Chris (@Chris10Pricey) takes a look at footballing life of ‘the greatest Welsh player of all time’.
Every generation has their arguments, Pele or Maradonna, Ronaldo or Messi, it polarises even the sanest of people. In Wales, there should never be a debate. Gareth Frank Bale will go down as the greatest of all time.
I am in no way belittling the achievements of John Charles, Ivor Allchurch, Gary Speed, and all the great players that have gone before, but none of them have impacted Wales in the way Bale has, both as a footballing nation and a country around the world.
Embed from Getty ImagesBeing the age I am, I am jealous of the kids now. They’ve never known of the suffering of yesteryear. In the 90’s Wales were dreadful. I was too young to remember USA 94 qualifying, but I can remember some of the dreadful stuff that followed. Holidays consisted of people saying Ryan Giggs to me, mainly because they knew him from Man United, not from his Wales exploits. I love being Welsh, but it was tiresome trying to explain about it.
When Bale made his debut in 2006, it felt like it was the beginning of another barren spell. Having watched the superb Together Stronger documentary on BBC brought it all flooding back. It was a time where I travelled to watch Wales play on a Wednesday night and despite having tickets, we all stayed in the pub to watch it, all convinced we’d have a better time. Nobody could have believed what the next 16 years would entail, maybe apart from Brian Flynn and John Toshack.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt also felt like a bit of the changing of the guard. Ryan Giggs was approaching retirement, the last of that generation and a new breed of Welsh player was coming through. Giggs was an outstanding player with an incredible career but playing for Wales was almost a chain around his neck. The comparison to Giggs is easy to make due to their style, but the difference in approach was seismic. It felt like Giggs saw playing for Wales as a chore, something to be endured. Fans could never warm to him.
Embed from Getty ImagesBale was different, every friendly he was there, big smile on his face, wanting to be a part of it. His pride at pulling on the shirt was evident from those early performances.
We’ve had players with passion throughout history, but Bale’s talent was clear to see. His lightning pace and he had a beautiful strike of the ball. Even from his first performance with Wales, he set up the winner, with a surging run and cut back.
During his early career, playing at left back seemed to be restrictive because of the talent he had. Because of his early initiation with Wales, it felt like we all knew more about him than the rest of the world. If felt like a secret society knowing how good he was. Watching Wales became enjoyable again, just because he was playing.
Embed from Getty ImagesDespite this talent, it’s easy to forget, the bizarre statistic that blighted his early Spurs career and the fact he was nearly let go. As a Forest fan, we were linked with him to play at left back during the Billy Davies era in 2009, but missed out on him as Benoit Assou-Ekotto, went to the AFCON. I often think about how my footballing supporting life might have been different if we had signed him and not had Nicky Shorey and Ryan Bertrand!
Soon after, he wasn’t our secret anymore but a gift to the footballing world. His performance at the San Siro for Spurs is the stuff of legend, but he was producing it week in, week out. Just looking back at his goals for Spurs is like a catalogue for goal of the month. Becoming the most expensive player in the world at the time, would be a daunting prospect for most, but not for Bale. Not only did he not look out of place, he belonged, often being their brightest star in the Galacticos.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt would have been easy for Bale’s head to have been turned, not wanting to come and play for little old Wales at a time when Wales were going through sticky patches. Why go and play with EFL players, when you can have a kick about with the best in the world? But that’s what made Bale special. He wanted to and made it abundantly clear he wanted to. Being Welsh was special, a sense of belonging and pride. And the club culture that Speed and later Coleman had made, clearly meant a lot to him.
Embed from Getty ImagesNot a promotional FAW video went by without Bale being the centre of everything, laughing, joking. The opening line from Chris Gunter in Don’t Take Me Home, is epic. This is Chris Gunter, a player I love, but nowhere near the talent sphere of Gareth Bale, but kicking a ball about with him as if he was one of the lads. There were no airs and graces, Bale was one of the boys and it made being with Wales special. After everything they had been through, it would have been easy for him to turn his back on it, but those experiences just made the bonds stronger.
Bale should be regarded as a legend in Madrid. When people think of Gareth Bale, a lot of videos clips lead to the Copa Del Rey final against Barcelona. (But as Wales fans know, he had already done this against Iceland a few months before.) He produced some incredible moments for Real that people forget.
Embed from Getty ImagesHis early career as part of the BBC frontline, they were devastating. Very few players can claim to win Champions League finals on their own, but Bale could arguably claim 2. He was superb in 2014 against Athletico and destroyed Liverpool off the bench in 2018, with a helping hand from Karius. He played pivotal role in title wins, the accolades and trophies are clear to see.
Originally tweeted by Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) on January 9, 2023.
However, football fans are fickle, and none more so than in Madrid. Such was the lure of Gareth Bale, that for my stag do, we went to Madrid to watch Bale. It’s a different experience watching football at the Bernabeu, it’s like being at the theatre. We have come for you to entertain us and we will let you know when you haven’t.
That night, we watched Cristiano Ronaldo booed off as he missed a chance when the game was already won. Clearly, the fans didn’t appreciate their once star Bale becoming a bit part player, but consistently turning up for Wales. The flag probably didn’t help. It made them turn on him but made Welsh fans more protective of him. It made us love him even more.
Embed from Getty ImagesFittingly, his club career ended with him being the star man again. Off the bench to score a title saving goal for LAFC. Throughout his career, Bale evolved, changing to suit what was needed at the time. At this point in his career, he was still making headlines and not just for the incredible shit-housery of conducting his first press conference in LA in Spanish after all the accusations in Madrid.
The closing chapter of Bale’s career will be entrenched in Welsh folklore. Leading the celebrations in Zenica would be enough for some people. Qualifying for a major tournament would have been enough for most players. But not for Bale. One of the enduring qualities of Gareth Bale was his ability to be a leader without being the captain, able to make all those around him better, demanding performances from players who themselves probably didn’t think they were capable of.
Embed from Getty ImagesAs a team in 2016, we were so much more than the sum of our parts. If ever anyone needed proof, that a team is always better than an individual, it was there. We’ve seen teams of superstars fail because they can’t play together. There is no way a team of EFL players and a couple of Premier League players should make a Euro Semi Final. But we did and Bale and his attitude made it possible.
That summer was the greatest we will ever witness. We all have our stories. Mine is that on the opening game against Slovakia, myself and a group of mates were in a fan park in Lille. As he lined up ‘that’ free kick as a group we started singing about Gareth Bale, he hit it and we all went mental, even those that weren’t supporting us. His celebration embodied all of us. We were all ‘together stronger.’
Embed from Getty ImagesLater that week, saying he wouldn’t take any English players may have been an element of winding up, but also a genuine belief in his mates, that he wouldn’t swap any of them, because it wouldn’t be the same. In arguably Wales greatest night against Belgium, he didn’t score, but such was the measure of his impact on the side, he didn’t have to.
The following qualifying campaign would end in disappointment, and it was etched on Bale’s face during that game against Ireland. He was gutted, we all were but this seemed to light a fire within him. He would get Wales to a World Cup. Wales qualified for Euro 2020, Bale again playing an integral part, but it wasn’t to be the same without us being able to go. However, throughout it, Bale kept mentioning the Red Wall, able to feel it, even if it wasn’t there.
Embed from Getty ImagesAt Euro 2020, Bale rolled back the years in his performance against Turkey. His two assists are things of beauty, and he was able to still be the hero, despite smashing a penalty over the bar. The interview after the Denmark defeat sticks in my mind. At the time, people accused Bale of all sorts, as he stormed off when questioned about his future. For any true Welsh fan, they knew the answer to this question. He was on a mission, and that mission had to end at the World Cup.
During qualifying, Bale seemed on a one-man mission. His hat-trick in Belarus, may be forgotten in the grand scheme of things, but without it, Wales would probably not have got to Qatar. During the play-offs, he produced 3 moments of magic. And that was all he needed. And they will forever be remembered.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhen we did qualify, he was front and centre with Dafydd Iwan, belting out Yma o Hyd. He knew what it meant to be Welsh, and he showed the best of us on a world stage. It was fitting that Bale would get our only goal at the World Cup. A magical moment, most had never witnessed before. The surge of emotion evident for all to see.
Unfortunately, sport rarely does happy endings and the way our World Cup campaign ended would not have sat well with him, being subbed at half time against England, with the game on the line. Sadly, it felt like all the injuries had caught up with him and 3 games in a week was probably just too much. But by that point, Gareth had done enough, more than enough, more than anybody could ever do to put Wales on the map.
Embed from Getty ImagesHis career is laden with trophies and medals, personal and team awards, an achievement list that goes far beyond the ordinary. But arguably, his greatest achievements have been with Wales. At the age of 33, it seems a shame for him to retire, that it feels too young and maybe he could have gone again. But then what would he have become? A bit part player? A player that had to be played because of who he was? Managers under pressure to pick him despite it not being in the best interest of the team?
Embed from Getty ImagesThe next qualifying campaign seemed a short turnaround, but what would have happened if we hadn’t qualified? Would that be how he would want it to end? We were all hoping he would want to go again and re-create France in Germany, but it may have been a step too far.
Personally, I feel this gives Wales clarity going into Euro 2024 qualifying and is yet another key quality from Gareth, putting the team first, giving them a chance to move on, rather than drawing it out for his own personal pride. It’s time for the next generation, but they need to use the burning desire and quality Bale has shown throughout his career.
Embed from Getty ImagesToo many times, players with his explosiveness, pick up muscle and soft tissue injuries. I can only imagine the frustration he must feel with how injuries have hampered him. In the conversations of great British players, that is the thing that always goes against him. But for the Welsh he must be seen as the greatest. No longer do people look puzzled when you say Wales, they know about Gareth Bale and more so, they recognise us as a country in our own right, not just the bit next to England.
Embed from Getty ImagesHis cryptic message of being onto the next adventure at the end of his retirement message may have been a hint, but I hope the man who has influenced Welsh football more than any other can shape the future of it, whether that be as a coach, a consultant or even involved in the grass roots, finding another gem like he was. In the past, he has immersed himself in the FAW’s work ensuring our youngest, not only looked up to their hero but looked him in the eye, a priceless moment for most.
Embed from Getty ImagesSuch is the measure of the man, that on Twitter yesterday, a question was posed to pick your top 3 Bale moments. Can’t do it can you? I know I can’t, narrow it down to 3, you’re having a laugh! They say to never meet your heroes, but I would love to meet Gareth, just to simply say Diolch, for putting pride into our great nation and thank you for making the impossible seem possible.
Feature image Jon Candy