Welsh football journalist Jordan Jones has hailed Gareth Bale as ‘the greatest Welsh sportsman to ever exist’ following his retirement from football on Monday.
Bale bows out a five-time Champions League winner, three-time La Liga winner and six-time Welsh footballer of the year.
Despite the wingers illustrious career, he fell out of favour at the Spanish giants Real Madrid over recent seasons.
Bale joined LAFC where he helped guide the team to MLS Cup victory before he represented his nation for the final time at the Qatar World Cup, as Wales were knocked out at the group stage.
Jones spoke on how important Bale has been for Wales: “It’s what we say here, Gareth Bale is to Wales what the Queen is to England.
“He has put Wales on the map, and that’s the most important thing. If you go anywhere now around the world and you mention the word Wales to anyone, their first response would be Gareth Bale. Without a doubt the greatest Welsh sportsman to ever exist. When it comes to British, in the top three for me.”
There had been heavy speculation that Bale’s retirement wasn’t far away, and he made his decision official on Twitter on Monday.
Cardiff City fan Jones agrees with Bale’s choice: “I think it’s the right decision. It feels like he has well and truly fallen out of love with the game. He had a difficult time at Real Madrid but had so many match-winning moments.
“You have to remember the winner in the Copa Del Ray final and arguably the best goal in Champions League history with the bicycle kick against Liverpool.
“Five Champions League, it’s going to take something special for another British player to do what Gareth Bale did, the only player that I think currently could do similar is Phil Foden.”
Bale has made his love for golf evident in the past and has several business ventures in Bristol where he owns two bars that he may focus on.
Jones added: “It’s probably the right decision, the right timing for Gareth Bale. His loan at Los Angeles was just to help him at the World Cup, went out on a high because he won the MLS Cup with Los Angeles. Not that way he would’ve wanted to go out with Wales, hauled off at halftime and Wales go on to lose 3-0 to England.
“I think he’s achieved everything that he’d have wanted in the game.”
