Gareth Bale announces his retirement

Gareth Bale has announced his retirement from playing football.

The 33-year-old Welshman played 166 matches in the Premier League for Tottenham Hotspur, after joining them from Southampton in 2007/08.

Starting as a left-back, Bale moved upfield to become one of the best attacking players in the Premier League, scoring 53 goals and providing 22 assists.

He was renowned for his spectacular strikes from distance that almost single-handedly inspired Spurs in the fight for a top-four place in 2012/13 and won Bale the Premier League Player of the Season.

His nine goals from outside the box in 2012/13 are the most by a player in a single season in the competition’s history.

Bale also claimed the Premier League Player of the Month Award three times in total.

He left Spurs in the summer of 2013 to join Real Madrid, where he won the UEFA Champions League five times.

He rejoined Spurs on loan in 2020/21, where he scored 11 goals from 20 Premier League matches.

His last club was Los Angeles FC, whom he helped win their first MLS Cup with a late goal in the final.

Bale was capped 111 times for Wales, inspiring them to reach the semi-finals of Euro 2016 and a first FIFA World Cup appearance since 1958 in Qatar last year.

"From my very first touch at Southampton to my last with LAFC [Los Angeles FC] and everything in between, shaped a club career that I have an immense pride and gratitude for," Bale said on Twitter.

"Playing for and captaining my country 111 times has truly been a dream come true."

Everyone at the Premier League would like to congratulate Gareth on his career and wish him all the best for his retirement.