By Emmanuel Adeleke
Wales captain, Gareth Bale, has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 33.
Bale, who is Wale’s most-capped men’s player with 111 appearances made the announcement on his social media pages, on Monday.
The former Tottenham and Real Madrid winger described the decision to quit football as “by far the hardest of my career.”
“After careful and thoughtful consideration, I announce my immediate retirement from club and international football.
“I feel incredibly fortunate to have realised my dream of playing the sport I love.
“My journey on the international stage is one that has changed not only my life but who l am,” Bale said.
The Welshman won five Champions League and three LaLiga titles at Real Madrid and is considered one of British greatest-ever football exports.
The Cardiff-born star’s club career took him from Southampton to Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid before his move to Los Angeles Football Club.
He was his country’s talisman as they reached the 2016 and 2020 Euros before ending his career in Wales’ first World Cup since 1958 at Qatar 2022.
“It (football) has truly given me some of the best moments of my life.
“The highest of highs over 17 seasons, that will be impossible to replicate, no matter what the next chapter has in store for me,” Bale added
