The best British player of all time? A look at Gareth Bale's glittering football career

On the 9^{th of} January 2023, Wales and British football legend Gareth Bale announced his retirement from football.

In his retirement post on social media, Bale said, "I feel incredibly fortunate to have achieved my dream of playing the sport I love. It has truly given me some of the best moments of my life."

After over 17 incredible seasons in professional football, will Gareth Bale go down as the greatest British player of all time?

Let's look through the career that shaped one of football's all-time greats!

After signing for Southampton at the age of nine, Bale became the second youngest player in Saints history, making his full first-team debut at 16 years and 275 days in April 2006.

Starting at left-back, the young Welshman gained a reputation for pinpoint free-kick accuracy and attacking flair. In 2007, he was awarded the Football League Young Player of the Year award.

After a breakout year with Southampton, Bale made the big move to the Premier League, signing for Tottenham Hotspur for an initial signing fee of around $6.1 million.

Under manager Juande Ramos, the young star struggled with injuries on his ankle and needed an extended amount of time out on the sidelines.

After the sacking of Ramos due to poor performances, struggling Spurs brought in Harry Redknapp to change the course of the season.

Coming into the team off the back of team injuries, the Wales international made a significant impact for Tottenham, scoring crucial goals, winning the April 2010 Premier League Player of the Month award, and helping Spurs qualify for the Champions League.

Between 2011-13, Bale became football's next biggest superstar, winning domestic and European individual accolades over the two-year stint.

In that period, The Welshman was inducted into the PFA Team of the Year and UEFA Team of the Year twice, and won two PFA Players' Player of the year.

After dominating in Europe and England, Bale signed for Spanish giants Real Madrid on a six-year contract for a then-world-record fee of $95 million, according to RealMadridTV.

His move to Madrid will go down in history as one of the greatest bits of transfer business in football history!

In a nine-year career in Spain, Bale and his Madrid side won an astounding 16 major trophies, including five Champions League titles, three La Liga's, and three FIFA Club World Cups.

Gareth Bale scored 106 goals in his career for Real Madrid. His most notable goals were the lung-busting sprint and finish in the Copa del Rey Final in 2014 and an overhead kick that will possibly go down as the greatest Champions League Final goal in 2018.

After falling out of favour with then Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane, the Wales international caused major controversy by holding up a flag stating, 'Wales, Golf, Madrid' after a Wales game – a cheeky snide about where his club ranked in importance to him.

With playing time limited, a loan spell return to Tottenham, and discontent between the Madrid fans and Bale, the footballing icon signed for Los Angeles FC on a 12-month contract in 2022.

Bale only managed to make 12 appearances before retiring from football. However, he managed to add more trophies to the mantlepiece with the MLS Cup and the Supporters Shield.

His success on the international stage for Wales may be more historic than his career at the club level after becoming Wales's all-time appearance leader with 111, and the country's top goal scorer with 41.

Bale and his Wales side ended the country's 64 years of wait to play in the World Cup again by qualifying for a tournament in Qatar. He also led his team to the semi-final of the 2016 Euro Championship which was the furthest the country had got in a major tournament.