Gareth Bale, who retired earlier this year, made his way back to Los Angeles as he celebrated with the MLS Cup before LAFC’s season started.
The multiple UEFA Champions League winner has declared his retirement, but he was present for LAFC’s MLS Cup celebration before their match against Portland Timbers on Saturday.
In the pregame ceremony at a sold-out stadium, Bale and his former LAFC earned their title rings and the team unveiled its banners.
During the pregame ceremonies at BMO Stadium, banners honoring LAFC’s two Supporters’ Shield victories as well as its 2022 Western Conference and MLS Cup titles were unveiled above the east seats.
The former Real Madrid player began the celebrations by entering the field carrying the trophy and performing a parade in front of the crowd.
Last season, despite having a limited role for LAFC, he delivered, scoring a vital equalizer in the MLS Cup final.
Bale scored a header to tie the game and force a penalty shootout, which Los Angeles won after Los Angeles was down to the Philadelphia Union.
After the celebrations, LAFC defeated the Portland Timbers 3-2 to begin their MLS championship defense on Saturday.
Giorgio Chiellini scored the first goal in the MLS, and the home team also received goals from Carlos Vela and Mahala Opoku.
In Portland’s third consecutive defeat to LAFC, Evander scored his first MLS goal, while Cristhian Paredes added a late goal.
Los Angeles became just the second reigning MLS Cup champion in the previous seven years to win its season opener.
With his retirement from football on Monday, Bale is expected to receive an offer for a roving position from the Welsh FA.
A career that saw one of Britain’s best players win 21 major trophies, including five Champions Leagues and three major tournaments with his nation, came to an end earlier this year.
The leadership of Wales is eager to keep Bale participating and is prepared to speak with the 33-year-old’s camp soon.
Futballnews recognizes that one of the options up for discussion is the job of an ambassador. He would be able to spend time with the team and in professional settings as a result.
But most recently, he used his retirement to play golf on the PGA Tour’s Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February, switching it up from football.
Bale and his professional partner Joseph Bramlett ended the competition at 16 under par, which was significantly below the winning score of 26 under par by Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Gareth Bale
Gareth Frank Bale MBE, a Welsh former professional football player best known for his winger work with Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid, was born on July 16, 1989.
Bale started his professional career at Southampton, where he excelled as a free-kick specialist while playing as a left-back.
In 2007, he transferred to Tottenham Hotspur for an eventual cost of £7 million. He changed into a more offensive player at Tottenham as a result of managerial and tactical changes.
Under Harry Redknapp’s direction, Bale joined the club as a regular in the 2009–10 campaign and gained prominence abroad in the 2010–11 UEFA Champions League.
He received the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award in 2011 and 2013. He was included in the UEFA Team of the Year.
He was also recognized in 2013 as the Premier League Player of the Season, the FWA Footballer of the Year, and the PFA Young Player of the Year.
From 2011 and 2013, he was nominated for the PFA Team of the Year three times in a row.
