SUMMARY
- Gareth Bale announced his retirement from soccer on January 9, 2023, after a short stint at LA Galaxy.
- Despite the good times that he had in the USA, the soccer in the American League could not impress the former Real Madrid player.
Gareth Bale has been Wales’ best contribution to the soccer. The 34-year-old came from the tiny nation of Wales and conquered the world. Gareth became an indispensable part of the Real Madrid squad that won three UEFA Champions Leagues in a row. The electric winger dazzled with speed and flare and quickly became an icon of the game.
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The Welsh player scored 106 goals and assisted a further 67 in 258 appearances for ‘Los Blancos.’ He also played for the MLS side LA Galaxy, but could only make 13 appearances for the club.
Gareth Bale announced his retirement from soccer on January 9, 2023, after a short stint at LA Galaxy. However, in the meantime, the Welsh player etched his name into the club’s history books as he helped the club win its first-ever MLS Cup in 2022. Gareth Bale scored the equalizer in the extra time of the final to take the game to the penalties which LA Galaxy won.
Gareth Bale believes that the MLS is an uncompetitive league
However, despite the good times that he had in the USA, the soccer in the American League could not impress the former Real Madrid player. Gareth branded the league as a very laidback one where the clubs aren’t very focused on the sporting results on the pitch. In doing so, the former Tottenham Hotspur player also drew comparisons with the soccer that he played at Real Madrid.
GARETH BALE EQUALIZES IN STOPPAGE TIME OF EXTRATIME!! #MLSCUP pic.twitter.com/iWqfU9FAWG
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 5, 2022
Gareth Bale believes that his club LA Galaxy didn’t care when they lost a game which irritated the Welsh player. He said, “They(MLS teams) accept losing. There is no consequence. You can’t get relegated over there. When you lose a game you go on to the next one. They accept losing a lot better over there.”
The remarks caused a stir at this club where the fans worship Gareth Bale. However, it also highlights the strides that MLS has to make to compete with the European Leagues. MLS needs to focus on improving its brand of soccer for better popularity in the future
The Welsh legend reminisces about the competitive nature of soccer at Real Madrid
It is perhaps the competitive soccer played at ‘Los Blancos’ that improved the game of Gareth Bale. Real Madrid is a very trophy-driven club that is obsessed with winning. Even the players know that if they don’t perform well then any other star from the team could take their place. This competitive nature of their soccer has made ‘Los Blancos’ one of the best clubs in the world and has won them 14 UEFA Champions League titles.
Peter Crouch in 2006! @petercrouch 👏@LFC | #UCL pic.twitter.com/HPq2Xjb7n7
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 26, 2021
Gareth Bale highlighted this in his comments about his time at Real Madrid. He said, “It is a lot more chilled (MLS). If you lose at Real Madrid, it is like the world has ended. You are crucified. You feel down.”
The Welsh legend confessed that when he lost a game at Real Madrid, he would feel very remorseful at home after the match. Gareth Bale’s comments highlight the wide difference between the soccer played in Europe and the MLS which Lionel Messi joined in 2023.