09 January 2023 , 22:01
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Gareth Bale has retired from football just months after claiming he still had “many years” in him and wanted to stay with LAFC for “as long as possible”.
Bale announced on Monday that he had decided to call time on his international and club career, aged 33. The decision came after “careful and thoughtful consideration” following Wales’ unsuccessful campaign at the World Cup in Qatar.
It means he has quit playing for LAFC after just 14 appearances for the Major League Soccer side. Bale agreed a 12-month contract with the option of staying for the 2024 campaign when he joined LAFC upon the expiry of his deal at Real Madrid.
Speaking at his unveiling, he was keen to stress that his move to California was for the long-term. "I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t ready to give everything,” he said. "I am still 32. I still have many years to come and I haven’t come here just to be here for six months or 12 months. I want to be here for as long as possible.
"I want to do as well as I can to make my mark on this league and this team and I am looking forward to the future. Also, this gives me the best opportunity to go to the next Euros and maybe further. The plan is to work hard."
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He added: "I don’t think anyone here sees it as a retirement league anymore. The weather is difficult, the travel is difficult. The standard is increasing. It is a lot better than people in Europe think. Everything is improving – it’s a league on the rise."
Gareth Bale was upbeat when he joined LAFC in the summer (ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)Bale scored three goals in 14 appearances for LAFC altogether. Although his stint was brief, he made an impact with LAFC winning both the MLS Cup and the Supporters' Shield.
Tweeting a video of Bale’s highlights, LAFC wrote: “Forever a champion. Forever a legend. Forever Black & Gold. Congrats on a historic career, @GarethBale11”.
Bale retires after a glittering career laden with trophies. After starting out with Southampton and moving onto Tottenham, he earned a £80million move to Real Madrid in September 2013. There he helped win four Champions League titles, as well as three LaLiga titles and the Copa del Rey.
Gareth Bale won four Champions League titles with Real Madrid (Andrew Medichini/AP/REX/Shutterstock)He scored 41 goals in 111 appearances for Wales, who he captained in Qatar – their first World Cup since 1958. His final goal was the equaliser in their 1-1 draw with USA back on November 21.
"The highest of highs over 17 seasons, that will be impossible to replicate, no matter what the next chapter has in store for me,” he said.
"From my very first touch at Southampton to my last with LAFC and everything in between, shaped a club career that I have an immense pride and gratitude for.”