Gareth Bale

Gareth Frank Bale (born 16 July 1989 in Cardiff, Wales) is a Welsh footballer who currently plays for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and the Wales national team. He is a left wingback who can also play as a left winger and is known for his athleticism, pace and stamina and for his crossing and free kick ability. Though born and raised in Cardiff, Bale began his professional career with Championship side Southampton in 2005 and transferred to Tottenham. Gareth Bale joined Tottenham Hotspur from Southampton in May 2007 when he was still only 17 years old.

Bale was born in Cardiff, the younger of two children, and attended Eglwys Newydd Primary School at Whitchurch. He is the nephew of former Cardiff City footballer Chris Pike. His outstanding talent was evident from very early on, in particular his poise and left foot. It was while at this school he first came to the attention of Southampton at nine years old, when he was playing in a 5 a side tournament with his first club, Cardiff Civil Service Football Club.

Bale then attended Whitchurch High School in Cardiff, where, as well as football, he played rugby and hockey and was a distance runner. Because of his superior skills, the school’s PE teacher, Gwyn Morris, had to write special rules. These restricted Bale to playing one-touch football and not using his left foot. Whilst at Whitchurch, Bale trained at Southampton’s satellite academy in Bath, although there was initially some doubt if Southampton would give him a scholarship due to his height.

Despite being only 16 at the time, he helped the school’s under-18 side win the Cardiff & Vale Senior Cup. He left school in the summer of 2005 with a Grade A in PE amongst his GCSE results. In his final year at school he was awarded the PE department’s prize for services to sport. In the presentation, Morris commented:

“Gareth has a fierce determination to succeed and has the character and qualities to achieve his personal goals. He is one of the most unselfish individuals that I have had the pleasure to help educate.”

Gareth had already attracted attention as an attacking left back, with an eye for goal, especially from dead-ball situations. Gareth has struggled to hold down the left-back position at Spurs due to the presence of Benoit Assou-Ekotto, but he still makes regular appearances in the side.

He makes useful forays down the left flank and provides a welcome threat around the opposition goalmouth. Gareth has plenty of pace and passing skills, and still offers plenty of potential at club level.

He made his full international debut for Wales as a 16-year-old and has continued to retain his place in the team, with 23 full caps and two goals to his name.

Playing style

Bale is known for his ability to run with the ball at high speeds and beat his fullback, but also doing this for long periods in the game. Bale is also known to be able to whip crosses into dangerous areas for his forward teammates. Gareth Bale has been hailed as “one of the best left sided players in the world” by his manager Harry Redknapp and a number of pundits.

After the 2 November 2010 match with Internazionale, his team mate at Spurs Rafael van der Vaart said, “Everyone is scared of him (Bale). Maicon is one of the best right-backs in the world — he killed him.”

In a report of the same match Spanish newspaper El Mundo said: Bale combines the height and build of an 800-metre runner like Steve Ovett with the acceleration and directness of a rugby winger like Bryan Habana. And, when he gets to the byline, he delivers curling crosses like a Brazilian. Big words? Yes, but that’s what Bale is like – easily the greatest sensation in the opening month and a half of the Champions League. Ask Maicon what he thinks after the two exhibitions Bale turned in against Inter. Yesterday he left Maicon for dead and then a wily old fox like Lúcio was left in his wake like someone trying to follow the vapour trail of an aeroplane. Three goals and two assists – against the European champions. His performances have been stunning