Gareth Bale announces his retirement from football as one former club says he had 'an incredible career'
The 33-year-old Wales captain thanked his fans and said that the sport had given him "the highest of highs" over his 17 season career. Wales, Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton pay tribute to the star.
Monday 9 January 2023 18:44, UK
Gareth Bale has announced his retirement from football with immediate effect.
In a social media post the striker revealed he would be retiring from both club and international football.
The 33-year-old Wales captain told his followers: "After careful thought and consideration, I announce my immediate retirement from club and international football.
"I feel incredibly fortunate to have realised 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."
The star won the Champions League five times while playing for Real Madrid and is the record caps holder for Wales, having made 111 appearances for his country.
In a separate message addressed to his "Welsh family" Bale, who captained Wales in Qatar at their first World Cup in more than six decades, described the decision to hang up his boots internationally as "the hardest of my career".
He added: "My journey on the international stage is one that has changed not only my life but who I am. The fortune of being Welsh and being selected to play for and captain Wales, has given me something incomparable to anything else I've experienced.
"I am honoured and humbled to have been able to play a part in the history of this incredible country, to have felt the support and passion of the red wall, and together have been to unexpected and amazing places."
Leaving the door open for potential future involvement with the Welsh national side, he added: "So for now I am stepping back, but not away from the team that lives in me and runs through my veins. After all, the dragon on my shirt is all I need. Together stronger. Diolch."
Wales thanked their most capped player in Welsh and English, tweeting: "Thank you for everything. Diolch am bopeth", followed by another post simply saying "VIVA GARETH BALE".
His former club Tottenham Hotspur congratulated him on an "incredible career" in a tweet following the announcement, accompanied by a picture of Bale performing his iconic heart celebration.
Southampton FC, where he started his professional career, also praised the striker, describing him as "one of our own" and tweeting a clip of Bale scoring a free kick.
Real Madrid also paid homage to his career, describing him as a "true legend" of the club saying his bicycle kick in the 2018 Champions League final in Kyiv will "live forever in the minds of football lovers around the globe."
The forward made his final competitive appearance during Wales' World Cup group stage fixture with England on 29 November.
His final club game was for MLS team Los Angeles FC who he signed for in June last year, and made 12 appearances for, helping them to their first MLS Cup title.
Los Angeles also congratulated the Welshman, describing him as "Forever a champion. Forever a legend. Forever Black and Gold."