Gareth Bale

Gareth Frank Bale (born 16 July 1989 in Cardiff, Wales) is a Wales international association football, currently playing as a left back and winger for Tottenham Hotspur F.C..

Early life

Bale was born in Cardiff, the younger of two children, and attended Eglwys Newydd Primary School at Whitchurch, Cardiff. Gareth Bale outstanding talent was evident from very early on, in particular Gareth Bale poise and left foot. It was while at this school Gareth Bale first came to the attention of Southampton F.C. at 9 years old, when Gareth Bale was playing in a 5 a side tournament with Gareth Bale first club, Cardiff Civil Service football club.

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

Despite being only 16 at the time, Gareth Bale helped the school's under-18 side win the Cardiff & Vale Senior Cup. Gareth Bale left school in the summer of 2005 with a Grade A in PE amongst Gareth Bale GCSE results. In Gareth Bale final year at school Gareth Bale 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 Gareth Bale personal goals. Gareth Bale is one of the most unselfish individuals that I have had the pleasure to help educate."

Playing career

Southampton

At the age of 16 years and 275 days, Bale became the second youngest player ever to play for the Saints (after Theo Walcott) when Gareth Bale made Gareth Bale debut on 17 April 2006. Gareth Bale played the whole match as Southampton defeated Millwall F.C. 2–0.

On 6 August 2006, Bale scored Gareth Bale first league goal, a free kick, to level the scores at 1–1 against Derby County F.C.. The final score at Pride Park was 2–2.

Gareth Bale scored again, at St Mary's Stadium, against Coventry City F.C. in the team's second game of the 2006–07 season with another free kick. Bale further developed Gareth Bale reputation as a free kick specialist when Gareth Bale struck the post from one against West Bromwich Albion F.C.. By 16 December 2006, Bale's goal count had risen to five, thanks to a late equaliser against Sunderland A.F.C. and free-kicks away to Hull City A.F.C. and at home to Norwich City F.C..

In December 2006 Gareth Bale won the Carwyn James Award for the BBC Wales Young Sports Personality of the Year. To cap Gareth Bale first full season as a professional footballer, Bale was named the Football League Young Player of the Year on 4 March 2007.

Gareth Bale final game for Southampton was in the first leg of the Football League Championship Play-Offs 2007 semi-final against Derby County F.C. on 12 May 2007. Bale suffered an injury during the second half, preventing Gareth Bale from appearing in the second leg. In total, Gareth Bale made 45 appearances for Southampton, scoring five goals.

Tottenham Hotspur

Bale completed a transfer to Tottenham Hotspur F.C. on 25 May 2007, arranging a four-year deal, with Tottenham making an immediate payment of £5 million, with further additional payments that could see Bale's transfer go up to £10m. Gareth Bale played Gareth Bale first game for Spurs in a friendly against St Patrick's Athletic F.C. on 12 July 2007, but was substituted on the 80th minute with a minor dead-leg.

Gareth Bale made Gareth Bale competitive debut for Tottenham Hotspur on 26 August away against Manchester United F.C.. In just Gareth Bale second Spurs appearance, Gareth Bale scored Gareth Bale first goal for Tottenham in the 3–3 draw with Fulham F.C. on 1 September when Gareth Bale latched on to Robbie Keane's flick, charged down the left flank unopposed and coolly slotted past goalkeeper Antti Niemi (footballer). Bale then went on to score again against Arsenal in the North London Derby, scoring a free kick inside the near post. Gareth Bale then scored in the League Cup home tie against Middlesbrough F.C., making it three goals in four starts for the 18-year-old. Gareth Bale also set up Spurs' goal against Anorthorsis Famagusta in the UEFA Cup.

Bale was substituted after sustaining an injury resulting from a tackle from Fabrice Muamba in the league fixture against Birmingham City F.C. on 2 December 2007. A scan revealed that Bale had suffered ligament damage to Gareth Bale right ankle, consigning Bale to an extended period on the sidelines. Spurs' sporting director Damien Comolli announced in February 2008 that Bale would miss the rest of the season through injury. Gareth Bale signed a new four-year deal with the club in August 2008.

Bale has played a record 24 Premier League games for Spurs without being on the winning side.

International career

Gareth Bale made the senior Wales national football team at the end of the 2005–06 season and then played Gareth Bale debut on 27 May 2006 as a substitute in a 2–1 win over Trinidad and Tobago national football team, making Gareth Bale the youngest ever player to play for Wales aged just 16 years and 315 days to break Lewin Nyatanga's three-month old record. In the game Gareth Bale set up the winner for Robert Earnshaw.

On 7 October 2006, Gareth Bale became the youngest player ever to score a goal for the full Welsh national team in the Euro 2008 qualification match against Slovakia national football team with a trade-mark free kick. Gareth Bale scored Gareth Bale second goal for Wales in a 3–0 win over San Marino national football team on 28 March 2007.

Brian Flynn, the U-21 Wales manager has expressed comments of the potential in Bale as a future star of the game. Bale's left-footed prowess and free kick ability have evoked comparisons to Manchester United's left-footed Welsh winger Ryan Giggs.

International goals

Career stats

^{Correct as of 19:20, 27 April 2009 (UTC)}

Honours

Southampton
- FA Premier Academy League Championship: 2006

Tottenham Hotspur
- Football League Cup Runners up medal 2009 Football League Cup Final.

Individual
- Football League Young Player of the Year: 2007