Gareth Bale is the future of Real Madrid and the beating heart of the sensational Wales national side. Although always an exceptional athlete, at one time it seemed like Bale s terrible injury record would stop him from ever fulfilling his potential. But in the season of 2012-2013, he caught fire for Tottenham Hotspur and never looked back, bagging a PFA Player of the Year Award and a move to the world s biggest club. His transfer to Real Madrid made him the world s most expensive player, and his life changed forever. This revealing portrait delves into just how the boy from Cardiff went on to become the world s most in-demand player. It also traces how his relationship with the notoriously competitive Ronaldo unfolded and how he has gradually emerged from his teammate s shadow to become Real Madrid s most prized asset, and a Welsh national hero.
Оглавление
Frank Worrall. Gareth Bale
CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
MY LEFT FOOT
SPUR OF THE MOMENT
THE WING COMMANDER
A SPECIAL ONE
THE TOTTENHAM TORNADO
THE GIGGS TIME
INTER THE BIG TIME
RED ALERT
TAXI FOR MAICON
I’M ONLY HUMAN
TOP GUN
JUST TWO GOOD
THE PRINCE OF WALES
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF LEGENDS
THE DALGLISH SEAL OF APPROVAL
RING IN THE NEW
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
SOURCES
Plates
Copyright
Отрывок из книги
This book is dedicated to Steven Gordon, a true Tottenham fan – and a true friend
Acknowledgements
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His last match for the Saints was the 2-1 home defeat by Derby; ironically the team against whom ten months earlier Gareth had grabbed his first goal as a professional player. It was a match that could have led Saints towards the Premier League – the first leg of their Championship playoff semi-final. But two goals from Steven Howard sent Saints into despair and their anguish was compounded when Gareth was substituted on 56 minutes after picking up an injury. He was later seen leaving St Mary’s on crutches and would miss the second leg at Pride Park, which finished with Derby marching into the playoff final courtesy of a 4-3 penalty triumph after brave Saints had won 3-2 on the day, leaving the aggregate scores level at 4-4.
It was a terribly sad way for Gareth to end his Saints career. But in ten short months he had transformed from a 17-year-old with glittering potential to a 17-year-old who was set for the Premier League – albeit at a different football club than Southampton.
