Gareth Bale Retreived

 Gareth Frank Bale (born sixteen July 1989) is a Welsh footballer who plays as a winger for Premier League Club Tottenham Hotspur, on loan from Real Madrid of the league and the Wales national team.

Bale began his professional career at Southampton, playing in the left lower back and earning acclaim as a professional free-kick. Bale moved to Tottenham Hotspur in 2007, for an eventual fee of £7 million. During his time at Tottenham, administrative and tactical changes made him a more offensive player. Since the 2009-10 season, under the leadership of Harry Redknapp, Bale has become a vital part of the group, increasing international interest in the course of the 2010-11 UEFA Champions League. In 2011 and 2013 he was named PFA Players ' Player of the year and was named within the UEFA team of the year. In 2013, he was named PFA Young Player of the Year, FWA Footballer of the year, and Premier League Player of the season. He was nominated for the PFA Team of the year three times in a row between 2011 and 2013.

On September 1, 2013, Bale switched to Real Madrid for an undisclosed fee. Press in the pronounced time the transfer rate in figures between ninety-one million € and one hundred million€. In January 2016, documents related to the transfer were leaked confirming a worldwide document transfer price of one hundred€. Eight million, eclipsing the previous document fee of £80 million (€94 million) that the club paid for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009. Bale played a critical role in his first season at Real Madrid, supporting the members to win the 2013-14 Copa del Rey and the UEFA Champions League, scoring in both finals. The following season, he won the UEFA Super Cup and scored in a final 3rd main to help the members win the FIFA Club World Cup. Two years later, he became a key player in another Champions League career, winning the sixteen title in 2015 and being chosen for the UEFA team of the season. He also became a finalist in UEFA's best European Player Award and became the man of the match when he scored a shot in the 2018 UEFA Champions League Final.

Bale made his world debut for Wales in May 2006, becoming the youngest player in that factor to symbolize the country. He has in mind that he won more than eighty matches and scored 33 dreams overall, making him the highest goalscorer for Wales of all time. He was Wales ' top scorer in their successful UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying marketing campaign, scoring seven goals; in the end, he represented his country within the final tournament reaching the semi-finals, scoring three goals. He has been named Welsh footballer of the year a record six times. In 2016, ESPN ranked Bale 12th on its list of the best famous athletes in the world.

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.

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. Bale further developed his reputation as a free-kick specialist when he struck the post from one against West Bromwich Albion. By 16 December 2006, Bale's goal count had risen to five, thanks to a late equalizer against Sunderland and free-kicks away to Hull City and at home to Norwich City.

In December 2006, he won the Carwyn James Award for the BBC Wales Young Sports Personality of the year and was named the Football League Young Player of the year on 4 March 2007. 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 as."

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. In total, he made 45 appearances for Southampton, scoring five goals.

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.

2007–2009

Bale in Spurs ' line-up before a Premier League match against Chelsea in August 2008

Bale played his first game for Spurs in a friendly against St. Patrick's Athletic on 12 July 2007 but was replaced on the 80th minute with a minor dead leg. He made his competitive debut for Tottenham Hotspur on 26 August away against Manchester United. On 1 September 2007, in his second Spurs appearance, he scored his first goal for the club in a 3-3 draw with Fulham. Bale went on to score against Arsenal in the North London derby from a free-kick. He then scored in the League Cup home tie against Middlesbrough.

On 2 December 2007, Bale was replaced 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. By February 2008, it became clear that Bale was to miss the rest of the season through injury. 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."

Bale returned to fitness in August 2008, the same month he signed a new four-year deal with the club, and went on to make 30 appearances for Tottenham in all competitions that season.[33] He picked up his first career red card in a 2-1 defeat at Stoke City in October 2008. That season he 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.

2009–2011

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. 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. However, he struggled to break into the first team, in part thanks to Benoit 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.[38] His first victory as a starter in a league game came in the 2-0 win over London rivals Fulham on 26 January 2010.

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.[40] 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. 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. He was named Premier League Player of the Month for April 2010. He signed a new four-year contract at White Hart Lane on 7 May 2010, as a reward for helping the club reaching a 2010-11 UEFA Champions League qualification place.

San Jose Earthquakes ' Arturo Álvarez evades Bale (left) in a July 2010 friendly in San Jose, California

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.[45] This was later awarded the BBC Goal of the Month for August 2010. 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. 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 the left wing to accommodate Assou-Ekotto at left-back. 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. For his performances, he was named Welsh Player of the year by the Football Association of Wales (FAW).

On 20 October, Bale scored his first senior hat-trick against European champions Inter Milan at the 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. 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.

On 4 November, Bale stated that I intended to remain at Tottenham for the remainder of his recently signed four-year contract, despite reported interest from other clubs, then, in December, he was awarded the BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year trophy. On 19 March 2011, it was announced he would then extended his stay at the club until 2015. On 17 April, Bale was honored with the PFA Players' Player of the Year award, as voted for by his peers.

With Spurs, he rose to international attention during the 2010-11 UEFA Champions League with Tottenham.

2011–2013

Bale playing for Tottenham Hotspur in 2011

Bale scored his first goal of the 2011-12 season on 24 September 2011, in an away game against Wigan Athletic. The game ended in a 2-1 victory for Tottenham. 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. 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 halftime. the first goal against Fulham was later ruled by the "dubious goals committee" to be an own goal by Chris Baird.

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. On 27 December, Bale scored twice to give Tottenham a 2-0 win against Norwich City. 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. 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. On 27 June, Bale signed a new four-year contract, committing his future to the club until 2016.

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". On 16 September 2012, Bale scored his first goal of the 2012-13 season against Reading in a 3-1 away victory. 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.