Gareth Bale: A Premier League legend whose best years were spent in Spain

When Gareth Bale first burst onto the scene with Tottenham Hotspur in 2010, few could have predicted the meteoric impact he would have on the club over the next three years. The Welshman quickly established himself as one of the most exciting young talents in the Premier League, his dazzling runs and pinpoint crosses becoming a staple of a Spurs attack that would earn Champions League football and go on to play the likes of Inter Milan and Real Madrid.

Now the 33-year-old has made the decision to hang up the boots for good, it gives us time to reflect on his career, and how a skinny left-back from Southampton transformed into one of the best wingers of a generation.

Bale’s role at the club was much more than that of a mere winger. He was a true game changer, a player who could single-handedly turn a match on its head. His incredible stamina and boundless energy allowed him to cover every blade of grass on the pitch, while his deadly left foot was capable of scoring goals from the most unlikely of angles.

With Bale leading the way, Tottenham quickly became one of the most dangerous teams in the league. They embarked on a thrilling run to the Champions League quarterfinals in 2011, and went on to finish in the top four in the following two seasons to the surprise of the football odds, this took the team to a new level, the way they played, their style and the ambition of the team was shown in every match.

It was clear that Bale’s talent and impact on the team had made him a genuinely elite player before turning 23. He was awarded the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award in 2011 and 2013, as well as the PFA Young Player of the Year award in 2011 and 2012, a testament to his abilities as a player and his impact on the team.

As Tottenham’s success grew, so too did the interest in Bale from some of the biggest clubs in the world. In 2013, the impossible happened, Bale was on his way to Santiago Bernabeu, joining the Spanish giants Real Madrid, where he would go on to win five Champions League titles — scoring in two finals — two La Liga titles and several other individual awards, although he never reached that same level of love as he did at White Hart Lane, with injuries and international commitment marking his exit from Madrid last season on a sour note.

Bale’s time at Tottenham will always be remembered fondly by the club’s fans. He was a true magician on the pitch, capable of conjuring up moments of brilliance at will. His departure was a bittersweet moment for the club, as they lost a truly exceptional player, but the memories of his time at White Hart Lane will live on forever.

He returned to Tottenham for a season-long loan spell, but due to lockdowns the Spurs fans never got to see him in the flesh. He bows out as one of the club’s best ever players, but one that gave his best years to a club that perhaps never truly appreciated his greatness.