Player Watch: Gareth Bale - Retires

Cinemattis said:

The last world renowned player to come to Tottenham? Yes. Agree. At the time Klinsmann was 30, and he came from a season with Monaco that was anything but impressive for club and palyer. And even though he was arguably their outstanding performer, Germany had expereinced (for them) a very disappointing world cup, being knocked out in the quarterfinales by Bulgaria. Was he or was he note over the top? And he was not by any means a popular signing in the press or outside Tottenham with his reputation as a diver. The Guardian article called "Why I Hate Jürgen Klinsmann" was just one example. He proved all doubters wrong - of course. And there is no denying he was huge international star at the time he signed. But again mainly as a player for the national side and on the international stage - as a clubplayer he had been part of the Inter side that had won the UEFA Cup in 92, and the Italian Super Cup (Charity Shield) in 89. Not many titles for a world champion and a "star". He was also far more prolific goals corer for Germany than for any of his clubs. He was never golden boot winner in neither Italy onor France, and only once in the Bundesliga (1987/88) - the same year of his only occurence in the Bundesliga Team of the Season.

But to say that Jürgen Klinsman is the only world renowned player we have signed ... that shows somewhat a lack of knowledge of our history tbh.

1989:
Gary Lineker, signed from Barcelona as a 28 year old, at the hight of his career. Regining world cup golden boot winner. At the time maybe only Van Basten was a bigger name in world football as a striker.

1981:
One of the most winning English footballers of all time, including 3 European Cups (=that time´s Champions League), Ray Clemence was signed from Liverpool. Admittedly, he was 33, but still one of England two world class goalkeepers of the time. Had it not been for the one year younger Peter Shilton, Clemence would probably have had something like 150 caps for England.

1978:
Ardiles (especially) and Villa were superstars and came straight out of an amazing world cup campaign as winners to sign for Spurs, to a league where players were "foreign" if they were from that green island to the West. Before the signing of these two, Spurs had only had players from England, Scotland and Wales in their 96 year long history - except four (4) Irishmen, a trio (3) of gentlemen from Northern Ireland (including legends Blanchflower & Jennings). And one each from Guernsey and Jersey/Channel Islands. The shock of a signing like this is hard to understand in today´s globalized world - it was totally unpresedented

1970:
Martin Peters, world champion (and should´ve at least have played the final in 70 hadn´t the England manager cocked it up at 2-0 against West Germany and subbed him and Bobby Charlton for them to lose 2-3) came to Spurs in 1970 as a leading midfielder in the world, and broke the british transfer record by a mile with a price of £200.00.

1966:
Mike England - had he been English he would´ve been a world champion. Arguably the best defender to ever play for Spurs, came from Blackburn months before he turned 25 for an amazing £95.000 - unheard of for a defensive player at the time. But, he was by many seen as the finest in the world at this time in this position. He´s still admired at Blacburn, and still the youngest ever to be full time captain of Wales.

1961:
British football´s best ever striker, and one of the most natural goalscorers the game has ever seen, the one and only Jimmy Greaves. He came from Italian power house A C Milan who had bought him only months earlier from Chelsea. Greaves was one of the very first British players to play in Serie A, and was brought to Milano to retain domestic titles and challenge Real Madrid in Europe. He had already scored 124 goals in 157 matches for Chelsea, and was despite his still young age England´s number one choice up front. He had made 3 hattricks for England already before he signed for Spurs.

1958:
Cliff Jones was a huge success at the world cup in 1958, the only time Wales have qualified for the tournament. Beaten by Pele and Brazil 1-0 in the quarterfinals, Jones left Sweden an international star. He was signed for a record fee of £35.000 - at the time the most expensive player any English club had ever bought.

It is of course an almost impossible task to say who was "world renowned" footballers back in time. Especially before the age of television. In present day it´s totally different with a globalized sport, internet and a truly "very small world". And as we all know, star power isn´t always the same as being a great athlete or performer. Anna Kournikova was by far the biggest star in women´s tennis for many years, despite never being ranked higher as number 8, and never winning one single WTA tournament (in singles).

And there is no doubt that Tottenham have a very, very long history of developing stars and world class players. We get them young and/or on the brink of them breaking through as very top talent - and with us they grow to become some of the best there is. Blanchflower, Mackay, Jennings, Chivers, Hoddle, Waddle, Perryman, Gascoigne, Campbell, Sheringham, King, Berbatov, Modric, Bale, Lloris, Kane, Son, etc.

But we have done it - bought the best and biggest stars that money can buy. But not very often. But how many times have English clubs bought a Maradona, Platini or Messi? If ever? Gullit came her when he was old and over the top. Cantona grew to super stardom here. So did most of the other biggest stars in the PL era.

But.

There is maybe one exception to the rule ... :

The arguably biggest bona fide STAR ever to be signed by Tottenham, and maybe any English club ever:

Alex Morgan - just a couple of weeks ago.

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dondo said:

As happy as I am that Bale is coming back I’m not sure about all this coming home and I place I want to be business. Can’t remember Bale saying anything about us since he left and he forced his move through by basically going on strike.
Spurs are simply Bale preferred choice out of the options available which is still great to be honest but let’s not pretend it’s anything more than that

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Real Madrid star Gareth Bale still considers h

Gareth Bale has often been linked with a return to Tottenham from Real Madrid and he still recognises himself as a fan.

www.beinsports.com

The Legend of Tanguy said:

Put yourself in his position:

Imagine, for 7 years you’re making 600k per week which is amazing and all you’ve done is quietly gone about your work, won 4 champions leagues, a couple ligas, etc. but you’re in a city where you don’t know the language, you don’t understand most of your teammates, your coach hates you, the team’s fans hate you and you don’t feel cared for or appreciated at all and you’re just unhappy with it all.

That’s got to be such a mentally taxing grind. There’s no way those conditions make you play your best and feel motivated every single day.

Coming home to spurs is going to be such a big boost for him mentally and physically. Every fan loves and appreciates him for all he is and has done, he can understand most of his teammates and coaches and walk around town and just be comfortable and understand what people are saying.

As a Spurs fan, I’m elated. For him, I’m excited that he’s going to be in a better place as a person. I think we’re going to see a HIGHLY motivated refreshed Gareth Bale and it is going to be GLORIOUS.

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AllSeeingEye said:

View attachment 73895

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rebrab said:

Those saying he’s “past his best” - I know this is massively influenced by exceptional talents, but I believe the last four winners were all older than Bale at the last time they won it - Messi (32), Modric (33), Ronaldo (33), Cannavaro (35).

Can’t wait for tomorrow

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Guntz said:

Bale was one of my Dad's favourite players, we were both sitting in the north stand for his final goal against Sunderland. He passed away in 2018.

Really wish he was still around to see him coming back. But hopefully, he's watching from somewhere! #COYS

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Guntz said:

Bale was one of my Dad's favourite players, we were both sitting in the north stand for his final goal against Sunderland. He passed away in 2018.

Really wish he was still around to see him coming back. But hopefully, he's watching from somewhere! #COYS

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Guntz said:

Bale was one of my Dad's favourite players, we were both sitting in the north stand for his final goal against Sunderland. He passed away in 2018.

Really wish he was still around to see him coming back. But hopefully, he's watching from somewhere! #COYS

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daz1979 said:

Never heard of this guy Bale but the comments have got me a bit excited.

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Stoof said:

P.S. Isn't it nice when other fans are nice. (You should follow this guy if you don't - really good Tweeter person).

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Mouse! said:

Definitely another golf joke in here somewhere...

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