Gareth Bale has disclosed that a family health issue was the primary reason for his sudden retirement from football at age 33. The former Real Madrid and Wales star, now 36, told GQ that his father Frank's illness made him reassess his priorities.
“My dad got ill and that played a massive role in my decision,” Bale said. “People don’t know what anyone’s going through at home, but I soon realised there’s more to life than just football.” He emphasised the importance of family, adding, “Our kids, our life, our marriage, our family, our friends, these things are most important.”
Bale retired in January 2023, weeks after Wales' World Cup exit in Qatar. Despite a glittering career that included five Champions League titles, a world-record transfer to Real Madrid, and becoming Wales' all-time leading scorer, he insists he has no regrets. “Playing in a World Cup was the last thing I wanted to do. After that, I didn’t feel like I had anything else left to achieve,” he said.
He also addressed the long-standing criticism over his love of golf during his time in Madrid, claiming he “never played that much” and only went out “once every two or three weeks” on days off. Bale credited his father for helping him handle media scrutiny, noting that his parents taught him the value of trying, even when things go wrong.
Since retiring, Bale has moved into media work with TNT Sports and CBS, and says he is enjoying life after football. “I achieved so much,” he reflected. “It didn’t go amazingly well for us at the World Cup, but it was the first time in 64 years. After that, I didn’t feel like I had anything else left to achieve, goal-wise.”
