Gareth Bale lands new job two years after ex-Real Madrid star's retirement
Welsh football legend Gareth Bale is set to work as a pundit for the Europa League final between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United on Wednesday.
Bale retired in 2023 after a short stint with MLS side LAFC. His tenure at Real Madrid was a mix of spectacular performances and controversy, where he bagged five Champions Leagues, three La Ligas, three Club World Cups, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup.
Despite his impressive haul at Madrid, Bale's contributions were often overlooked. However, on the international stage, the 35-year-old remains a hero to Welsh supporters, having guided Wales to three major tournaments, including the semi-finals of Euro 2016 and their first World Cup since 1958.
While Bale's prowess is well-known to Welsh fans, it was at Spurs where he first made his mark as a young player. The North London club holds a special place in his heart, with Bale making 237 appearances and scoring 71 goals across two spells at the club.
Bale was part of the last Spurs team to lift a trophy in the 2008 League Cup final. As he prepares to watch Wednesday's Europa League final, Bale will be hoping that Spurs can end their 17-year wait for silverware, reports Wales Online.
The 35-year-old will join Rio Ferdinand, Glenn Hoddle, and Paul Scholes in Bilbao for TNT Sports' coverage of the Europa League final, according to football.london. Since hanging up his boots, Bale has kept a low profile, only occasionally appearing as a pundit.
Earlier this season in November 2024, he was part of TNT Sports' team covering Liverpool's Champions League clash with Real Madrid. His appearances have been sporadic since then, and this marks his return to the screen.
The stakes are high for both Spurs and United. Both teams have had less than stellar Premier League campaigns, currently languishing in 17th and 16th place respectively ahead of the final.
The triumphant team will secure a place in next season's Champions League, which could significantly shape their transfer window plans.
Tottenham have managed just one win in their last 11 league matches, focusing their efforts on their European campaign. Postecoglou's side put in strong performances in their semi-final tie against Bodo/Glimt and have also knocked out Eintracht Frankfurt and AZ Alkmaar during the knockout stages.
United's journey to the final has been somewhat more dramatic. Ruben Amorim's team were on the brink of elimination by Lyon in the quarter-finals, before staging a remarkable comeback at Old Trafford, netting three goals in the last six minutes of extra time.
They then convincingly defeated Athletic Bilbao in the subsequent round, with an aggregate score of 7-1, setting the stage for a final clash with Spurs. Bale has a history of scoring in finals, having scored six goals in total throughout his career.
This includes a goal in the 2014 Champions League final and a double against Liverpool four years later. He will be hoping Postecoglou's team can lift the trophy, especially as his former Wales colleagues Ben Davies and Brennan Johnson are part of the Spurs squad.
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