Former Real Madrid playmaker Gareth Bale has shared some insights on a secret injury that plagued his football career – eventually leading to his early retirement.
Undoubtedly one of the best in his position, Bale called time on his career at the age of 33, after captaining Wales at the 2022 World Cup. During his playing days, he enjoyed huge success at Real Madrid, winning five Champions League amongst other titles.
The former Tottenham Hotspur star has now revealed details of a back injury sustained during his teenage years that impacted his decision to retire.
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Bale said: “I tore my disc in my back when I was 18 at Tottenham. I played my whole career with that.
“I had a lot of calf injuries which was due to my back. I never came out and said this when I was playing because some people would say ‘he’s making excuses’.
“It was manageable but over time it caught up with me.”
Gareth Bale walks past the UEFA Champions League Trophy. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
Bale revealed that Real Madrid were aware of the issue at the time of his then-world record £85.3 million transfer in 2013.
However, the problem persisted throughout his time in La Liga and whilst deemed manageable, Bale admits having to brush his teeth while standing on his heels due to the risk of injury to his calf.
“I never knew when it would come,” he said. “And obviously people were like, ‘oh, he doesn’t look after himself’ [but] I would literally make sure my calves and soleus were bulletproof.
“But again, if it misfires and it goes, there’s nothing I could do about it. I’d have an injection in my back to calm it all down.”
Recognised as Wales’ greatest ever player, Bale is his country’s most capped player having clocked up 111 games and stands as their all-time leading scorer with 41 goals.
Bale brought the curtain down on a glittering club career in MLS with LAFC.
