Gareth BaleFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJump to: navigation, search
Gareth Bale Bale posing with a fan during Tottenham's tour of the United States in July 2010. Personal information Full name Gareth Frank Bale[1] Date of birth 16 July 1989 (age 21) Place of birth Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Playing position Club information Current club Number 3 Youth career 2005–2006 Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 2006–2007 40 (5) 2007– 52 (7) National team‡ 2006– 13 (3) 2006– 25 (2) * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 10:42, 12 September 2010 (UTC).† Appearances (Goals).‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 20:30, 3 September 2010 (UTC)
Gareth Frank Bale (born 16 July 1989) is a Welsh footballer who plays as a left back or left winger for Tottenham Hotspur and the Wales national team.
Contents[hide]
[edit] Early lifeBale was born in Cardiff, the younger of two children, and attended Eglwys Newydd Primary School at Whitchurch. He is the nephew of former Cardiff City footballer Chris Pike.[2] His outstanding talent was evident from very early on, in particular his poise and left foot. It was while at this school he first came to the attention of Southampton at nine years old, when he was playing in a 5 a side tournament with his first club, Cardiff Civil Service Football Club.Bale then attended Whitchurch High School in Cardiff,[3] where, as well as football, he played rugby and hockey and was a distance runner. Because of his superior skills, the school's PE teacher, Gwyn Morris, had to write special rules. These restricted Bale to playing one-touch football and not using his left foot. Whilst at Whitchurch, Bale trained at Southampton's satellite academy in Bath, although there was initially some doubt if Southampton would give him a scholarship due to his height.Despite being only 16 at the time, he helped the school's under-18 side win the Cardiff & Vale Senior Cup. He left school in the summer of 2005 with a Grade A in PE amongst his GCSE results. In his final year at school he 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 his personal goals. He is one of the most unselfish individuals that I have had the pleasure to help educate."[4][edit] Club career[edit] SouthamptonAt the age of 16 years and 275 days, Bale became the second youngest player ever to play for the Saints (after Theo Walcott) when he made his debut on 17 April 2006. He played the whole match as Southampton defeated Millwall 2–0.On 6 August 2006, Bale scored his first league goal, a free kick, to level the scores at 1–1 against Derby County. The final score at Pride Park was 2–2.[5]He scored again, at St. Mary's, against Coventry City[6] in the team's second game of the 2006–07 season with another free kick. Bale further developed his reputation as a free kick specialist when he struck the post from one against West Bromwich Albion.[7] By 16 December 2006, Bale's goal count had risen to five, thanks to a late equaliser against Sunderland[8] and free-kicks away to Hull[9] and at home to Norwich City.In December 2006 he won the Carwyn James Award for the BBC Wales Young Sports Personality of the Year.[10] To cap his first full season as a professional footballer, Bale was named the Football League Young Player of the Year on 4 March 2007.[11]His final game for Southampton was in the first leg of the Championship play-off semi-final against Derby County on 12 May 2007. Bale suffered an injury during the second half, preventing him from appearing in the second leg.[12][13] In total, he made 45 appearances for Southampton, scoring five goals.[edit] Tottenham HotspurBale with Spurs.Bale completed a transfer to Tottenham 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.[14]He played his first game for Spurs in a friendly against St. Patrick's Athletic on 12 July 2007, but was substituted on the 80th minute with a minor dead-leg. He made his competitive debut for Tottenham Hotspur on 26 August away against Manchester United. In just his second Spurs appearance, he scored his first goal for Tottenham in the 3–3 draw with Fulham on 1 September when he latched on to Robbie Keane's flick, charged down the left flank unopposed and coolly slotted past goalkeeper Antti Niemi.[15] Bale then went on to score again against Arsenal in the North London Derby, scoring a free kick inside the near post.[16] He then scored in the League Cup home tie against Middlesbrough,[17] making it three goals in four starts for the 18-year-old. He 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 on 2 December 2007. A scan revealed that Bale had suffered ligament damage to his 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.[18] He signed a new four-year deal with the club in August 2008.[19]Bale played a record 24 Premier League games for Spurs without being on the winning side.[20][21] His first involvement in a Premier League victory came against Burnley on 26 September 2009 – more than two years after signing for Spurs – when he came on as an 85th minute substitute.[22]In June 2009, Bale had to undergo surgery for a knee injury, ruling him out for up to eight weeks. He missed the preseason matches and it was projected that he would miss the first few weeks of the 2009–10 season.[23] On 26 September, he made his comeback as a substitute in the Spurs' 5–0 thrashing of Burnley. However, he endured a frustrating time on the bench as Benoît Assou-Ekotto was in good form. When Assou-Ekotto was sidelined with an injury, manager Harry Redknapp decided to give Bale a chance and he impressed in the Spurs' 4–0 thrashing of Peterborough in the FA Cup third-round.[24] He finally tasted victory for the first time as a starter in a league game in the 2–0 win over London rivals Fulham.[25] His good form continued and he was named Player of the Round after helping the Spurs to a 3–1 win in the sixth round replay of the FA Cup against Fulham.[26]. In April 2010, Bale scored another goal against Arsenal after a pass from Defoe he tapped the ball past the Arsenal keeper.[27] Three days later, Bale slammed in Tottenham's second with his weaker right foot in a 2–1 victory over leaders Chelsea and became Man of the Match.[28] He was named Barclays Player of the Month for April.[29]He signed a new four year contract with Tottenham on 7 May 2010 as a reward for helping the club reach the UEFA Champions League qualification place.[30]On 21 August 2010, Bale scored twice in a 2–1 win at Stoke City, the second of which was a "stunning" head high volley into the top right hand corner of the goal.[31] On 25 August, Bale set up all four goals to help Spurs overcome Young Boys 4–0 (6–3 agg.) in a Champions League play-off at White Hart Lane.[32]International careerHe made the senior Welsh squad at the end of the 2005–06 season and then made his debut on 27 May 2006[33] as a substitute in a 2–1 win over Trinidad and Tobago, making him the youngest ever player to play for Wales[34] aged just 16 years and 315 days to break Lewin Nyatanga's three-month old record. In the game he set up the winner for Robert Earnshaw.On 7 October 2006, Bale became the youngest player ever to score a goal for the full Welsh national team in the Euro 2008 qualification match against Slovakia with a trade-mark free kick[35]. He scored his second goal for Wales in a 3–0 win over San Marino on 28 March 2007. After a long injury lay-off, he returned and started in the World Cup qualifier against Finland on 10 October 2009. On 14 October, he played a part in Wales' final World Cup qualifier by setting up David Vaughan to score the opening goal against Leichtenstein and won the free kick that led to the second, Aaron Ramsey's first at senior level.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.[36]
Gareth Bale
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Gareth Bale | |||
Bale posing with a fan during Tottenham's tour of the United States in July 2010. | |||
Personal information | |||
Full name | Gareth Frank Bale[1] | ||
Date of birth | 16 July 1989 (age 21) | ||
Place of birth | |||
Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||
Playing position | |||
Club information | |||
Current club | |||
Number | 3 | ||
Youth career | |||
2005–2006 | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
2006–2007 | 40 | (5) | |
2007– | 52 | (7) | |
National team‡ | |||
2006– | 13 | (3) | |
2006– | 25 | (2) | |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 10:42, 12 September 2010 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 20:30, 3 September 2010 (UTC) | |||
Gareth Frank Bale (born 16 July 1989) is a Welsh footballer who plays as a left back or left winger for Tottenham Hotspur and the Wales national team.
Contents [hide] |
[edit] Early life
Bale was born in Cardiff, the younger of two children, and attended Eglwys Newydd Primary School at Whitchurch. He is the nephew of former Cardiff City footballer Chris Pike.[2] His outstanding talent was evident from very early on, in particular his poise and left foot. It was while at this school he first came to the attention of Southampton at nine years old, when he was playing in a 5 a side tournament with his first club, Cardiff Civil Service Football Club.
Bale then attended Whitchurch High School in Cardiff,[3] where, as well as football, he played rugby and hockey and was a distance runner. Because of his superior skills, the school's PE teacher, Gwyn Morris, had to write special rules. These restricted Bale to playing one-touch football and not using his left foot. Whilst at Whitchurch, Bale trained at Southampton's satellite academy in Bath, although there was initially some doubt if Southampton would give him a scholarship due to his height.
Despite being only 16 at the time, he helped the school's under-18 side win the Cardiff & Vale Senior Cup. He left school in the summer of 2005 with a Grade A in PE amongst his GCSE results. In his final year at school he 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 his personal goals. He is one of the most unselfish individuals that I have had the pleasure to help educate."[4]
[edit] Club career
[edit] 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 he made his debut on 17 April 2006. He played the whole match as Southampton defeated Millwall 2–0.
On 6 August 2006, Bale scored his first league goal, a free kick, to level the scores at 1–1 against Derby County. The final score at Pride Park was 2–2.[5]
He scored again, at St. Mary's, against Coventry City[6] in the team's second game of the 2006–07 season with another free kick. Bale further developed his reputation as a free kick specialist when he struck the post from one against West Bromwich Albion.[7] By 16 December 2006, Bale's goal count had risen to five, thanks to a late equaliser against Sunderland[8] and free-kicks away to Hull[9] and at home to Norwich City.
In December 2006 he won the Carwyn James Award for the BBC Wales Young Sports Personality of the Year.[10] To cap his first full season as a professional footballer, Bale was named the Football League Young Player of the Year on 4 March 2007.[11]
His final game for Southampton was in the first leg of the Championship play-off semi-final against Derby County on 12 May 2007. Bale suffered an injury during the second half, preventing him from appearing in the second leg.[12][13] In total, he made 45 appearances for Southampton, scoring five goals.
[edit] Tottenham Hotspur
Bale with Spurs.
Bale completed a transfer to Tottenham 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.[14]
He played his first game for Spurs in a friendly against St. Patrick's Athletic on 12 July 2007, but was substituted on the 80th minute with a minor dead-leg. He made his competitive debut for Tottenham Hotspur on 26 August away against Manchester United. In just his second Spurs appearance, he scored his first goal for Tottenham in the 3–3 draw with Fulham on 1 September when he latched on to Robbie Keane's flick, charged down the left flank unopposed and coolly slotted past goalkeeper Antti Niemi.[15] Bale then went on to score again against Arsenal in the North London Derby, scoring a free kick inside the near post.[16] He then scored in the League Cup home tie against Middlesbrough,[17] making it three goals in four starts for the 18-year-old. He 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 on 2 December 2007. A scan revealed that Bale had suffered ligament damage to his 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.[18] He signed a new four-year deal with the club in August 2008.[19]
Bale played a record 24 Premier League games for Spurs without being on the winning side.[20][21] His first involvement in a Premier League victory came against Burnley on 26 September 2009 – more than two years after signing for Spurs – when he came on as an 85th minute substitute.[22]
In June 2009, Bale had to undergo surgery for a knee injury, ruling him out for up to eight weeks. He missed the preseason matches and it was projected that he would miss the first few weeks of the 2009–10 season.[23] On 26 September, he made his comeback as a substitute in the Spurs' 5–0 thrashing of Burnley. However, he endured a frustrating time on the bench as Benoît Assou-Ekotto was in good form. When Assou-Ekotto was sidelined with an injury, manager Harry Redknapp decided to give Bale a chance and he impressed in the Spurs' 4–0 thrashing of Peterborough in the FA Cup third-round.[24] He finally tasted victory for the first time as a starter in a league game in the 2–0 win over London rivals Fulham.[25] His good form continued and he was named Player of the Round after helping the Spurs to a 3–1 win in the sixth round replay of the FA Cup against Fulham.[26]. In April 2010, Bale scored another goal against Arsenal after a pass from Defoe he tapped the ball past the Arsenal keeper.[27] Three days later, Bale slammed in Tottenham's second with his weaker right foot in a 2–1 victory over leaders Chelsea and became Man of the Match.[28] He was named Barclays Player of the Month for April.[29]
He signed a new four year contract with Tottenham on 7 May 2010 as a reward for helping the club reach the UEFA Champions League qualification place.[30]
On 21 August 2010, Bale scored twice in a 2–1 win at Stoke City, the second of which was a "stunning" head high volley into the top right hand corner of the goal.[31] On 25 August, Bale set up all four goals to help Spurs overcome Young Boys 4–0 (6–3 agg.) in a Champions League play-off at White Hart Lane.[32]
International career
He made the senior Welsh squad at the end of the 2005–06 season and then made his debut on 27 May 2006[33] as a substitute in a 2–1 win over Trinidad and Tobago, making him the youngest ever player to play for Wales[34] aged just 16 years and 315 days to break Lewin Nyatanga's three-month old record. In the game he set up the winner for Robert Earnshaw.
On 7 October 2006, Bale became the youngest player ever to score a goal for the full Welsh national team in the Euro 2008 qualification match against Slovakia with a trade-mark free kick[35]. He scored his second goal for Wales in a 3–0 win over San Marino on 28 March 2007. After a long injury lay-off, he returned and started in the World Cup qualifier against Finland on 10 October 2009. On 14 October, he played a part in Wales' final World Cup qualifier by setting up David Vaughan to score the opening goal against Leichtenstein and won the free kick that led to the second, Aaron Ramsey's first at senior level.
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.[36]
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