‘It was special to be part of it’

Former Wales international Dave Edwards has told talkSPORT ‘it’s definitely the correct choice’ for Gareth Bale to retire.

The midfielder believes his ex-teammate could have had more years in his career left in the bank, but says he’ll still go down as ‘Wales’ greatest ever player’.

After crashing out of Qatar 2022 in the group stages, Wales captain Bale had been keeping a low profile with Los Angeles FC currently in their off season.

Then, on Monday afternoon, the star then took to social media to post two statements announcing his retirement from football, hanging up his boots following a career that’s spanned 16 years.

The decision has come as shock to many, despite Bale evidently no longer being at the top of his game during the World Cup, and ex-Wales teammate Edwards – who retired from international football in 2018 – was no exception.

Pressed for his thoughts on the 33-year-old’s choice to retire, Edwards told talKSPORT: “Maybe a little bit [surprised].

“I am surprised with the Wales stuff as well, just because he wasn’t very conclusive after the World Cup, it did sound like he was going to play on.

“But I do think it’s definitely the correct choice. He goes out as Wales’ greatest ever player, there’s no doubt about that, the games he’s played, the records he’s got.

When he returned to Tottenham for a loan spell in 2020, Bale showed glimpses of what he could do, scoring 16 goals.

But it was clear his body wasn’t in tune with what he wanted to produce on the pitch.

Commenting on whether injuries have played a part in Bale’s decision, Edwards stated: “Most definitely. He’s such a highly-tuned athlete that at his best he is just unstoppable.

“You look at his body, the way he’s built, how lean he is, the muscles on him.

“He was like a race horse and when that happens once you get past that peak and he wants to knock a ball past somebody, I used to see it for Wales in the last couple of years, he wants to go but he was probably at 80-85 per cent.

“That’s faster than most people but he didn’t have that raw pace and dynamism he once had. So I think that affects you as you get older and he hated being injured, whether it was little niggles in his calf or a muscular injury.

“He wasn’t a good patient, he wanted to be out on the football pitch and that can get you down in its own way.

“It doesn’t sort of matter how wealthy he’d be off the pitch or what his life is outside of football.

“Being able to do our job was the most important, I know it used to get him down, the injury side of things, so maybe that’s why he went in on himself and looked after himself.

“You saw the adverse effect of that at the World Cup where he wasn’t in the right condition to play in the way he needed to to help Wales across the line.”

Across his career at Southampton, Spurs, Real Madrid and Los Angeles FC, Bale won three LaLiga titles, one Copa del Rey, the Spanish Super Cup, five Champions Leagues, three UEFA Super Cups and three club World Cups.

But whilst the winger had a glittering career in club football, it was no secret Bale loved playing for Wales more than anything, and Edwards says it was a pleasure to witness the star’s time in the national team.

After coming across him at Under-21s level, Edwards says he knew Bale – who ended up making 111 appearances for his country – was going to be incredible when got rushed to play with the first team as a teenager.

He remarked: “You could see his talent from 16. But also the sort of desire he had to play for Wales.

“He had this alter ego he’d transform into, this other person who really led with belief and maturity, way beyond his years.

“That carried on right through his international career and even more so as he got recognised I’d say 2010 onwards where he really was becoming one of the best in the world and he took a step to another level and he knew he could carry his nation.

“He had an immense amount of pride in that and he never felt the pressure I don’t think, but he had this pride where he knew he could take his country to places they’ve never been before.”

Edwards continued: “It was special for anyone to be apart of it, and the fans will always say they’ll be grateful Bale was around in this era to take the team to those levels.

“The pride he showed, not just on the pitch, but being able to see it personally in training.

“The way he welcomed new lads into the squad, the way he treated staff members.

“He knew we were all one team and he took it so seriously and I think that showed when he took the pitch and played with no fear, passion. That’s why the Wales fans loved him so much.”