time, I was upset that I spent every meeting exclusively on the left flank, the player begins. - Villas-Boas just joined us, and soon we had a big conversation. We decided that I would not be tied to any position on the field, that I would independently look for space and appear where it would be best for the team. This decision benefited everyone: I began to score a lot more goals, and the team began to win often. It was like a snowball effect. During that period, my confidence rose to unprecedented heights.
His attachment to the Portuguese tutor was clear. After the birth of Bale's daughter, some joked that he chose the same initials as the coach (Alba Violet-André Villas - approx. site). “His confidence in me gave me strength. It was he who instilled in me faith in myself and in the fact that I can play on the field. I will always be very grateful to him."
Bale finished the 2012/13 season with excellent performance. He scored 26 goals, became the best young player of the year in England and the best player in England according to footballers and journalists. The only footballer who collected such a bouquet of such awards in one year? Cristiano Ronaldo.
But, despite personal achievements, Tottenham still could not take a place above Arsenal and steadily break into the main draw of the most prestigious club tournament. It was on the basis of such motives that Gareth decided to change the situation, moving to Real Madrid in the summer of the same year.
“I could refuse Tottenham only for the sake of Real Madrid,” the player believes. - I hope the fans forgive me. It was incredibly nice to hear a lot of words of support after the recent Champions League final. Many people said they were proud of me, and then I felt amazing. I really enjoyed my time in London, and the fans have always been something special to me. I think they understood my decision, because the opportunity to play for Madrid comes once in a lifetime. But at the same time I wanted to test myself. I repeat, if not for Real Madrid, I would have continued to play for Tottenham. But winning the Champions League shows why I took this step."
He seems to be one of the few. It's very rare for a British player to succeed overseas (you can remember how the transfers to Spain of Michael Owen and Jonathan Woodgate ended), but Bale is a completely different breed. He left home in Wales when he was still a schoolboy and stepped onto the pitch of the English Premier League in early age. It took him a short time to become the face of the best football league in the world.
“I really enjoy being here,” says Gareth. - The team is playing amazing now, and off the field I feel free. It's much warmer here, which I really like. The pre-season was hot in every sense. The sweat just wouldn't come off me. I feel very comfortable with my comrades.”
What can you say about Ronaldo? "I'm learning from the best player in the world." What has he already taught you? “To be honest, where to find a house” (laughs). “Not a day goes by that I don’t learn something from him. He helps me become a better football player, and that is my goal. In my prospects to stand on the same level with him. I used to practice hitting with right foot, otherwise, my training has not changed.
Why before?
"Because every time I try, I can get a muscle strain."
Of course, he jokes: "I can improve in every component, but for now the priority for me is the right hand."
Bale considers legendary compatriot Ryan Giggs to be his other hero (“he is Welsh, also plays with his left foot, so it’s clear that I look up to him”), who professional level performed until the age of forty. But Gareth does not think about it yet: “It is too early for me to think about when I plan to end my career. I don't want to look that far ahead."
However, Real Madrid's No. 11 may soon surpass the achievement of the Wales national team of the Giggs era, during whose performances the team never made it to the qualifying round of the European Championship or the World Cup. Gareth sleeps and sees to help his partners qualify for the tournament in France: “I believe that reaching the World Championship will be one of the biggest wins of my career along with winning Decima. We want to make history in Wales and we know how much that means to the country."
Previous Welsh players, including Giggs, have often been accused of putting club interests ahead of national interests. For example, the Manchester United midfielder spent only 64 matches for the national team in 16 years of his playing career. At the moment, Bale has already played 48 matches for his national, although he is only 25 years old. But the player himself does not attach much importance to this: “I love playing for Wales. For me it's not a burden. I like to be a big figure in our team. I remember when we played a Toro game where they sent two young players to the center and the older players stood around. Before, I was always in the middle. Now I never go there, because I know that I am already a veteran!”
“We have a great team that knows what they are capable of. Before we doubted, but now we know for sure that we can. We have a fairly young team, but I am happy to share my experience with others. I know that I need to be the leader on the field right now. Yes, I'm not the loudest on the field, but I do my best to succeed.
He already feels quite mature and professional, answering a question about a coaching career: “Matches are held on weekends? he smiles. - In modern football, you never know what will happen. But the manager? It seems too complicated for me."
Interview by Charlie Parrish, The Telegraph
Translation by Sergei Kuvanzha, website
