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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Nathan Ridley

Gareth Bale announces retirement from club and international football in statement

Gareth Bale Football Real Madrid LAFC Tottenham Tottenham Hotspur Southampton Wales World Cup

Gareth Bale has announced his retirement from club and international football with immediate effect.

At the age of 33, the ex- Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid star - who most recently played for MLS side LAFC - wrote in a statement on Monday: "After careful and thoughtful consideration, I announce my immediate retirement from club and international football. I feel incredibly fortunate to have realised my dream of playing the sport I love. It has truly given me some of the best moments of my life."

Having started out at Southampton, Bale enjoyed a prestigious career which included winning four Champions Leagues, two La Liga titles and three Club World Cups, as well captaining his beloved Wales to their first World Cup since 1958. The 33-year-old added: "The highest of highs over 17 seasons, that will be impossible to replicate, no matter what the next chapter has in store for me.

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