Week-End Sports & Loisirs | GARETH BALE: THE UNSEEN HERO

Two minutes two seconds is what Welsh captain and Real Madrid one time world most expensive player (100 Million Euros; approximately FCFA 65 Billion) needed to put the Los Blancos fans present in the Kiev Stadium in ecstasy. Left on the bench by Coach Zinedine Zidane at the start of the match, Gareth Bale, appeared in the green turf on the 61st minute as substitute to Isco. The Welshman’s first contribution was spectacular. A Marcelo’s cross in the box met his left boot with which he volleyed the ball behind the net of Liverpool’s keeper Loris Karius to put the Merengues back in front (2-1).

His brilliant first was followed by a Karius howler for the second. Gareth Bale started his professional career in Southampton in 2007, playing at left-back and acclaimed as free kick specialist. The next season he moved to Tottenham Hotspur. Due to tactical and managerial changes, Bale was transformed to a more offensive player under the guidance of then Tottenham Coach Harry Redknapp. Gareth Bale’s career veritably exploded during the 2010-11 UEFA Champions League season. Voted two times PFA Professional Football Association (PFA) player of the year in 2011 and 2013, he was also nominated in the PFA Team of the year three times in a row between 2011 and 2013.

The talent of the Welsh paid off as his transfer to Real Madrid in 2013, for a then record transfer fee of 100 Million Euros (approximately FCFA 65 Billion), which eclipsed that of his teammate Christiano Ronaldo (94 Million Euros approximately FCFA 56.4 Billion). In his first season with Madrid, Bale helped the Spanish giants lift their tenth (Decima) Champions League trophy by scoring a 110 minute prolongation goal against rivals Atletico Madrid. His brace last weekend against Liverpool in the Champions League finals brought some relief to his disappointing 2017/2018 season full of injuries.

Father of two Alba Violet (6 years) and Nava Valentina (2 years), Bale is expecting a third child with fiancée Emma Rhys-Jones. His performance may make the Madrid’s board rethink of whether to sell him or not as clubs like Manchester United and Tottenham eye him.

BIO EXPRESS

Name: Gareth Frank Bale

Date of Birth: 16 July 1989 (28

years-old)

Height: 1.85m

Position: Winger

Club: Real Madrid

Career

2006-2007: Southampton

2007-13: Tottenham Hotspur

2013-:Real Madrid

2006-:Wales