All eyes will be on Gareth Bale as the Welsh Dragon looks to put a dent in England’s Euro 2016 campaign.
Footy Boots chronicles the the rise of the Welsh superstar.
https://youtu.be/JGQvMODVloI
2005 – 2006
Bale became Southampton’s second youngest player ever after Theo Walcott in April 2006, making his debut in a 2-0 win over Millwall.
He became the youngest player to play for Wales on May 2006 aged 16 years and 315 days, a record since superseded by Harry Wilson.
2006 – 2007
Four months after his Saints debut he scored his first league goal, by way of a free kick of course YouTube.
Bale became the youngest goalscorer for his country, scoring against Slovakia in a Euro 2008 qualifier, another free kick.
The big guns of the Premier League started to show an interest in signing Bale, who played 43 times as left back for the club.
Bale was named Football League Young Player of the Year in March 2007.
Spurs signed Bale for an initial fee of £5, which eventually became £7m.
2007 – 2008
Bale made his Spurs debut against Manchester United, but he didn’t wait long to register his first goal. He scored in his second game for Tottenham against Fulham.
Playing in his first North London derby, Bale scored another free kick YouTube in a 3-1 defeat.
Bale suffers a ligament injury in December which ends his season.
2008 – 2009
Bale signs a new 4 year deal with Spurs and continues to play as a left back.
This season was a tough one for the young Welshman as he ended up being kept out of the Tottenham side by Benoît Assou-Ekotto.
Spurs fail to register a league win in Bale’s first 24 appearances, leading some to name Bale a Spurs jinx.
2009 – 2010
He shakes off the jinx tag in his 25th league appearance, coming on as a sub in a 5-0 win over Burnley.
Bale started to be played by manager Harry Redknapp further up the pitch and he began creating assists, scoring goals and influencing games.
Bale is rewarded for his form and helping Spurs gain a Champions League place with another 4 year contract.
2010 – 2011
Benoît Assou-Ekotto returned from injury and Bale moves further up the field again, a period when Bale really kicked on in his career.
Bale scored his first hat-trick in a Champions League win against Inter Milan in October 2010 which raised his profile to one of Europe’s up and coming stars YouTube.
Bale wins the PFA Player of the Year Award.
2011 – 2012
Bale continues his fine form as an attacking player, often being used in a central position as well as on the left.
UEFA Team of the Year includes Gareth Bale in the 11, despite Spurs not playing Champions League football.
Bale signs another 4 year contract extension and swaps shirt number from 3 to 11, confirming his more advanced role.
2012 – 2013
In his final season for Tottenham, Bale scores 21 goals and was almost single-handedly winning games for Tottenham as he terrorised opponents.
In 44 appearances, Bale scores a career high of 26 goals for his club.
Bale wins the PFA Player of the Year award, the Young Player of the Year award and the FWA Player of the Year award
2013 – 2014
Real Madrid sign Bale for between £85.1 million, making him the most expensive player of all time ahead of new team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo.
On his debut for Real Madrid, Gareth Bale scores his first goal in a game against Villarreal YouTube.
Despite being plagued with injuries in his first season, Bale ends with 22 goals in 44 appearances.
Bale scored the winning goal for Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey Final.
He becomes the first Welshman to score a goal in a Champions League final, beating rivals Atletico Madrid.
2014 – 2015
Although Bale struggles to find consistency he scores in another final. This time the FIFA Club World Cup Final against Argentinian side San Lorenzo. Madrid win 2-0.
Bale is booed by a section of the Real Madrid supporters due to his selfishness in front of goal.
Bale records a return of 17 goals in 48 matches for Real Madrid.
2015 – 2016
Despite another season hampered by injury, Bale makes 30 appearances and scores 19 goals for Real Madrid.
Bale leads Wales to qualify for Euro 2016, the country’s first major finals since the 1958 FIFA World Cup. He scores 7 goals in the campaign overall.
Bale wins a second Champions League with Real Madrid, scoring in a penalty shoot out.
After beating Slovakia in their opening match, Wales star Gareth Bale insists his team have nothing to lose ahead of their clash with rivals England.
Wales undoubtedly have an outstanding player in Gareth Bale can he do enough to lead the Dragons to victory?
