Bale's back! | The Q&A
"It’s been an incredible journey and the best thing I ever did, moving to Tottenham..."
After all the glory and the accolades in 16 years in the game, five Champions Leagues - scoring one of the best goals ever seen in a final - leading Wales to the semi-finals of Euro 2016 and then a first World Cup since 1958, Gareth Bale never lost his connection with Spurs.
He was away from 2013-2020, when he returned for a season's loan that just felt like it was meant to be, scoring 16 goals in his 34 appearances in 2020/21, before finally retiring on a high and that appearance at the 2022 World Cup, his final goal against the USA in Qatar.
The only thing missing from that journey was the chance to get close to the fans again in 2020/21, the season hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and played in empty stadia.
He put that right on 5 November, when he finally stepped out in front of 60,000-plus adoring Spurs fans at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
"It’s great to be back. I loved my time here at Tottenham and coming back again on loan, so it’s great to be in familiar surroundings with such amazing fans. It’s like coming home, definitely..."
Interviewed by matchday presenter Paul Coyte, here's what he to say...
Early days
Gareth walked through the door at Spurs in May, 2007, having played 38 games in the Championship for Southampton in 2006/07, and earned his first Wales cap. He was 17...
"I still remember like it was yesterday, not realising how big a club Tottenham was until I came here and saw the amazing fans, the support abroad, the support at the stadium and the club has just continued to grow and grow and grow under great leadership. It’s been an incredible journey and the best thing I ever did, move to Tottenham."
Gareth's second appearance for us in a pre-season friendly at St Patrick's in Dublin - 12 July, 2007
Gareth's second appearance for us in a pre-season friendly at St Patrick's in Dublin - 12 July, 2007
Gareth unveiled with fellow new signings Darren Bent and Younes Kaboul
Gareth unveiled with fellow new signings Darren Bent and Younes Kaboul
Gareth on target in his first NLD v Arsenal in September, 2007
Gareth on target in his first NLD v Arsenal in September, 2007
Parading the League Cup with Chris Gunter - 2008
Parading the League Cup with Chris Gunter - 2008
Celebrating with Fraizer Campbell - 2009
Celebrating with Fraizer Campbell - 2009
Taking on Paul Scholes in the League Cup Final - 2009
Taking on Paul Scholes in the League Cup Final - 2009
Tougher times
Despite early goals in 2007/08, Gareth faced some tough times in his early days at Spurs. A couple of serious injuries forced him to miss chunks of his first couple of seasons, reflected in 12 and then 30 appearances in his first two campaigns. By then, though, Harry Redknapp had arrived, and things were about to change...
"It wasn’t the easiest of starts, being such a young boy at the time and things not really going my way. I felt my performances were okay, the team was in a bit of transition as well, which didn’t help, but it just shows for players coming through who are not having such a good time, they can look at my journey, my story, where it wasn’t good at the start, but if you continue to work hard and the club keeps backing you, then you can turn your fortunes around and put yourself back on the right track to achieve some good things."
Inter space
Gareth became a permanent starter in Harry Redknapp's team from January, 2010. Benoit Assou-Ekotto was at the Africa Cup of Nations and Gareth's chance arrived in an FA Cup third round tie against Peterborough United at the Lane. He destroyed Posh down the left as we won 4-0, and was never out of the team from that day. Vital goals arrived in must-win derbies against Arsenal and Chelsea in April, 2010 as we made it into the top four and Champions League football for the first time. We were drawn against holders Inter Milan in the group stage, and the rest is history. Bale scored a hat-trick in a 4-3 defeat at the San Siro before tearing Brazil's Maicon apart in the return, a 3-1 win. Gareth's star was born on the world stage, and he never looked back....
"For me, personally, I just feel that was the moment where I realised that I belonged on the world stage, that I could compete against the best players in the world. I always say that was the platform, that moment, that game, the moment I felt I could do something really big in football. It gave me so much confidence going forward that whoever I was playing against, I felt I could get the better of and gave me the confidence to grow."
Gareth strikes the first of his hat-trick against Inter at the San Siro - 2010
Gareth strikes the first of his hat-trick against Inter at the San Siro - 2010
Gareth, with the matchball, applauds our fans in Milan
Gareth, with the matchball, applauds our fans in Milan
Unbridled joy after Roman Pavlyuchenko converts Gareth's cross for 3-1 against Inter at the Lane - 2010
Unbridled joy after Roman Pavlyuchenko converts Gareth's cross for 3-1 against Inter at the Lane - 2010
Celebrations after Gareth's late, late winner at West Ham - 2013
Celebrations after Gareth's late, late winner at West Ham - 2013
In action against Arsenal - 2013
In action against Arsenal - 2013
On target against City - 2013
On target against City - 2013
Goal-den days
Gareth scored 38 goals in 86 appearances in all competitions in 2011/12 and 2012/13. Handed a free role in the forward line by Andre Villas Boas in 2012/13, he responded with 26 goals in 44 games, many of them spectacular strikes - West Brom, Southampton, West Ham to name a few, not even mentioning numerous free-kicks. His displays earned a PFA Player and Young Player double in 2012/13 at the age of 23 and he signed off in style with another beauty against Sunderland.
"When I look back, and now I’ve retired, I’ve been able to look back at my career and reminisce over these moments and dig deep into what I remember and what I felt at the time, even watching videos… it was an incredible journey coming from a club that was, I guess, mid-table to top and just really grew. It was that journey I loved, becoming a very prominent team in the Premier League, and it’s continued ever since."
The return - 2020/21
After seven years at Real Madrid, Gareth returned to N17 on loan in 2020/21. He started 19 of his 34 appearances in all competitions, weighing in with 16 goals and more moments to remember, not least a hat-trick against Sheffield United and then two late goals to beat Leicester City on the final day and grab the last European spot. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic meant his second spell was played in front of empty stadia. His final total in Lilywhite - 71 goals in 237 appearances.
"My idea was to come back in front of a full house in this incredible stadium, but it wasn’t meant to be in terms of the fans being here. Again, I loved my time here and maybe I didn’t have as big an impact as I did the first time, which I knew coming into it was never going to be the case at my age but, again, I made more great relationships at the club, I enjoyed being here, enjoyed playing. This club is so special for me and as I said at the start, it’s the best club I’ve ever been at."
Celebrations after Gareth's first goal against Palace - 2021
Celebrations after Gareth's first goal against Palace - 2021
Lobbing Aaron Ramsdale on his way to a hat-trick against Sheffield United - 2021
Lobbing Aaron Ramsdale on his way to a hat-trick against Sheffield United - 2021
Another matchball for the collection!
Another matchball for the collection!
Gareth lifts the MLS Cup with Los Angeles FC - 2022
Gareth lifts the MLS Cup with Los Angeles FC - 2022
On target for Wales against USA at the 2022 World Cup
On target for Wales against USA at the 2022 World Cup
Meeting former team-mate Sandro at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Meeting former team-mate Sandro at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
End of the road...
Gareth returned to Madrid in 2021, won the MLS Cup with Los Angeles FC in 2022 and signed out in the best way - leading Wales out in the 2022 World Cup, taking his caps to 111 (and 41 goals). By then, he'd also been awarded the MBE. What a career - and always a Spur.
"Retirement... it felt like a simple decision for me. Everyone will tell you when they retire that they know when the time is right, my body wasn’t feeling too great, I've a bit of a sore back most of the time, but I can’t complain about the career I had. I felt it was the right time to hang my boots up and I’ve been enjoying my time since."
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