Gareth Bale says secret back injury played role in early retirement

Former Wales and Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale has revealed that a secret back injury he carried for his entire professional career was a significant factor in his decision to retire at the age of 33 Speaking on the 'Stick to Football' podcast, Bale disclosed that he tore a disc in his back at age 18 while playing for Tottenham Hotspur

He explained that this chronic issue was the root cause of the numerous calf injuries that frequently interrupted his career, particularly during his time in Spain. "I had a lot of calf injuries which was due to my back," Bale stated, adding that he kept the condition private to avoid accusations of making excuses for his fitness issues

Bale, one of Britain's most decorated players with five Champions League titles, said the injury was manageable for much of his career but worsened over time. "Over time it caught up with me," he admitted He confirmed that Real Madrid was made aware of the back problem when they signed him for a world-record transfer fee in 2013

This disclosure provides new context to the fitness struggles that were a recurring theme of his later career. Bale retired from professional football shortly after captaining Wales at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar