Gareth Bale is retiring with immediate effect. The Welshman announced this on social media.
“After careful consideration, I announce my immediate retirement from club and international football,” wrote the 33-year-old. “I feel incredibly lucky to have been able to pursue my dream of playing the sport I love. It has truly given me some of the best moments of my life. In 17 seasons I’ve had so many highlights it will be impossible to repeat them no matter what the next chapter has in store for me.”
Bale once switched from Southampton FC to Tottenham Hotspur and made his breakthrough at Spurs. In 2013 he went to Real Madrid for the then record transfer fee of 101 million euros, where he played back to Tottenham until 2022 with a temporary break on loan.
The Welshman laced up his shoes for Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer and won the championship since the summer. With Wales he took part in two European Championships and the World Cup in Qatar. At Euro 2016 in France, Wales led by Bale reached the semi-finals.
